Black Hills Playhouse facts for kids
Black Hills Playhouse
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 Black Hills Playhouse
Location in South Dakota
Black Hills Playhouse
Location in the United States
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| Address | 24834 S. Playhouse Road |
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| Location | Custer, South Dakota, 57730 |
| Coordinates | 43°48′24″N 103°25′41″W / 43.8066°N 103.42797°W |
| Operator | Black Hills Playhouse Inc. |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1933 |
| Opened | 1946 |
| Builder | Civilian Conservation Corps |
The Black Hills Playhouse is a special theater located in Custer State Park in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. You can find it near the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road. It's run by a group called Black Hills Playhouse Inc. This playhouse is one of the oldest professional summer theaters in America that keeps running year after year!
Contents
History of the Playhouse
How the Playhouse Began
The Black Hills Playhouse was started in 1946 by Dr. Warren M. Lee. He was a drama professor from the University of South Dakota. The buildings for the playhouse, including dorms for actors, were actually built much earlier in 1933. They were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a group that helped people find jobs during a tough time in history.
The playhouse officially opened its doors on June 17, 1946. At first, plays were shown at the Coolidge Inn, which was also in the park.
Growing and Changing Over Time
The main theater building you see today was built in 1955. Later, between 1979 and 1982, new dorms were built for the actors and staff. Over the years, different leaders have helped guide the playhouse. Leonard Anderson became the Managing Director in 1976. Later, Jan Swank took over as the Managing Artistic Director in 1987. Since then, other leaders like Bruce Halverson, Michael Burgraff, and Linda Anderson have helped the playhouse grow.
Making Improvements and Updates
In 2011, people worked together to raise over $500,000 to make the historic campus even better. They made the theater roof stronger and updated the building to meet modern safety rules. This included adding covered stairwells and a new fire safety system. Outside, new sidewalks and a special paver system were put in.
A new dining hall was also built, and the snack bar building was made stronger. Haberman Hall, a covered log picnic area, was also renovated.
Room Renovations
In 2012, a cool program called "Room Service" started. Volunteers "adopted" dorm rooms. They provided materials and their time to fix up the rooms. By 2013, almost all 50 rooms had been renovated, making them much nicer for the actors and staff.
New Shops and Stage Gear
In 2013, a new costume shop was built. This was a big help for creating all the amazing outfits for the shows. The South Dakota National Guard and other partners helped with this project. Also, the theater got a new "fly system" for the stage. This system helps scenery and props move up and down. New stage curtains were also bought and installed thanks to fundraising by people who used to be part of the Black Hills Playhouse.
What Happens Today
The Black Hills Playhouse works closely with the University of South Dakota College of Fine Arts. Every summer, the company puts on about 4 to 5 different shows. These performances happen from June through the middle of August.
Auditions for actors are held in six different places in February. Professional designers, directors, and technical staff are hired each year to make sure the shows are fantastic!
Images for kids
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The old paint and scene shops were changed into the prop and costume shops in 2008.
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A new rehearsal hall was built in 2007 where an old bath house used to be.
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New air conditioning units were added in the summer of 2008.
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This is the scene and paint shop, built in 2008, and named the Barber Shop.
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The snack bar foundation was made stronger in 2011.
