Murray Theatre (Richmond, Indiana)

The Murray Theater, also known as the Richmond Civic Theater, was built in 1909 by Omar G. Murray at a cost of $40,000 and originally named Murray Theatre. That name, in fact, can still be seen at the top of the building. It was originally used as a vaudeville house and featured the Marx Brothers in 1916. It closed in 1930 due to the depression but reopened a year later as the Indiana Theater, a movie house. In 1952 the building is leased by the Richmond Civic Theater and their programs begin showing productions at the "Indiana Theatre". It was eventually purchased by the Richmond Civic Theatre in 1966 for $42,000 and the venue was renamed the Norbert Silbiger Theater, after a founding member and driving force of the company. It was renamed again, back to the Murray Theatre, in 1984 in order to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Since we are still in the middle of transcribing our Richmond Civic Theatre collection, this list is not complete. The below list includes all of the playbills in the collection but, unlike other venue pages, does not include information on productions not in our collection. The page for the company is currently being used as the hub of this project until everything can be sorted out. Please see that page for additional production information.

We are currently looking for volunteers to help us with the Richmond Civic Theatre project. Although the archive is in Los Angeles, California, volunteers can help from anywhere, including Richmond, Indiana.

As the Murray Theatre (1984-Present)

Opening Play
Aug 16, 2013 Les Miserables
Jul 12, 2013 The Little Mermaid
May 10, 2013 Guys and Dolls
Apr 17, 2013 The Hundred Dresses
Apr 5, 2013 Barefoot in the Park
Mar 2, 2013 Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Junior
Feb 8, 2013 The Grapes of Wrath
Dec 9, 2012 Little Women, the Musical
Nov 16, 2012 Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type
Nov 3, 2012 Pocahontas
Oct 12, 2012 Wait Until Dark
Aug 17, 2012 Hairspray

As the Norbert Silbiger Theater (1966-1984)

Opening Play
Oct 1977 Man of La Mancha
Sep 23, 1976 The Sound of Music
Dec 9, 1975 A Christmas Carol
Sep 23, 1975 The Wizard of Oz
May 20, 1975 Company
Apr 9, 1975 Sleuth
Mar 5, 1975 The Prisoner of Second Avenue
Nov 20, 1974 The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds
Oct 3, 1974 No, No, Nanette
Mar 26, 1974 Night Watch
Jan 23, 1973 Last of the Red Hot Lovers
Dec 5, 1972 The Country Girl
Nov 5, 1972 Forty Carats
Mar 26, 1972 Plaza Suite
Feb 8, 1972 All My Sons
Nov 30, 1971 The Silver Whistle
Oct 26, 1971 Detective Story
Jul 18, 1969 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
May 9, 1967 Guys & Dolls
Apr 4, 1967 The Glass Menagerie
Feb 28, 1967 The Ponder Heart
Dec 6, 1966 Any Wednesday
Nov 1, 1966 Absence of a Chello
Sep 27, 1966 Show Boat
May 20, 1966 The Boy Friend
Mar 1, 1966 Catch Me If You Can
Jan 25, 1966 Mary, Mary

As the Indiana Theatre (1931-1966)

Date Play
Nov 2, 1965 Never Too Late
Sep 28, 1965 The Sound of Music
May 11, 1965 Damn Yankees
Apr 6, 1965 Ladies in Retirement
Mar 2, 1965 See How They Run
Jan 26, 1965 The Women
Dec 10, 1963 The Desk Set
Dec 11, 1962 Period of Adjustment
Nov 6, 1962 The Music Man
Oct 2, 1962 Once More, with Feeling
May 8, 1962 Harvey
Jan 23, 1962 The Andersonville Trial
Dec 12, 1961 A Majority of One
Oct 3, 1961 Oklahoma!
Jan 24, 1961 Look Homeward, Angel
Dec 13, 1960 Golden Fleecing
Oct 4, 1960 Kiss Me, Kate
May 10, 1960 Third Best Story
Apr 5, 1960 Tall Story
Dec 8, 1959 Say, Darling
Nov 3, 1959 Who Was That Lady I Saw Your With?
Sep 29, 1959 Annie Get Your Gun
May 12, 1959 The Tender Trap
Apr 7, 1959 Happiest Millionaire
Jan 27, 1959 Bad Seed
Dec 9, 1958 On Borrowed Time
Nov 4, 1958 The Hasty Heart
Sep 30, 1958 The King and I
Mar 5, 1956 Picnic
Jan 30, 1956 The Caine Mutiny Court Martial
Dec 12, 1955 King of Hearts
Nov 14, 1955 Dial M For Murder
Oct 3, 1955 The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
May 2, 1955 Sabrina Fair
Mar 28, 1955 The Crucible
Feb 21, 1955 Time Out For Ginger
Jan 17, 1955 For Love or Money
Dec 6,1954 Hamlet
Nov 1, 1954 Come Back, Little Sheba
Oct 4, 1954 My 3 Angels
May 3, 1954 Our Town
Mar 29, 1954 The Male Animal
Feb 22, 1954 Guest in the House
Nov 9, 1953 Mister Roberts
Oct 5, 1953 Bell, Book and Candle
Apr 27, 1953 The Happy Time
Mar 23, 1953 Affairs of State
Feb 16, 1953 The Wingless Victory
Nov 10, 1952 Lo and Behold
Oct 6, 1952 Remains to be Seen

As the Murray Theatre (1909-1930)

No listings for this era yet

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