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A photo from The Whole Backstage Community Theatre's production of The Will Rogers Follies in 2019.

The Whole Backstage Community Theatre is located in Guntersville, Alabama where theatrical productions have been performed to the surrounding community for over 50 years. Patrons, donors, and volunteers help maintain the community theatre as it is a non-profit organization. The mission of The Whole Backstage Community Theatre is to engage, educate, and entertain the community with live performances and also present the opportunity for individuals to collaborate and grow as performers, designers, and laborers.

History

The initial goal of The Whole Backstage Community Theatre, created by Dot Moore, was to provide an outlet and safe space for teens after three young locals had been killed in a car crash. This teen club became known as the "Dramatic Drop-Ins." A few years after the creation of this teen club, adults joined the community, as well. Previously, the building that now houses The Whole Backstage Community Theatre was the Old Rock School, an elementary school for students in the city of Guntersville. As the 1970s approached, this building was no longer used as a school and evolved into a theatre. In 2005, the auditorium received a substantial renovation. Many genres of productions, such as musicals, comedies, original works, children's plays, dramas, and more have been performed within The Whole Backstage. Founder Dot Moore stated, "We are, all put together, a 'Whole Backstage' because we are a unit of individuals working together enjoying most times together, learning at all times together."

Tradition in The Whole Backstage Community Theatre

One long-established tradition within The Whole Backstage Community Theatre is that of handprints. After the conclusion of each show's run, all participants who helped the production come to life paint their hands to make their handprint on the theatre wall. Each show has a designated place among the backstage wall areas. Founder Dot Moore passed away in 2013. Moore was honored with many awards during her lifetime. In 1988 Moore received the Alabama Governor's Award for volunteering in the Arts and Humanities. She was also awarded the Arts' Bill Bates Award by the Alabama State Council in order to honor her "tireless work in the arts without thought of reward." In 2009 Moore was awarded "The Jonnie Dee Riley Little Lifetime Achievement Award" for her donation of time and service to the state of Alabama. The Alabama Council of the Arts presents "The Jonnie Dee Riley Little Lifetime Achievement Award" as the highest honor given to a volunteer within the state. However, the title that Dot Moore claimed she was most attached to was "The Founding Mother of The Whole Backstage." Due to Moore's many years of hard work and dedication to The Whole Backstage Community Theatre, many members who had worked with her in the past collaborated to create a show in her honor. In 2014 The Whole Backstage Community Theatre presented "The First Forty Years: A Tribute to Dot Moore." This production was a series of singing, dancing, and acting of past shows that Moore had contributed to or directed. Moore left such a legacy that the street in front of the theatre has been renamed to "Dot Moore Way." The Whole Backstage Community Theatre now offers the Dot Moore Memorial Scholarship to graduating high school seniors in order to help fund college for creative students looking to forward their education.