Plays and Players Theatre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Plays and Players Theater is one of the oldest nonprofessional theaters in continuous use in the United States. It was designed and constructed in 1912 by Amos W. Barnes, Philadelphia architect. Murals were added in 1923 by the American artist Edith Emerson. Since its inception Plays and Players has undergone many changes, but it has never closed its doors.
[edit] History
Plays and Players was founded in 1911 at the Art Alliance. It was a social club devoted to expanding and developing new theater experiences for and by its membership. Membership was an exclusive group of friends who commissioned works to be written and performed for charitable purposes. The first President, Maud Durbin Skinner, was the wife of the famed American actor, Otis Skinner, who performed upon the Delancey Street stage during its early history. Many other theatrical greats have acted here over the years including the Barrymores, John Drew and Kevin Bacon. Plays and Players is very likely the community theater on which Philadelphia playwright George Kelly based his slapstick comedy The Torch Bearers. It is also the theater where the acclaimed Broadway play, Stalag 17, premiered.
By the 1950's the membership of the private club was less exclusive and more representative of the center city community, but performances were still only for members. In the 1960's, Plays and Players opened its productions to the entire community. In the 70's the Plays and Players Children's Theater was added to the schedule. In addition, the Plays and Players Theater has hosted many other artistic endeavors: Drama Guild, Pocket Playhouse, Gilbert and Sullivan Players, American Music Theater, Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC) and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival to name a few.
[edit] Present day activities
Plays and Players is in a state of constant change as center city populations are often transient. In their busiest seasons, Plays and Players produces several adult plays and 5-6 children's plays while supporting a workshop theater and full calendar of social events. Additionally, the theatre takes performances to nursery schools, swim clubs, street festivals and Philadelphia's Bicentennial Celebration.
In recent years, the Family Theater remained active, but commitments to the building necessitated a hiatus of their own adult productions in favor of rental income. Since 1982 Plays and Players has been the home of the professional regional theatre Philadelphia Theatre Company, their in-house rental. The 2006/2007 season will be Philadelphia Theatre Company's last at the Plays & Players Theater, before they move to their own venue on the Avenue of the Arts at Broad and Lombard Streets. Currently under construction, this new venue, Philadelphia Theatre Company's Suzanne Roberts Theater, will open in fall 2007.
Preparations are underway to fill the gap from Philadelphia Theatre Company's departure with their own, original productions and new rental partners. Building and theater equipment concerns must be met, especially lighting and sound equipment. A group of artists known as the Torchbearers, are lending talents and time to ever-expanding activities. More family theater productions are being brought to the mainstage as was done last season with It's A Wonderful Life and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and this season with The Secret Garden in September 2005 and "James and the Giant Peach" opening in June 2006. They have also been working to revive adult productions, starting with Half The Rent in America which premiered in November 2004, followed by the musical La Cage Aux Folles in December 2005 and their second member-written premiere, The Department, which took the stage in April 2006.
