Pioneer Playhouse facts for kids
Pioneer Playhouse
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| Address | 840 Stanford Rd Danville, Kentucky |
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| Coordinates | 37°38′20″N 84°45′24″W / 37.63889°N 84.75667°W |
| Type | Summerstock |
| Opened | 1950 |
| Website | |
| www.pioneerplayhouse.com | |
The Pioneer Playhouse is an outdoor theater located in Danville, Kentucky. It is the oldest outdoor theater in the state of Kentucky. It's a special place where plays are performed under the open sky!
History of the Playhouse
The Pioneer Playhouse was started by a person named Col. Eben C. Henson. He opened this outdoor theater in 1950. Many famous actors have performed here when they were starting their careers. Some of these actors include John Travolta, Lee Majors, and Jim Varney.
In 1962, something very special happened. Pioneer Playhouse became the first theater in the entire country to be officially recognized as a "State Theater" by law. This means it's considered very important to Kentucky's culture.
After Col. Henson passed away in 2004, his family continued to run the theater. His wife, Charlotte, became the producer. Their daughter, Holly, was the artistic director until she passed away in 2012. Robby Henson, Charlotte's son, often directs plays at the theater each summer.
After Holly's passing, her siblings, Robby and Heather, came back to help their mother. Robby became the artistic director, and Heather took on the role of managing director. Charlotte, who always chose the plays for each season, passed away in February 2024. This was just a few months before the Playhouse's 75th Anniversary season began. The family continues to keep the theater's legacy alive.
Plays Performed at Pioneer Playhouse
The Pioneer Playhouse has put on many different plays over the years. They often perform a variety of shows each summer season. Here are some of the plays they have performed recently:
- 2020 (The season was shorter because of the COVID-19 pandemic)
- Maybe Baby, It's You by Charlie Shanian and Shari Simpson
- 2019
- Kong's Night Out by Jack Neary
- Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders by Jeffrey Hatcher
- Breaking Up With Elvis by Robby Henson
- Not Now Darling by Ray Cooney and John Chapman
- Red, White and Tuna by Ed Howard, Joe Sears, and Jason Williams
- 2018
- The Return of Tinker Doyle by Elizabeth Orndorff
- Drinking Habits 2: Caught in the Act by Tom Smith
- Granted by Holly Hepp-Galván and Robby Henson
- Unnecessary Farce by Paul Slade Smith
- Living on Love by Joe DiPietro
- 2017
- Death by Darkness by Elizabeth Orndorff
- Drinking Habits by Tom Smith
- Guarded by Holly Hepp-Galván and Robby Henson
- Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery by Ken Ludwig
- Elvis Has Left the Building by V. Cate and Duke Ernsberger
- 2008
- Leading Ladies by Ken Ludwig
- Morning's at Seven by Paul Osborn
- Death by Darkness by Elizabeth Orndorff
- Love, ... and the IRS by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore
- Cookin' with Gus by Jim Brochu
Over its long history, the Playhouse has presented hundreds of plays. These include comedies, mysteries, and dramas. They have performed works by famous writers like Mark Twain and Neil Simon. They also showcase new plays by modern writers. Each season brings new stories and adventures to the stage for everyone to enjoy!
