Gateway Playhouse facts for kids
The Gateway Playhouse, also known as the Performing Arts Center of Suffolk County, is a well-known theatre in Bellport, New York. It's located on what used to be the Mott Estate. This theatre is the oldest professional theatre on Long Island and is recognized as one of the top ten summer theatres in the entire country!
The theatre grounds are quite large. They include the Mainstage Theatre, where big shows happen, and the Barn Theatre, which is used for acting classes. There are also places to build sets, two studios for rehearsals, and housing for actors. You'll find costume shops, design offices, and even a paint shop. The property also has a large lawn and a swimming pool, which was the very first in-ground pool on Long Island! The Mainstage Theatre can seat 500 people.
History of Gateway Playhouse
The Gateway Playhouse started its journey in 1950. Its first show was Taming of the Shrew, performed in a barn that was converted into a theatre. This was a common way for theatres to begin back then.
By the 1960s, Gateway Playhouse grew from a summer stock company (where actors perform many different plays in a short time) into a full professional theatre. A new, larger theatre was built that could seat 500 people. In 2011, the Gateway Playhouse and its Acting School joined together. They became a non-profit organization called the Performing Arts Center of Suffolk County.
Gateway Playhouse has hosted many exciting shows. In 1992, they had a production of Once on This Island featuring Norm Lewis. Later, in 2011, they put on Sunset Boulevard. In 2016, Andrea McArdle starred in their production of Anything Goes.
Every fall, the theatre changes completely! It transforms into a spooky haunted house for everyone to enjoy.
Acting School at Gateway
The Gateway Playhouse has an acting school that welcomes students from all over Long Island. Students come from places like Mattituck, Hampton Bays, Huntington, and Syosset. Some students are just starting, while others have lots of experience.
Many young students have performed in the summer Children's Theater shows. They have also taken on youth roles in the main stage productions. Some students have even found success in commercials and national tours of plays. Recently, several students have gotten jobs in the entertainment industry. They have appeared on television shows, Broadway shows, and in movies.
Famous People Who Started Here
Many talented actors have been part of the Gateway Playhouse family. Here are some of the famous people who have performed or trained here:
- Robert Duvall
- Gene Hackman
- Joe Piscopo
- John Lloyd Young
- Kendra Kassebaum
- Elizabeth Stanley
- Bradley Dean
- Jennifer Gambatese
- Kingsley Leggs
- Norm Lewis
- Brad Little
- Alex Lee Tano
- Andre Ward
- Jennifer Westfeldt
- Adam Wylie
- Allyce Beasley
- Derrick Delmore
- Soara-Joye Ross
- Richard P. Gang-Billis, South Pacific
- Dennis Kenney
