October 17, 1894 saw the birth of the society when the Reading Opera Society first presented a production of "Bohemian Girl". The society then fell silent for many years until 1914, when the Civic Division of the Women's Club established a Social Center in a public school on 7th Street of the thriving city of Reading. This center attracted a multitude of people interested in music and culture. In the spring of 1915 they presented "The Mikado," a light comedic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan Though this group went on to produce shows for two more years, they disbanded when our country was thrust into the throws of the First World War.

After the war ended, two members of the original group felt a compelling need for a performance organization in Reading. Conferring with G. Russell Strauss, they initiated the 1923 production of "The Mikado" in the Orpheum Theatre. Upon the successful completion of this performance, many other music lovers and civic-minded constituents joined the efforts by officially organizing as a musical group and resurrecting the name "Reading Opera Society". One of the founders and leading man from "The Mikado," Mr. Joseph Brubaker, was elected the first President, and Mr. G. Russell Strauss was elected the first music director. The Reading Opera Society continued to produce operettas for the next five years, skipping 1929 for some unknown reason. In 1930, the group presented "Iolanthe" which was critically acclaimed throughout the community. The performance was encored two months later for the Albright College alumni. After a two-year hiatus, the group again reorganized and pulled into its clutches the well-known Professor George Haag as Musical Director, swinging Mr. Strauss in the Dramatic Director position. During 1933, ROS gave its first performance in the grand and luxurious Rajah Theatre. In 1935, grief shocked the organization with the sudden death of Mr. Strauss, and Mrs. George Wolf was appointed to replace him in the midst of rehearsals. Later that year, amidst another reorganization, Mr. Fred Cardin, a talented instrumental instructor at Reading High School and director of the Astor Theatre Orchestra was named to the Musical Director position. During this reorganization, the members decided to rename itself as the "Reading Civic Opera Society", and declared a purpose: to promote the knowledge and appreciation of operatic music, light opera and operettas among its members and the public.

In its first year under its new name, the group presented two Gilbert & Sullivan shows under the musical direction of Mr. Fred Cardin and dramatic direction of Mrs. George Wolf. They drew great appreciation from the press as well as the public. As the patron list grew as a result of its success, RTC expanded their performances that year to include encore shows at the Denver High School.

Over the next several years, the group also sang a prologue during nine performances of the cinema production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Astor Theatre. They presented operatic concerts to the Women's Club of Reading, and presented a delightful vocal program on radio station WEEU for the celebration of Maier Bakery's 30th anniversary. RTC presented concerts at the City Park Band Shell, and in 1943 for the soldiers at Fort Indiantown Gap. Meanwhile, they still performed their two shows a year, performing at the Capitol Theatre, the Orpheum Theatre or the Rajah Theatre.

In October 1944, RTC reached a very important milestone in its life cycle. After a meeting held at the Harmonie Maennerchore, where the membership adopted a resolution to incorporate RTC as a non-profit corporation under Pennsylvania State Law, a Charter was granted to the ever-growing organization.

1945 was a huge year, performance-wise for RTC. In addition to the major performances, the membership participated in several benefit concerts and other miscellaneous entertaining shows. This same year, RTC incorporated another element into its ranks: the RTC ballet, under the direction of Miss P. Margaret Hains. In 1947, they undertook something special: a musical production written and directed by one of its own members, Fred Cardin. Fred Cardin and Joseph Brubaker directed this show, "Mountain Madrigal" or "The Hickory Hollow Singing Bee,". In 1949, the group chose the most difficult show yet, "De Fliedermaus" by Johann Strauss. With the help of Mr. Theodore Walker, from the Reading Highs School vocal department, RTC presented an outstanding performance. Critics and audience combined delighted in both the performance as well as the intermission entertainment, the Valse Fantasy, presented by the ballet group with P. Margaret Hains as the solo danseuse.

After 26 years, 52 shows, numerous benefits and miscellaneous concerts, Mr. Fred Cardin pleaded with the organization for a leave of absence. Under his leadership, RTC flourished, gathering many diligent, enthusiastic members and demonstrating talent and perseverance throughout the Berks communities. Replacing Mr. Cardin was not a task the group relished, but after screening many applicants, they chose Mr. J. Carl Borelli, director of instrumental music at Southwest Junior High School. Again, with the wonderful support of the Reading Community, the group thrived under Mr. Borelli. After doing two performances for each show since its inception, the group went one step further in 1951, and added a third performance. After Mr. Borelli's term with RTC, Mr. Theodore Walker took the baton for several years. The fifties proved to be a financially tumultuous time, and the organization had to buckle down and work diligently towards ensuring its future. They depended on lotteries to raise funds and cancelled shows to limit losses. It was a stressful time, but the ingenuity and perseverance of the membership created a teamwork effort that would impress the best of organizations of today. In 1956, under the leadership of three new directors, Mr. Ronald Noll, music, Mr. Robert B. McLean, drama, and Ms. Phyllis Latin, choreography, the organization began to thrive again. Later, they decided to design and build their own scenery for the first time and brought in the very talented Mr. Ted Moore in 1957.

The next ten years brought a variety of directors and choreographers to the fold, and they continued to perform the first weekend of every May and every December, as is still the case today. The various rehearsal locations, from the Maennerchore, the Lierderkranz, the third floor above the Far East Tea Garden at 827 Penn Street, Maier's Bakery, the Elks Home and the Reading Hose Fire Company, kept the group nomadic and homeless. But that all came to an end in May of 1969. At that time, they purchased the building at 122 - 128 N. 10th Street in Reading, along with three properties on Moss Street, in the rear of the main building, where they remain today. The price at that time, was a steep $14,500, but the building came with a colorful history and lots of possibilities. Its large basement, which housed four manually set pin bowling lanes as well as a kitchen (complete with 3-year old rotten beer in its piping system), was cleared and provided a perfect location to construct and paint scenery. The main room on the first floor had been a "ballroom" with a u-shaped balcony for diners to relax and imbibe while cajoling the wild dancers below. This room was perfect for auditions and rehearsals. The remaining smaller rooms on the main floor would eventually be utilized as meeting space, offices and a social room. The 2nd and 3rd floors came with varied-size rooms, which the group opted to rent out to help cover costs. With the continued growth of the society, these areas have now been taken over by the society. A ticket office, and two additional rehearsal spaces now fill the front rooms on the first floor. The second floor houses a meeting room for the Board of Directors in one room, and their large collection of props in another room. The third floor is utilized to store their extensive costume collection, along with a photo studio where advertising and program photographs are taken. This major purchase enabled the group to finally feel established and created a stable place within the artistic community. Regarding the Moss Street properties, two of them have been torn down to make room for a parking lot, and the remaining building is utilized to store scenery pieces on its two levels.

During the 1970's the Society, in addition to their two large-scale performances in the Rajah Theater, undertook productions that were held in their new home. The 1971 production of "Fiddler On The Roof" was the first performance to be expanded to include a 4th performance in the Rajah Theater to accommodate the growing attendance. In 1972 Robert Bruce McLean, the societies dramatics director, wrote an original production. This show was entitled "Sing Love" and show cased love songs found in Broadway's many musicals. It was performed first in their new building, and then was taken on the road for a presentation in Atlantic City. 1975 saw the start of Children's Theater productions when "Thirteen Clocks" was performed in the RTC building. Children's Theater productions continued through 1979. 1980 saw the start of a summer theater program that was presented as part of the "Berks Summer Theater" project. Performances were held in the auditorium of the newly constructed Berks Campus of the Pennsylvania State University in Wyomissing. This summer theater program continued for 16 summers and showcased numerous productions that were considered too small to be produced on the big stage of the Rajah Theater.

The 70's, 80's and 90's also saw a wealth of talent join the society is various staff positions. After 36 years and more then 75 productions, Robert Bruce McLean retired from directing in 1992 and the reins were taken over by the likes of Robert J. Cooper, Les White, Bill Bowman, Kenneth Blekicki and Robert A. Cooper. In 1992, Marilyn Caltigarone took over as the society's choreographer following Shirley Thomas who had worked on 40 productions since becoming the society's choreographer in 1972. During these years the conductor's baton was passed between numerous local musicians including Jack Chiarelli, Robert J. Cooper, Louis "Skip" Norcott, John Bailey, Steve Holgate and Paul Cusano. In 1994, the position of Choral Director was added with the talents of Mary Rogers, Jason Michael, Dr. Dennis Williams and Kevin Cooper directing the singers. Ted Moore retired as Scenic Designer in 1978. Following in his footsteps have been Steve Shultz, James T. Reedy, David Neville and since 1986, Larry J. Pisano.

The turn of the century saw big changes at the Rajah Theater. The Shriner's, who had owned the facility since the 1920's, sold it to the Berks County Civic Center Authority. This group undertook an 11 million dollar renovation program to the grand theater. The facility reopened in 2001 as the "Sovereign Performing Arts Center" and RTC continues to produce their two full-scale productions there annually.

2004 saw RTC return to summer theater production when "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" was presented at the Wachovia Theater at Albright College.

July 2004 was also another turning point for the society, when after many years of discussion and debate; the name of the group was changed to the "Reading Civic Theatre". This change was done in an effort to breath life into the group first by updating their name to more closely reflect the productions being produced today, as it has been over 50 years since they last performed operettas, and secondly, to allow the group to expand to produce theatrical productions of a non-musical nature.

Fulfilling its mandate of training persons in the arts, Reading Civic Theatre continues to find its alumni "treading the boards" on Broadway, in national touring companies, and in film working either as performers, stage managers, designers or technicians. Jessica Kostival and Del Miske were involved the recent Broadway revival of "42nd Street", Michael Kabula has performed in numerous Broadway productions such as "Crazy for You", "Jerome Robbins' Broadway", and most recently in the revival of "Chicago". They join the ranks of other former alumni who have moved on to professional positions in both the performance and production aspects of the entertainment field. Members such as Shorty Long and Dick Ensslen on Broadway; Ann Sayre and J. Nathan Oswell and Jason Marquette in national touring companies; Jill Gounder as a production stage manager and performer in national touring companies; Jamie Pisano on Broadway, national touring companies and in film; Ross Dillman in film and dinner theater; Brian Enzman producing and performing in various dinner theaters and Brian Gibson as an opera singer who has performed throughout the world, continue to ply their trade all around this country.

What does the future hold for one of the oldest continuously operating not-for-profit theatrical groups in the nation? Only time will tell. With its current membership of 275 adults and students, Reading Civic Theater continues to strive to produce great theatrical entertainment. Recent productions of newer shows such as the May 2002 production of "Jesus Christ Superstar", and the May 2004 production of "The Scarlet Pimpernel", along with revivals of the older stand-bys, such as the December 2003 production of "My Fair Lady" continue to showcase the depth of talented performers, directors and designers that the society continues to attract.

Regarding their future, Reading Civic Theatre looks ahead with pride to reaching the 100-year mark, and the start of their 2nd century of productions as they look forward to more growth as they continue to entertain the Reading and Berks County community by living up to their motto of "Bringing the Best of Broadway to Berks".

Originally written, 1970's, author unknown
Updated, August, 2004 by Larry & Shirley Pisano