In 1990, I took my ten-year-old granddaughter to The Studio Theater on the Shepherd University campus to see the opening of a play featuring clowns. I knew she’d enjoy it, although we sat on wooden benches, and in that July heat, were comforted only by large circular fans off-stage.

Now, in 2023, I attend state-of-the-art theaters in that small university town, each dedicated to producing first rate productions, debuting new playwrights and scripts. This year each play was a world premiere performance.