Our Town Brings a Timeless Story to the Stage

The Second Theatre Company brought Thornton Wilder’s Our Town to life on stage at the Cullen Theater in the Wortham Center this past weekend. With two back-to-back performances, the cast and crew captivated audiences with a timeless story that celebrates the beauty of everyday life and the importance of cherishing each moment.

This marks the third time Our Town has been presented on the SBS stage, following earlier productions in 1981 and 2012. The play also holds special meaning for Director of Arts Cindy Blades, as it was the first production she directed when she began her teaching career at Second Baptist School. Members of her original cast, still part of the SBS community, were in the audience for this year’s performances, celebrating the lasting impact of her work and the tradition of theater at SBS.

Set in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play unfolds through three acts that explore life, love and loss. SBS students embraced the challenge of performing this classic with a minimalist approach—no elaborate sets, few props and little staging to rely on. Instead, the focus rested on storytelling and the authenticity of each performance.

“This production required our students to think differently about acting,” said Director of Arts Cindy Blades. “They had to master the art of pantomime and use expression, timing and connection with the audience to create entire scenes out of imagination. It stretched them creatively and deepened their understanding of what true theater can be.”

Blades reflected on the impact of the play, noting how it reached her students beyond the stage. “Our Town is a classic. Through the story, we are reminded to slow down, to look people in the eye and to notice life’s moments as they happen,” she said. “In the play, Emily asks, ‘Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it, every minute?’ and the Stage Manager answers, ‘No. Poets and saints, maybe, they do some.’ That truth still hits home.

“After our performances, some of our students shared how deeply this production moved them. They said they want to slow down, to hug their friends, to look their parents in the eye and to remember that life is fragile. The Lord tells us to number our days, and these students are taking that to heart. For them to take away something so real and spiritual from a play written generations ago gives me great hope for our students and for our community.”

Performing at the Wortham gave students a unique opportunity to step onto a professional stage and share their talents in one of Houston’s most respected venues. Months of rehearsals, line work and character development led to two moving performances that reflected not only their artistic growth but also their unity as a company.

Through simplicity and sincerity, Our Town reminded audiences and the SBS community of the beauty found in ordinary days and the extraordinary stories within them.

Our Town Photo Album