Bucks County Playhouse facts for kids
The Bucks County Playhouse is a famous theater located in the town of New Hope, Pennsylvania. For many years, it has been an important place for actors and new plays, some of which later became huge hits on Broadway.
The building wasn't always a theater. It started its life as a mill and has a long and interesting history.
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From Mill to Famous Theater
The story of the playhouse building begins long before it was filled with actors and audiences. It has a unique history that helped shape the town of New Hope itself.
The Original Hope Mills
The building that is now the playhouse was first a grist mill called the Hope Mills. A grist mill is a building where grain like wheat or corn is ground into flour. In 1790, the original mill burned down in a fire.
A man named Benjamin Parry rebuilt it and called it the New Hope Mills. The town, which was known by another name before, was renamed "New Hope" after these new mills. This shows how important the mill was to the community.
Saving the Building
By the 1930s, the old mill was no longer in use and was going to be torn down. Luckily, a group of people who loved the arts decided to save it. This group included famous playwrights like Moss Hart and Kenyon Nicholson. A playwright is a person who writes plays.
They bought the building and began turning it into a theater in 1938. On July 1, 1939, the Bucks County Playhouse opened its doors for the first time. The very first show was a play called Springtime for Henry, which starred the actor Edward Everett Horton.
A Stage for Future Stars
The Bucks County Playhouse quickly became a popular summer theater. This meant it held most of its shows during the summer months. It earned a special reputation as a "tryout" theater.
What is a Tryout Theater?
A tryout theater is a place where new plays are performed before they go to bigger, more famous stages, like those on Broadway in New York City. It's a chance for the writers and directors to see how audiences react to the show. They can make changes to the story, songs, or characters based on what works and what doesn't.
Many famous actors got their start or performed at the playhouse. It was an exciting place to see future hits before anyone else.
Famous Premieres
One of the most famous plays to have its first-ever performance at the playhouse was Barefoot in the Park. This play was written by Neil Simon, a very successful playwright.
The show opened in 1963 and starred Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley, who later became big movie stars. The play was a huge success at the playhouse and then moved to Broadway, where it became a classic comedy.
The Playhouse Today
In 2010, the theater faced difficulties and had to close. But once again, people who cared about the playhouse came together to save it.
A group called the Bucks County Playhouse Conservancy was formed. They raised enough money to buy the property and give it a major renovation. After a lot of hard work, the theater reopened on July 2, 2012. Today, it continues to be a lively home for plays and musicals, carrying on its long tradition.
