Joe Ford arrived in Georgetown in January 1988 – a newly-minted engineer ready to start his job at the bygone Georgetown Steel Mill [later called the Liberty Steel Mill].  It wasn’t long before he found out that the HR/personnel assistant, Jo Camlin, was a founding member of a performing arts group called the Swamp Fox Players. 

In the summer of 1988, Camlin invited Ford to an upcoming show at the Strand Theater on Front Street in Georgetown. That production was “The Octet Bridge Club,” a play by P.J. Barry about eight women who meet every couple of weeks to play bridge and gossip.

“I remember it very well,” says Ford. “They were extremely hilarious. I just moved to Georgetown, and I thought this little town had a talented bunch of people here.”

Inge Ebert, another founding member of the group, also worked at the steel mill as sales manager.  Both women are still active with the Swamp Fox Players – with over fifty years each of volunteer service under their belts. 

Ford grew up in Southern California and later, Charlotte, N.C. – and got a taste of theater when his parents took him to productions in both places. 

A year later, Ebert asked Ford if he would help build a set for another production, which he did – and so began his journey. His first acting part consisted of one line. The rest of the time was spent lying on the floor. 

“I started getting out to the shows and started directing, and I guess you could say the rest is history,” says Ford, who is now the chairman of the production board. Wife Foy Ford is theater manager, the only paid position with the Swamp Fox Players. 

The Swamp Fox Players bought the Strand Theater in 1986. Before that, Ford says the group performed anywhere they could. 

“That was before my time, but they played at the armories or in the clubhouse at the Wedgefield Country Club and places like that.” 

When it comes to the Swamp Fox Players – it’s all community theater – all volunteer – ensuring that revenue goes back into theater operations and that keeping ticket pricing at a reasonable level. 

“We have a board that meets once a month to discuss the shows that are coming up, what needs to be done around the building and fundraising opportunities,” says Ford. 

Auditions are always open to the public. 

In this age of increased screen time and shortened attention spans, Ford is adamant that live theater isn’t going anywhere. 

“Theater survives, and there’s a reason for this,” he says. “There is nothing quite like a live performance – especially when you know that the performers are not professionals and that they have given of their time to put on a show. They have come together to make that performance that was written by somebody else, and there’s nothing you can get off the internet or social media that will quite live up to that”

For complete details about the Swamp Fox Players, visit www.swampfoxplayers.com.