It all began with an idea.
Patrick Williams and Bob Franklin, two former English teachers who love to entertain, decided in the Spring of 2014 to form a traveling theater production company (Paladin Productions: Have Show Will Travel) in order to bring dinner theater-type entertainment to local country clubs and dining establishments.
They knew that clubs were always looking for new ways to solidify their food and beverage operations by drawing more members into the dining rooms regularly for dinner and drinks, and they thought it would be worthwhile to explore whether local clubs would be responsive to the idea of hosting theatrical productions, including musical revues, regularly.
Not surprisingly, the responses were overwhelmingly positive, the more so since the only charge to the clubs was to be enough to cover production costs (performance rights, costumes, lights, sound, etc). With that framework in mind, Pat and Bob created “Paladin Productions: Have Show Will Travel,” established a Board of Directors, and hired an attorney to set them up as a tax-exempt organization.
Paladin Productions can accept annual contributions, donations, and sponsorships. We have, through the generosity of friends and patrons, been able to meet capital costs like storage and the purchase of our own sound and lighting equipment better suited to the various venues. With your help, we can continue to bring you quality entertainment, so please consider becoming a supporter, a contributor, or a sponsor (see Giving Levels). Your gift is tax deductible!
Beth Ansede and David Stinson in The Mellville Boys by Norm Foster (July 2016)
What’s in a Name?
Following numerous productions as both actors and directors, Bob and Patrick determined to fill what they saw as a void in Aiken's entertainment offerings - productions that would be performed for local clubs and organizations in their own buildings, which Patrick characterized as a "show in a box." They brainstormed for months, finally agreeing to a mission and purpose for this entity which would be known (not without purposeful intent) as Paladin Productions, with the motto "Have Show Will Travel."
This moniker harkens back to the old TV show "Have Gun Will Travel" (its main character was named Paladin), which took its theme from the knights of Charlemagne, known as "paladins." These knights were the "original mercenaries" sent on "noble missions" for their employer. Patrick believes that Paladin Productions serves a "noble mission" by bringing quality entertainment directly to its audiences.
