Columbia Theater Gains International Acclaim

(Columbia) It's opening night, and the latest play to cross the stage at Trustus Theater is The Graduate. It was made famous by Dustin Hoffman's movie in the 1960's. But whether the audience realizes it or not, the very theater they're sitting in has started gaining some fame of it's own.“We're in the top nine in the world, I'm happy to say … in fact, the top five in this country,” said Jim Thigpen.Thigpen founded Trustus over 20 years ago. This year, it was named by Theater Festivals -- a major performing arts publication -- as one of the best places in the world to showcase an original play.“I think the whole community should be proud, that the rest of the world looks at us as being a hot bed for theater and for new works in particular,” said Thigpen.Jocelyn Sanders has directed and starred in plays here over the years. She's always felt there's just something there at Trustus that isn't there in other theaters.“That was the first thing that set it apart, the fact that it was a truly comfortable theater experience physically,” said Sanders.On the stage, actress Vicky Saye Henderson says she's always been comfortable here.“I think there's a very different atmosphere when you walk into the room, it's a very intimate setting,” she said. “You know, the front row … I could reach out and shake hands with the first person there."Jim Thigpen and his staff know it, but now, they see others are finding out too. Trustus isn't just on the map in Columbia. It's on the world map.