Plays and Players Theatre facts for kids
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Plays and Players Theatre in March 2024
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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 historic theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was started in 1911, making it one of the oldest professional theater groups in the United States. The theater building was designed in 1912 by a Philadelphia architect named Amos W. Barnes. It was first built as a drama school, but soon became a theater for plays getting ready for Broadway.
The Plays and Players theater company bought the building in 1922. They have been performing there ever since. Cool Murals were added to the building in 1923 by an American artist named Edith Emerson.
The Theatre's Story
Plays & Players began in 1911 as a social club. Its goal was to create and enjoy new theater experiences for its members. The first President was Maud Durbin Skinner. She was the wife of a famous American actor, Otis Skinner.
The Plays & Players Theatre, which was then called the "Little Theatre of Philadelphia," first opened in 1913. It was founded by Beulah E. Jay and Edward G. Jay, Jr., along with F.H. Shelton. They wanted to produce "American plays of ideas," which were not very common at the time.
Famous Performances and Actors
The Plays & Players theater company has put on many important shows. One famous play was "Stalag 17," which had its first-ever performance there in 1949. This play later became a well-known Broadway hit.
A very famous actor, Kevin Bacon, even performed there as a child! He was in the play Member of the Wedding in 1974. The first season of Plays & Players included An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde and The Learned Ladies by Molière. Both of these plays are still popular today.
A Historic Landmark
On March 14, 1973, the Plays & Players Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
