The remodeled front of the Starlighters Theatre building on Main Street
in Anamosa, Iowa. The front of the building faces south.
The set construction workshop area is located in the west half of the
basement. It is filled with construction materials, workbenches,
hand tools, and power tools for use in building sets for
Starlighters II productions. Bill Wims of Marion, IA chairs the set construction department.
The properties department is located in the northern two-thirds
of the second floor. It contains all sizes of properties for
use in Starlighters II productions. A walk through this department
is like a walk through the 22-year history of Starlighters II. Denise Helle of Marion, chairs the
props department. Joan Hanna is in charge of props lending.
The costume department is located in the southern one-third
of the second floor. Here can be found hundreds of pieces of wearing
apparel including dresses, suits, pants, shirts, sweaters, hats, caps,
shoes, scarves, ties, wigs, and other items from all different eras
of styles. These items are used in Starlighters II productions.
Pam White of Anamosa chairs this department and is assisted
by Anne Williams of Anamosa. Costume lending is handled by Dona Stender, Anamosa, IA.
The kitchen and refreshments area is located in the northeast
corner of the basement. Here workers, staff, cast members,
production crew members, and others are able to prepare meals and
snacks, and purchase a delicious cold beverage for enjoyment during
rehearsals, shows, and other activities. The kitchen area can be
easily converted for use in dinner-theatre productions.
The Green Room is located in the east section of the basement. It is
where directors, cast, and crew can relax or do character work while
a rehearsal or performance is taking place on the stage. People in
the Green Room, the makeup room, and backstage are able to watch and
listen to whatever is taking place on the mainstage through a
closed-circuit television system. The Green Room often doubles as
a meeting place for the Board of Directors of Starlighters II, Inc.
Performers, relaxing in the Green Room, watch the action on
mainstage as they await their next entrances.
The photo wall is located in the lobby area which is found in the
southern portion of the main floor of the Starlighters Theatre. It is the
first thing seen by patrons entering the theatre. The photo wall
holds 11 x 17 photographs of the casts and sets of past Starlighters II
mainstage productions.
The lighting booth overlooks the Starlighters II mainstage from the
southwest end of the auditorium area. It includes a computerized
lighting system designed and engineered by Steve Carlson of Anamosa.
The system uses MIDI Show Control operations to control the lighting
of mainstage productions. A twelve-channel sound system with phantom
power is used to control all sound elements of a production, and to
drive a transmitter system for assistive devices for the hearing-
impaired. Doug Nauman of Anamosa chairs the Technology Department of
Starlighters II, Inc.
The makeup department is located in the southeastern section of the
basement. Here the makup crew designs and applies the proper makeup
to the actors and actresses performing in the mainstage production.
The makeup inventory is housed in this area. Polly Chalstrom of Anamosa-
chairs the Makeup Department of the theatre. 
Here is a view of the set for the Starlighters II production of
"Done To Death." The set was designed and built by the late Al Danielson
of Anamosa. He was assisted by Fay Oltmann of Anamosa.
Here is a scene from the Starlighters II production of "Done to Death"
The actors are Kris May (left) of Viola and Jeff Vaughn (right) of
Anamosa.
Here Director Virginia Danielson and the cast of the Starlighters II
production of "Done To Death" participate in a character analysis
session during rehearsals for the show. Character analysis is one of
the most important elements of the rehearsal process. It helps
performers better understand their characters and how they relate to
the other characters in the show. This assists the performers in
the process of internalizing their characters.
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