TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Community Theater of Terre Haute hosted its first shows in nearly 18 months Sunday due to COVID-19 concerns.

Theater President A.J. Dinkel said it was difficult for everyone involved at the theater to not have shows over the past year and a half.

“We closed the building to everyone but our executive committee and our board,” Dinkel said. “Nobody was even allowed in the building for a long time and it took some adjustment.”

Dinkel acknowledged that he took acting for granted before the virus hit the US. He said performing in show after show without appreciating them is something that was normal, but with shows being stripped away his mindset will now change after a show.

“We go to the next one and don’t really think about it,” Dinkel said. “One day you’re doing it and then it’s just closed. Yeah, I think I may have taken it for granted.”

Robin Baer was one of the first to act in the theater since its reopening. He said the closure was tough to handle.

“Usually I do one to two shows here every season,” Baer said. “Knowing that I couldn’t do that for a while was difficult to come to terms with that.”

However, Baer said he is now ready to turn the page and continue performing.

“I love to entertain people and that’s one of the main reasons I do this,” Baer explained. “It’s a feeling you won’t know until you’re right there as an actor.”