88R30513 AMB-D
By: Gamez H.R. No. 2096
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Camille Lightner Playhouse in Brownsville is
celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2023, and this occasion
provides a welcome opportunity to honor this South Texas treasure;
and
WHEREAS, The Camille Playhouse traces its roots to the fall
of 1963, when several English, speech, and drama teachers, along
with a few interested theater buffs, got together and started a
theater group called "The Brownsville Players"; they originally
performed in an old, vacant cotton sampling warehouse on Central
Avenue, and their first two productions were Green Grow the Lilacs
followed by Thieves' Carnival; and
WHEREAS, In the summer of 1964, the Sams Foundation
recognized the group's hard work and provided a grant for the
construction of the present-day theater; the City of Brownsville
donated the land in Dean Porter Park, and on January 31, 1965, the
Camille Lightner Playhouse was dedicated in memory of Camille Sams
Lightner, a talented performer with a love for theater who passed
away in 1962; the Sams Foundation provided another grant in 1974,
and shortly thereafter, a much-needed addition to the building was
constructed for storage, work, and rehearsal space; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Camille Playhouse is one of the oldest
theaters south of San Antonio, and except for the two years of
interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has consistently
presented 60 seasons of stage productions; the theater offers
programs to people of all ages, both on the main stage and during
its Youth Summer Workshops; and
WHEREAS, For six decades, the Camille Lightner Playhouse has
provided entertainment, enlightenment, and education to its
audiences, and in so doing, it has helped build a strong sense of
community and made an invaluable contribution to the rich, cultural
fabric of Brownsville; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Camille
Lightner Playhouse and extend to all those associated with the
theater sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the theater as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.