Stained Glass Theatre moves to Ozark facility

After 20 years in Springfield, Stained Glass Theatre is moving to Ozark. The last show at the Springfield theatre, which was at 1700 N. Benton, was May 3.

The new theatre is in the former home of Applejack's Country Store, an antique store and flea market, at 1996 E. Evangel.

"God said my original vision has been fulfilled," said Executive Director Ron Boutwell, of his desire to have a full-time Christian theater and provide wholesome Christian entertainment.

"The Lord told me it was time to move to a new place where the ministry could be expanded even more over the next 20 years. We'd maxed out the space where we were, and there was no room for growth. It was time to grow somewhere else or to start a decline."

The Ozark location has about 9,200 square feet of space, a big step up from the former 6,000-square-foot location.

The $75,000 down payment for the new building came from donations and the theatre's general operation fund. A construction loan, taken out for renovations, will be paid when the Benton location is sold. Boutwell said that while people have looked at the building, it hasn't been sold. Don Jacques of Jacques Realty is the listing agent.

After taking possession of the new location on Jan. 10, Boutwell and volunteers disassembled the flea market stalls and then had to build a theatre.

The volunteers did all the work except for the contracted laborers who put in the sheet rock and installed the plumbing and electrical work.

The first floor comprises the lobby, auditorium, gift shop, concession area, restrooms and offices. An upper level for additional seating was added.

The new location also has more space for cars, increasing the number from 15 spots to 80.

The first show in the new theatre "The Praying Man" will open on June 5.

"I wrote this play about seven years ago," Boutwell said. "It's about a man that comes to a small town in Texas because he believes God sent him there to rid the town of evil. This man of God, a carpenter by trade, does find the source of evil."

Boutwell and students from Southwest Baptist University started the Stained Glass Theatre in 1983. The theatre's first home was in the basement of the Springfield Family Restaurant on West Sunshine Street, where it performed for 18 months. The theatre group then called a building on Commercial Street home for the next three years.

Boutwell said he's looking forward to being in Ozark.

"This is an incredible opportunity to see where God's going to lead us," he said.

Stained Glass Theatre is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.