Ogunquit Playhouse

Ogunquit Playhouse
Location 10 Main Street (US 1),
Ogunquit, Maine
Coordinates 43°14′20″N 70°36′2″W / 43.23889°N 70.60056°W / 43.23889; -70.60056Coordinates: 43°14′20″N 70°36′2″W / 43.23889°N 70.60056°W / 43.23889; -70.60056
Area 4.1 acres (1.7 ha)
Built 1937
Architectural style Colonial Revival
NRHP Reference # 95001458[1]
Added to NRHP December 14, 1995

The Ogunquit Playhouse is a regional theater at 10 Main Street (United States Route 1) in Ogunquit, Maine. The Ogunquit Playhouse is one of the last remaining summer theatres from the Straw Hat Circuit, also referred to as Summer Stock, still producing live musical theatre. The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1] In 2015, the listing was raised to National Level of Significance "in consideration of the significant contributions made by its founder Walter J. Hartwig and the Playhouse to Performing Arts Education throughout the nation." [2]

About

The Ogunquit Playhouse produces five (sometimes more) musicals each season, with each season running mid-May through mid-October with performances Tuesday through Sunday. Each show is cast for its audience, and shows are produced and rehearsed onsite or in New York City.[3]

Premieres

During its 82nd season, the Ogunquit Playhouse staged one of the first regional premieres of both Billy Elliot the Musical and The Addams Family (musical), as well as the American Northeast premiere of The Witches of Eastwick (musical).[4][5]

Children's Theatre Program

The Children's Theatre Program began in the late 1990s, offering children from ages 5–15 and opportunity to learn and perform on the Playhouse campus and stage.[3]

Education and outreach

With the expansion of the season from 10 to 21 weeks, the Playhouse was able to offer more educational opportunities to middle and high school children. In 2006, Fiddler on the Roof and Les Miserables (musical) sold out to enthusiastic young audiences. Corporate funding from Bank of America and a grant from The Davis Family Foundation enabled school performances and outreach programs to grow, bringing under-served children and families to the Playhouse to enjoy live theatre.[3]

History

Beginnings

The Ogunquit Playhouse was established by Walter and Maude Hartwig in 1933 in a renovated garage in the center of Ogunquit, Maine. As part of the Little Theatre Movement of the 1920s and early 30s, Walter Hartwig organized an annual theatre tournament in New York. When the Depression put an end to the tournament, Hartwig started the Manhattan Theatre Colony and brought it to the town of Ogunquit. In 1937, the theatre moved to a new building at its present-day location on Main Street in Ogunquit, Maine. The Ogunquit Playhouse was the first, and remains the only, summer theatre from the summer stock era built exclusively as a seasonal theatre. After Walter's death in 1941, Maude carried on his legacy at the Playhouse.[3]

1950s

In 1950, John Lane became the general manager and eventually took ownership of the Playhouse with his business partner, Henry Weller. Together they focused on modernizing and improving the building and grounds, and through John Lane's direction, audiences enjoyed the brightest stars and finest professional actors performing in Broadway's best shows. After a long and successful career, John Lane retired in 1994. He transferred ownership to the Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation that currently oversees the Ogunquit Playhouse. John Lane died in 2000.[3]

1990s

In September 1999, Roy M. Rogosin was hired as Producing Artistic Director to help usher the Playhouse towards a new era. During this transition, the playhouse began producing its own shows, designing and building sets, designing costumes and bringing back the stars. The old Manhattan Theatre Colony building was restored as a rehearsal space. At the same time, the Children's Theatre Program began, and continues today. The program provides a number of educational opportunities for children and teens interested in theatre, both as performers and behind-the-scenes.[3]

2000s

In 2006, Bradford Kenney came on board as the new Executive Artistic Director. With his guidance the Playhouse continued a tradition of excellence, bringing regional premieres and stars of the stage and screen to Ogunquit. With help from grants from the Maine Arts Commission and the Donato J. Tramuto Foundation, improvements were made to both the sound and lighting systems. Audiences were growing, and soon the theatre expanded from a 10-weeks to a 21-week season. In 2010, a new steel support system for the stage house section of the theatre was installed to support the building and a new rigging system. In 2013, a state-of-the-art sprinkler system was installed.[3]

75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary Season

The Ogunquit Playhouse celebrated its 75th year in 2007 with seven shows that performed to record-breaking audiences. The season included a revival of 2006's Menopause the Musical, The Full Monty (musical) with Hunter Foster and Sally Struthers, Crazy for You (musical) with Rue McClanahan, La Cage aux Folles, The King and I with Lorenzo Lamas, Hairspray (musical), and closed with a revival of The Full Monty (musical) with Hunter Foster and Sally Struthers.[3]

80th Anniversary Season

The Playhouse celebrated 80 years in theatre with the most successful season to-date that included Sally Struthers in Always, Patsy Cline and 9 to 5 (musical), Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific (musical), Carson Kressley in Damn Yankees (musical) The Boston Red Sox Version, and Ballroom with a Twist featuring celebrity pros and talents from Dancing with the Stars, American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, including Anna Trebunskaya and Jonathan Roberts. The season closed with what became the theatre's most popular musical ever, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story starring Kurt Jenkins. The demand was so high that the show was brought back the following year as the season closer.[3]

Shows

Shows by season for the last nine years:

2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
Grease The Rat Pack is Back Always, Patsy Cline Avenue Q The Drowsy Chaperone A Chorus Line Fiddler on the Roof Menopause the Musical (revival) Beehive, The 60s Musical
Billy Elliot Thoroughly Modern Millie South Pacific Summer of Love The Sound of Music SHOUT! The Mod Musical The Producers The Full Monty Cabaret
Mary Poppins Young Frankenstein Ballroom with a Twist The Music Man Sunset Blvd Guys and Dolls Breaking Up is Hard To Do Crazy for You Cinderella
The Witches of Eastwick Joseph... Damn Yankees Legally Blonde the Musical Spamalot Singin' in the Rain My Fair Lady La Cage aux Folles Hello, Dolly!
The Addams Family Ballroom with a Twist 9 to 5 the Musical Miss Saigon Chicago All Shook Up Les Miserables The King and I Menopause, the Musical
West Side Story Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story Disney's High School Musical Disney's High School Musical Hairspray
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story The Full Monty (revival)

Stars

Stars that have appeared at the Ogunquit Playhouse includes the following:[6]

Awards and Recognitions

New England Theatre Conference (NETC)

Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards

South Pacific (2012)

Miss Saigon (2011) (nominations)

Spamalot (2010)

Sunset Boulevard (2010)

My Fair Lady (2009)

Singin' in the Rain (musical) (2009)

BroadwayWorld.com Maine Awards

Billy Elliot the Musical (2014) [8]

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2013) [9]

ecomaine Awards

References

  1. 1 2 Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/2015-press/national-register-of-historic-places
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/about/history
  4. ↑ http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/2013-press/2014-season
  5. ↑ http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/2014-press/season
  6. ↑ http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/docs/Stars-Updated-2013.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20141105/NEWS/141109501/101139/ENTERTAINMENT?template=printart
  8. ↑ http://www.broadwayworld.com/maine/article/2014-BroadwayWorld-Maine-Winners-Announced-Noah-Parets-Heidi-Kettenring-Susan-Finch-More-20150114
  9. ↑ http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/2013-BroadwayWorld-Maine-Awards-Winners-Announced-Clay-Aiken-Keala-Settle-More-20140127
  10. ↑ http://www.ecomaine.org/recycling/Awards%20Og-Ya%2013.pdf

External links

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