Plays and Players Theatre facts for kids
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| Address | 1714 Delancey St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States |
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| Type | Regional theatre |
| Capacity | theatre: 290 black box: 65 |
| Opened | 1913 |
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Plays and Players
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 Location in Philadelphia
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | Amos W. Barnes |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001665 |
| Added to NRHP | March 14, 1973 |
The Plays and Players Theatre is a very old and famous theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's one of the oldest professional theater groups in the United States, starting way back in 1911.
The building itself was built in 1912 by an architect named Amos W. Barnes. It was first meant to be a drama school. But soon, it became a theater where new Broadway shows were tested out. It was known as the Playhouse back then. The Plays and Players theater company bought the building in 1922. They have been putting on shows there ever since! In 1923, beautiful Murals were added by the American artist Edith Emerson.
Contents
The Story of Plays and Players Theatre
The Plays & Players group began in 1911. It started as a social club for people who loved theater. They wanted to create and enjoy new kinds of theater experiences together.
Early Days and Founders
The first President of the club was Maud Durbin Skinner. She was married to a very famous American actor named Otis Skinner. The theater building itself, which was first called the "Little Theatre of Philadelphia," opened its doors in 1913.
The theater was started by Beulah E. Jay, her husband Edward G. Jay, Jr., and their friend F.H. Shelton. They wanted to put on "American plays of ideas." These were plays that made people think, and they weren't very common at the time.
Famous Shows and Moments
Over more than 100 years, the Plays & Players theater company has put on many amazing performances. Some of the most memorable include:
- The world premiere of the famous Broadway play "Stalag 17" in 1949. This means it was the very first time this play was performed anywhere!
- A childhood performance by the well-known actor Kevin Bacon in "Member of the Wedding" in 1974. Imagine seeing a future movie star on stage when they were young!
The very first season of Plays & Players featured classic plays. These included "An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde and "The Learned Ladies" by Molière. Both of these plays are still popular today.
A Historic Landmark
The Plays & Players Theatre is also a very important building. On March 14, 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special place that is important to American history and culture.
