Rivertime Players Keep Parsons’ Century-Old Toby Tent Theatre Tradition Alive

The Rivertime Players in Parsons are the caretakers of what local listings call the last remaining repertory tent show, a repertory Toby Tent theatre gifted to the Parsons Arts Council by Dr. Dawn Larsen in November 2006. The volunteer-driven nonprofit maintains the large historic tent and stages the Toby Show each September and October, with the Decatur County events calendar listing a September–October 2025 run.

The troupe traces a direct line to older touring companies, noting the Henderson Stock Company/Rosier Players as part of the show's lineage and recording that Bisbee’s Comedians brought the Toby Show to Parsons every year from 1927 to 1964. Decaturcountytennessee materials state the Rivertime Players “are now caretakers of a historic cultural asset that can trace its roots to its founding 116 years ago,” a claim presented on the group’s local listings.

The Toby character at the heart of the tent tradition emerges from repertory show history; Rivertime Players materials credit Fred Wilson with creating the role and preserve his self-description: “I came into this world with a shock of unruly red hair, and later acquired a flock of freckles that all the makeup in Stein's laboratory couldn't have improved upon.” The group’s history pages link Toby’s name to Tobe Haxton, the country boy comic in W.C. Herman’s melodrama Clouds and Sunshine, and describe regional variants of the character across the Midwest, the mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky, and the West.

Rivertime Players Artistic Director Shane Bridges directs the modern productions and stars as Toby, while Mark Tubbs serves as Executive Director. Tnfolklife notes that “Rivertime Players Artistic Director, Shane Bridges, directs today’s Toby Shows and stars as Toby. Bridges’ loving attention to traditionality was rewarded when, in 2015, he was inducted into the 2015 Toby Hall of Fame.” Tnfolklife’s field notes capture audience reaction to the revived shows: “The play started at 7:30 and we didn’t leave the tent until after 10:00, a stretch of time the audience seemed quite comfortable with as they were expecting it. Audience response throughout was spirited and enthusiastic – Toby and company had the attendees in the palm of their hands.”

Operationally, the Rivertime Players present other productions “as time and space allow” and note that “At this time we do not post a season. We hope to do so when a permanent space becomes available.” The group publishes contact information on county listings as P.O. Box 128, Parsons, TN 38363, phone (731) 847-6358, and maintains an official website and a YouTube channel described as “Home of the last of the old-time Toby Tent Shows.”

The company also promotes Tennessee Specialty Arts License Plates as a funding mechanism and states on its site that “On average 80% of Tennessee Arts Grants are funded by the purchase of Specialty License Plates.” As Parsons prepares for the next September–October run, the Rivertime Players continue to present a live repertory tent experience that ties modern audiences to touring traditions dating back to the early 20th century.