Frances Vandivort: A Leader and a Light

When the house lights dimmed, and the curtain rose on the 1969 production of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, Springfield Little Theatre insiders knew they were about to see something special. When the spotlights flashed onto the two local actresses playing the Brewster sisters, the remaining audience members were won over, too.

“I remember seeing Frances Vandivort and Dr. Irene Coger in Arsenic and Old Lace and it was totally believable that they had bodies in their basement,” Executive Director Beth Domann joked. “Wouldn’t surprise me one bit.”

Frances Vandivort was a celebrated name around Springfield Little Theatre. She was often hard at work to ensure that every season was a success. There was no role – on stage, backstage, or beyond – that was too small for Frances. She knew that pitching in on the small details was what brought audiences in and allowed for her to occasionally take a turn in the position she most enjoyed – performer.

“Frances Vandivort would sell the tickets, and she always made these little hats that would go with each show,” Beth Domann recalled.

Volunteerism at Springfield Little Theatre has become synonymous with the name ‘Vandivort’. The beloved Frannie Awards, Springfield Little Theatre’s annual volunteer awards, are named in Frances Vandivort’s honor due to her well-rounded contributions to the organization.

In a 1978 oral history of the founding of SLT given to The Guild, Frances noted the desperate circumstances through which passionate volunteers like herself endured for the love of the theatre. Launching during the Great Depression, limping through World War II, assembling sets with no permanent performance space, and eventually renovating the Landers, Vandivort and other SLT stalwarts persevered. She explained with good humor how even behind the scenes responsibilities are critical to performances – and can occasionally go awry.

“Sometimes, it might be your job to be backstage. You would have in your hand a rigged board that would have a bell on it, and on cue, you would ring the telephone, or you would ring the doorbell,” Vandivort explained. “Now you know sometimes these things didn’t work. And if they didn’t work, you just hoped that somebody on stage had the poise to say, ‘Was that the doorbell?’ Or ‘Did I hear the telephone?’ Lots of funny things happened.”

Frances Vandivort cherished the community aspect of SLT but dedicated herself at a professional level. Her impact has elevated productions year after year as new generations strive for the joy she imparted. Vandivort was a rare talent who had a director’s vision, an actor’s intuition, and a patron’s heart.

“She acted and she directed. Fabulous, fabulous actress,” Domann praised. “She was a force. She was just a classy lady.”