Forestburgh Playhouse facts for kids
| Address | 39 Forestburgh Road Forestburgh, NY 12777 Forestburgh, New York  United States |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 292 |
| Opened | July 8, 1947 |
| Website | |
| http://www.fbplayhouse.com/ | |
The Forestburgh Playhouse is a special theater in New York State. It's known as the oldest summer theater that has been open continuously. This means it has been putting on shows every summer since it started! You can find it about 7 miles south of a town called Monticello.
Discover the Forestburgh Playhouse
The Forestburgh Playhouse first opened its doors on July 8, 1947. It was started by John Grahame and Alexander Maissel. Back then, it was called the Forestburgh Summer Theatre. In 1980, its name changed to the Forestburgh Playhouse.
This theater is one of only a few small summer theaters left in the country. It has 292 seats, which is a cozy size. The playhouse is only open during the summer months. Shows run from mid-June until Labor Day.
What Happens at the Playhouse?
During the summer, the playhouse puts on "summer stock" productions. This means they perform a variety of shows, often with the same group of actors. You can see classic Broadway shows and exciting musicals. They also create original musicals especially for children.
After most evening performances, there's even more fun! The playhouse has a musical cabaret in its tavern next door. Here, performers sing and entertain the audience in a relaxed setting. In 2009, the Times Herald-Record newspaper named the playhouse one of the Top Ten Attractions in the Hudson Valley. This shows how popular it is!
Who Works at the Playhouse?
Every year, the Forestburgh Playhouse hires a large team of over 50 people. This team includes many talented individuals who make the shows happen.
- Actors: There are professional actors who are part of a union called the Actors’ Equity Association. These actors often play the main roles. There are also non-union actors who form the Resident Acting Company. They perform in all the main musicals, children's theater shows, and the cabaret.
- Stage Managers: A professional stage manager works for the whole season. They make sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
- Directors: These creative people guide the actors and the show.
- Musicians: Live music is a big part of the shows.
- Designers: They create the sets, costumes, and lighting.
- Technicians: These skilled people build the sets, manage the lights, and handle sound.
The playhouse works with the Actors’ Equity Association. This is a union for professional actors and stage managers. This agreement means the playhouse hires professional actors, some of whom have performed on Broadway. They also hire non-union professionals. These non-union actors can earn credit toward becoming members of the Actors’ Equity Association themselves.
