Erie Playhouse facts for kids
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Erie Civic Theatre Association
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| Address | 13 West 10th Street Erie, Pennsylvania USA |
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| Website | |
| www.erieplayhouse.org | |
The Erie Playhouse is a really old and important theatre in Erie, Pennsylvania. It's a special place where people have been putting on plays and shows for a very long time!
Contents
A Long History of Shows
The Erie Playhouse started way back in 1882. It was first called the "Peoples Theatre." Later, in 1916, it officially became the Erie Civic Theatre Association.
Moving Around Town
In its early days, the theatre group performed in many different places. In 1882, they put on shows at the H.V. Claus Block building. From 1915 to 1919, they performed at the Reed Hotel.
Then, in 1919, the theatre moved to the Keystone Brass Foundry. They stayed there until 1927. In 1929, the theatre finally built its very own building! This new home was on West 7th Street.
The theatre stayed at its own building until 1965. During World War II, they had to close for three years. In 1965, the building was sold to Gannon University.
After that, the theatre group moved to the Penn Movie House. This was in Wesleyville, Pennsylvania. They performed there from 1965 to 1975. But then, rules about fire safety meant they had to leave.
For a while, the theatre didn't have a permanent home. They were called the "Brave Little Theatre Without A Home." They put on shows in many different places around town.
Finding a Permanent Home
Finally, in 1983, the theatre found its current home! They bought and fixed up the Strand Theatre. This building is at 13 West 10th Street in downtown Erie.
The theatre is a special kind called a proscenium theatre. This means it has a stage with an arch, like a picture frame. It can hold 433 people. In 2007, they made some changes that reduced the number of seats from 520.
In 1993, the theatre had a big update. They spent about $1 million to make it even better!
Famous Performances
The very first show they put on in their new home in 1983 was Annie. It was a big hit!
In 2000, they reached a huge milestone. They performed The Sound of Music. This was their 1,000th show at their current theatre!
Leaders of the Playhouse
Many talented people have led the Erie Playhouse over the years. Here are some of the directors:
- Henry B. Vincent (1916–1941)
- L. Newell Tarrant (1946–1962)
- Bill Cohen (around 1962–1972)
- David Matthews (1972–2006)
- Almitra Clerkin (2006–2017)
- Kate Lechner (2017- 2023)
- Zach Flock (2023 - current)
Amazing Awards
The Erie Playhouse has won some cool awards!
- In 1985, the American Theatre Association said it was one of the Top Ten Community Theatres in the whole United States.
- In 2015, the PA Theatre Guide gave them the Reader's Choice Award. They were named the Best Community Theatre in Pennsylvania!
Programs for Young People
The Erie Playhouse also has a special program called Youtheatre. This is a great chance for students to learn all about theatre! They can learn what happens behind the scenes. They can also take classes and join a popular summer camp.
