Tom Thumb Players was a young peoples' theatre company based in Chicago, Illinois.
Established in 1946 by Lester Netzky (director/producer), Tom Thumb Players Theatre Company for children ages 4-12 and its teenage division, Front Row Center Theatre Company, was the first of its kind to offer theatre training for young people in the Chicago, Illinois area. Located on the second floor of a non-descript corner office building on Chicago's far north side, 2323 W. Devon Avenue, to be exact, it was the theatre home to thousands of young people desiring an outlet for creative expression. This innovative school for acting taught the Stanislavski Method Acting technique to its young students, a method previously only used with adult actors. Discovering the character's background and then becoming the character before going onstage was the key to the method of training provided here. Students were also given the opportunity to learn and experiment with behind the scenes aspects of the theatre, such as scenic design, lighting and sound design, as well as costuming, make up and properties. Children’s' plays such as "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp," "Cinderella," "Peter Pan," and "Heidi" were mainstays of the theatre school During the 1960s and 70's musicals of the golden era were often produced. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s' "The Sound of Music," "Carousel," "The King and I," and "Oklahoma!" were favorites of the director during the 1960s and 1970's and were deemed appropriate for the wide age range the school served. One particular musical, from across the Atlantic, held a special place for all who performed it; "OLIVER!" by Lionel Bart in 1968 was deemed magical by local drama critics as well as local theatre teachers in the area.
Lester Netzky Lester Netzky trained in New York City with Maria Ouspenskaya, a student of Konstantin Stanislavski. Netzky also worked professionally with other local Chicago area professional theatre companies, acting as director/producer. He supplied many local talent agencies with his students who were active in commercials, professional stage plays, and film. Shirley Netzky, his wife and partner, ran the office meticulously, as secretary, bookkeeper, seamstress, and oft times substitute mother to a hard working group of young people.
Mr. Netzky was well aware that making a life in the theatre was a difficult if not impossible one; and so advertised his school as one that would train young people in all walks of life, whether it was in the arts or another profession. Netzky truly believed that the discipline of theatre schooling at this young age was good training for life in terms of getting along with others and working together toward a common goal.
The Chicago studio Facilities in the Chicago studio included a 150 seat custom built proscenium theatre built on the 2nd floor of the Devon Avenue building, fully equipped with the current theatrical lighting and sound equipment of the day. The small stage, though only 20 feet in width and 14 feet in depth, appeared enormous to its young actors and actresses. A Wurlitzer piano and its player, Dorothy Rawson (the director's older cousin and former concert pianist) was its only accompaniment, located below the stage to the audience's right. Accompanied by only a piano, the emphasis was placed on the young performer and not on a fully orchestrated production. A ballet division was also begun in the 1950s first headed by Melba Cordes, and later by Royal Ballet artist, Bridget Waltmann. During her tenure with Tom Thumb Players, Ms. Waltmann presented full ballet productions of Tchaikovsky's "Cinderella" and "The Nutcracker Suite Ballet."
Summer Theatre workshops, unusual for its time began in 1967 with a production of "The Sound of Music," continuing in 1968 with the afore mentioned "OLIVER!," 1970 - "Once Upon a Mattress," 1971-"Carousel," 1972-"Fiddler on the Roof" and 1973-"Oklahoma!"
The move to Arizona
In 1975, Netzky relocated to Tucson, Arizona, forever taking his Tom Thumb Players with him and leaving many young Chicago area actors with a terrible loss. Encouraged to resurrect his school, he did so in Tucson and was active until 1985, finally selling his interest and copyright of name to a local theatre teacher.
Lester Netzky died at the age of 76 in April, 1996 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
:grin Hello, I am the original writer of this piece. I was so pleased to see it in its original form on this page as Wikipedia does not trust the piece to be authentic. Their instructions and advice are confusing at best. I finally gave up and allowed the item to be pulled. Too bad, because i did hear from a few former members!
2008 is an important year...as it is 40 years since that wonderful Summer Theatre Workshop at Tom Thumb Players. Happy Anniversary to all who were a part of that time.
Please feel free to write with any questions, etc..
Marc Schwartz marcnt77@hotmail.com
Guest
2. 09-05-2009 14:25
Hi Marc--thank you for getting TTP into Wikibin. I googled Netzky's name this morning, having done so several years earlier, a pleasant surprise. One actor mentions Danny Kaye as an affiliation--I wonder what that meant!!! I recently met a young woman who studied with Netzky in Tucson. It was nice to know a few facts I hadn't known before. Are you still employed by New Trier? If so and if Hilerre Kirsch is also still there, please tell her hi as well! ! ! Best regards, Bob R.
Guest
3. 26-11-2009 05:51
My name is Laura McCormick. I studied with Lester Netzky from 1980-1983 in Tucson, Az. I had lost contact with him for a several years, but in 1994 I found him, and we remainded in contact until his death in 1996. I have never forgotten what I learned from him. He had such a positve impact on my life, and I miss him so much. He was a great mentor. I had a great deal respect for him, loved him like a father. He was one of a kind.
Guest
4. 31-12-2009 14:35
I went to Netsky's acting school "Tom Thumb players" in the 1970's in Chicago. It was a great school and I have so many fond memories of my time spent in acting class and in play's while attending. Great to see the history of his school(s) on line! Thank you!
Guest
5. 06-03-2010 20:21
I was a student at Tom Thumb with Mr. Netsky from 1958-1961. I still have photos and memories to treasure. When Chorus Line first came out and I heard the lyric "up the steep and very narrow stairway" I thought of the stairs on Devon Ave. I can still hear the sound of my young feet climbing those steps and then turning the corner to see Mrs. Netsky at the desk! Much much more!! I was feeling nostalgic this morning and so grateful to find this posting! -- Jim Scholle
Guest
6. 07-08-2010 06:15
I studied with Lester Netzky in Tucson, Az. in 1977 one summer! It was so much fun!
Guest
7. 05-10-2010 00:13
I fondly remember my days on Devon Ave. for a few years in the last 60s and early 70s with Front Row Center. During breaks we'd explore the head shops on Devon. Then I moved to Tucson for college in 1971 and was surprised when I saw that Lester had moved the theatre here. I never saw any productions unfortunately. But it brought back great memories.
Guest
8. 22-01-2011 01:17
Just a suggestion to those reading and enjoying this article: I have created a FACEBOOK account which you are welcome to join....Please mention this article (if it lets you) and I will accept you as a member.
Guest
9. 22-01-2011 01:18
Search for Tom Thumb Players and ask to become a member.
Guest
10. 26-03-2011 05:36
THANKS MARC! TOM THUMB REUNION...SEPTEMBER 16TH 2011 IN CHICAGO. EXACT TIME AND LOCATION TO BE POSTED! WHO WILL COME?
Guest
11. 16-12-2011 15:39
Mike Sims, Are you the Mr. Sims who taught the little kids at Tom Thumb? If so, you were my first drama teacher! I played Mother Rabbit in Peter Rabbit and then Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. The next plays were Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp and Beauty and the Beast. I hope you are well and am sad if I missed a reunion! (Marc Schwartz, I asked to join your Facebook group for Tom Thumb!) Best regards, Cynthia Zeiden aka Cindy Zeidenstein
