Our Story
It began with a little story about the Chamber of Commerce in the small town of Rosewood, a fictional municipality created by Peter Paylor. River & Main Theatre Company was named after River & Main, the main intersection in Rosewood.
Founded in 2017, River & Main Theatre Company was a company without a home until our founders discovered the perfect location in the heart of downtown Belleville. Behind the inspiring and well-known rainbow wings at 30 Bridge Street East, painted by local artists Elizabeth and Chantelle Dinkel, the company found a home, and Theatre in the Wings was born. Since opening its doors in October 2021, Theatre in The Wings has been a thriving part of the revitalization of Belleville’s downtown core.
River & Main Theatre Company is now a federally incorporated not-for-profit theatre organization. We take pride in producing and promoting works by local theatre creators and artists and being active members of the Belleville community.
Behind the Wings
Our little theatre is an intimate, 40-seat storefront performance venue, located in a beautifully restored historic building. Surrounded by local art and a sense of community, our venue is the perfect environment for a truly unique live show experience, including theatre, film, comedy and live music.
Board of Directors
Peter Paylor, President & Artistic Director
Lisa Spence, Vice President
Jane Gardner, Secretary
Candace Meeks, Director at Large (Membership)
MJ Camarena-Gorn, Director at Large (Marketing)
“The time has come for the mayor and council to do something once and for all to end the street-fighting in downtown Rosewood. It’s a black eye on our reputation and it needs to stop before more people get taken off to the hospital, which is what happened when tempers flared at the corner of River & Main this past weekend when Desmond Bailey’s World Famous Acrobatic Dogs performed in the middle of River Street while the Rosewood and Region Fancy Cat Show was held in the middle of Main.”