‘Rose’s, Rings, and Ruins’ ushers in new S.T.A.R.S. Community Theater in Mulvane
The new theater troupe, founded by cousins for ‘actors, volunteers, and theater lovers of all experience levels,’ opens its first show the last weekend in July.
Carolynn and Jessica Bradshaw, “cousins and besties” are co-founders of a new community theater in Mulvane. The pair have loved the stage (and stage-adjacent activities, like Derby Moviecraft) since young girlhood, once playing twins in a church play. Carolynn has acted in community theater frequently, while Jessica directed, stage managed, and occasionally acted, including in “Storylines” by her friend Bethany Khanu.
“That was the first show she wrote and produced — and inspired me to write my own,” Jessica Bradshaw wrote in an email.
Jessica Bradshaw (left) and Carolynn Bradshaw (far right) are co-founders of Derby's newest theater: S.T.A.R.S., which stands for Sarcastic Thespians Attempting Ridiculous Scenes. Photos by Hannah Crickman for The SHOUT.
That play, “Rose’s, Rings, and Ruins,” debuts the Bradshaws’ S.T.A.R.S. Community Theater, which has as its vision collegiality and support for participants at all levels of experience, not only within S.T.A.R.S. but also throughout the region’s theater community. The Facebook page states the goal as creating “family-friendly shows that make you smile while offering a welcoming space for local actors, volunteers, and theater lovers of all experience levels to shine.”
“We know how hard it is to get out there on stage when you feel like you are too inexperienced or not well-known in the theater community, so we are hoping to give that opportunity here,” Jessica Bradshaw said.
The cast of “Rose’s, Rings, and Ruins” rehearses on July 2 in in the band shell at Main Street Park in Mulvane. Photos by Hannah Crickman for The SHOUT.
The cousins had long discussed starting a theater, but when Carolynn Bradshaw married, she moved to her husband’s home in Missouri. (She retained her birth name, and he changed his to Bradshaw.) When the couple moved to Mulvane in 2025, the plan reignited.
“We got the green light to work under the Mulvane Community Foundation in October 2025,” Jessica said. “They have provided many resources since then” — leading caroling at the Mulvane Tree Lighting, helping locate an indoor rehearsal space, advising them on grants they qualified for, and more. Foundation director Malissa Long was “especially helpful,” letting them know about opportunities such as additional safety training.
“Rose’s, Rings, and Ruin” — “a comedy about a wedding gone wrong” — opens July 31 for a three-performance run.
The cousins are already planning for the future. They hope to bring in new directors and playwrights and add workshops “to promote the sharing of experience, knowledge, and love of theater.”
The Details
“Rose’s, Rings, and Ruin”
July 31-August 2, 2026
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the band shell in the Mulvane Main Street Park, 301 E. Main St. in Mulvane, Kansas.
Performances are free and open to the public. Donations are welcome.
Learn more on the Facebook page for S.T.A.R.S. Community Theater.
Anne Welsbacher writes plays, fiction, and nonfiction. She is the Performing Arts Editor for this publication. awelsbacher.com
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