A Community Theatre Tradition Since 1946

Cumberland Players, founded in 1946 in Vineland, New Jersey, is the longest continuously operating community theatre organization in southern New Jersey. Originally known as The Little Theatre of Vineland, the company began as a small volunteer theatre group formed by residents who believed that live theatre should be created by the community and accessible to everyone.

The organization was formally incorporated in October 1946, and the incorporation documents were signed by twelve founding members whose vision and dedication laid the groundwork for what would become Cumberland Players. Those individuals were Jesse Moris, Myrtle Wrought, Charles Tasnieri, Paula Ackley, Martha Skinner, Robert Mott, Walter Kirijan, Herman Borowitz, Rubi Mole, Agnes Nott, Jean Moria, and Marian Malletz. Their commitment to establishing a community theatre ensured that live performance would become a lasting part of Vineland’s cultural life.

Earlier that same year, in February 1946, the theatre group had begun organizing under the name The Little Theatre of Vineland. Later in 1946 the group presented its first program of three one-act plays at Reber School. The performance was well received by the community and helped solidify the desire to create a permanent theatre organization.

In its earliest years, the theatre had no permanent home. Productions were staged in school auditoriums, civic buildings, and other community venues throughout Vineland. Volunteers built scenery, painted sets, sewed costumes, and worked lights and sound. Rehearsals were often held wherever space could be found. What the organization lacked in resources it made up for in enthusiasm and dedication.

During the early 1950s, members of the organization undertook the remarkable effort of converting an old church house on East Sherman Avenue into a permanent theatre building. Through volunteer labor and community support, the structure was transformed into a functioning playhouse that became the home of the theatre and remains central to its identity today.

As the organization continued to grow, performers and audiences began coming from throughout Cumberland County and neighboring communities. Reflecting its expanding regional reach, the organization officially adopted the name Cumberland Players in 1977, emphasizing that the theatre served the entire county and surrounding region.

Over the decades, Cumberland Players has produced a wide variety of theatrical works including classic comedies, dramatic plays, musicals, and youth productions. The stage has presented works by playwrights such as Oscar Wilde, Neil Simon, Tennessee Williams, and many contemporary writers. Each season has brought together local actors, directors, designers, technicians, and volunteers who share a love for the art of theatre.

Beyond its productions, Cumberland Players has played a significant role in the development of theatre throughout southern New Jersey. The theatre has long served as a training ground where artists first develop their skills and discover their passion for the performing arts. Many individuals who began their theatrical journeys on the Cumberland Players stage have gone on to create or lead other theatre organizations throughout the region.

Among the groups and artistic initiatives that trace their roots to the Cumberland Players community are Off Broad Street Players, Gabriel Project, For the Whim, Triple Threat Workshop, and COPA. Each of these organizations reflects the continued growth of theatre in the region and demonstrates the lasting influence of artists who first found inspiration within the Cumberland Players environment.

In this way, Cumberland Players has served not only as a theatre company but also as a creative foundation for the performing arts throughout South Jersey. Directors, actors, designers, and educators who began their journeys with Cumberland Players have carried their knowledge and passion into new companies, new programs, and new stages across the region.

Education and youth involvement have also been central to the theatre’s mission. In 2001, Cumberland Players launched its youth theatre program known as Kids at CP, providing young performers with the opportunity to experience the excitement of live theatre both on stage and behind the scenes. Through Kids at CP, hundreds of children, and teenagers from across the region have participated in productions, learning acting, stagecraft, teamwork, and confidence through the performing arts. Many who first appeared on the Cumberland Players stage through Kids at CP later returned as adult actors, directors, designers, and volunteers, continuing the cycle of artistic growth that has defined the theatre since its earliest days.

Just as important as the productions themselves are the relationships that have formed within the theatre community. Over the years, Cumberland Players has been a place where lifelong friendships have been made, where actors and volunteers have met future spouses, and where families have shared in the experience of creating theatre together. Many members who first joined as young performers later brought their own children to the theatre, creating a multigenerational tradition of participation. For countless individuals, the theatre has become a second home—a place where young people grow up backstage, learn responsibility and teamwork, and discover the joy of storytelling and collaboration.

Today, Cumberland Players remains a vibrant volunteer-driven theatre organization dedicated to bringing live theatre to audiences throughout Cumberland County and beyond. As the organization approaches its 80th anniversary, it stands as both a historic cultural institution and a living example of how community theatre can inspire creativity, foster collaboration, and enrich the life of an entire region.

From its stage have come not only memorable productions, but also generations of artists and organizations that helped shape the theatre landscape of southern New Jersey. What began in 1946 as the Little Theatre of Vineland has grown into a creative legacy that continues to nurture the performing arts throughout the region.

For eighty years, Cumberland Players has been more than a theatre—it has been a community. It is a place where people discover their talents, form lifelong friendships, meet future spouses, and watch their children grow up on and around the stage. What began in 1946 as the Little Theatre of Vineland continues today through the dedication of volunteers and the love of live theatre. As each new season begins and the curtain rises once again, the legacy of Cumberland Players continues to grow with every person who walks through its doors.