Forestburgh Playhouse facts for kids
| Address | 39 Forestburgh Road Forestburgh, NY 12777 Forestburgh, New York  United States |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 270 |
| Opened | July 8, 1947 |
The Forestburgh Playhouse is a special place for live theater in New York State. It is the oldest summer theater that has been open every year since it started. You can find it about 7 miles south of Monticello.
The Playhouse was started in 1947 by two people, John Grahame and Alexander Maissel. When it first opened, it was called the Forestburgh Summer Theatre. Later, in 1980, its name was changed to the Forestburgh Playhouse, which it is still called today.
About the Forestburgh Playhouse
The Forestburgh Playhouse is one of only a few small summer theaters still operating in the United States. It has 270 seats, which means it's a cozy place to watch a show. The theater is open only during the summer months. Its season usually runs from the middle of June until Labor Day.
What Shows Can You See?
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 many different types of performances there, including:
- Classic Broadway shows
- Fun musicals
- Brand new musicals made just for children
After many evening performances, there's even more entertainment! The Playhouse has a musical cabaret in its tavern right next door. This is a chance to enjoy more music and singing in a relaxed setting. In 2009, the Times Herald-Record newspaper named the Forestburgh Playhouse one of the Top Ten Attractions in the Hudson Valley.
Who Works at the Playhouse?
Every year, the Forestburgh Playhouse brings together a large team of over 50 talented people. This team includes:
- Actors: Some actors are part of a professional union called the Actors’ Equity Association. These actors often play the main roles in the shows. Other actors are not yet in the union but work to gain experience. They perform in all the main musicals, children's shows, and the cabaret.
- Stage Managers: A professional stage manager works for the whole season. They help make sure everything runs smoothly backstage.
- Directors: These are the people who guide the actors and help bring the play to life.
- Musicians: They play the music for the shows.
- Designers: These creative people design the sets, costumes, and lighting for each production.
- Technicians: They work behind the scenes to build sets, manage lights, and handle sound.
The Playhouse works with the Actors’ Equity Association, which is a union for professional actors and stage managers. This agreement means the Playhouse hires experienced actors, some of whom have performed in big shows like those on Broadway. It also gives non-union actors a chance to gain experience and work towards joining the union themselves.
