Priscilla Beach Theatre facts for kids
The Priscilla Beach Theatre (PBT) is a famous old theater located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It's in a part of Plymouth called Manomet, right by Priscilla Beach. This theater was one of the very first "barn theaters" in America, meaning it was built inside an old barn!
It was started in 1937 by Dr. Franklin Trask. His wife, Agnes, was the first person to lead the artistic side of the theater. The original place had the main theater, which could seat 240 people, plus many other buildings like cottages, dorms, and even a sports field. PBT was special because it taught young actors by letting them "learn-by-doing." They got to try out almost every part of theater, from dancing and directing to doing makeup and designing sets.
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Famous Faces at PBT
Stars of the Early Years (1940s-1950s)
During the 1940s and 1950s, many well-known guest stars performed with the students at PBT. Some of these famous people included Edward Everett Horton, Veronica Lake, Charlie Ruggles, and Gloria Swanson. At this time, up to 150 actors and actresses lived at the theater. They would often perform one play in the evening and practice another play during the day!
Many young, talented students also got their start at PBT. Some of these future stars were Paul Newman, Robert MacNeil, Estelle Parsons, Pat Carroll, Sandy Dennis, Mike Todd, Jr., Dan Blocker, and Jean Seberg. Jan Scott, who won an Emmy Award for her art direction, also trained here.
New Talent in the 1960s
In the 1960s, James Lonigro, also known as Geronimo Sands, took over as the artistic director. Under his leadership, a new group of talented actors came out of the theater's tough summer training program. This group included Rob Reiner, Al Brooks (Albert Brooks), and André Bishop, who later founded Playwrights Horizons and became an Artistic Director at Lincoln Center.
Other notable people from this time were Andy Lack, a famous news producer, Curtis Sliwa, who started the Guardian Angels, and actors Jennifer Coolidge, Kitty Winn, and Corey Carrier. In the 1970s, Tufts University leased the theater, and Peter Gallagher performed on its stage.
PBT's Impact on Creative Works
The Priscilla Beach Theatre has inspired many creative projects. Author and composer Rick Besoyan wrote the musical "Little Mary Sunshine" while he was at PBT. The famous entertainer Mickey Rooney said that PBT was the idea behind his movie "Babes in Arms," which he starred in with Judy Garland. Robert MacNeil, a well-known journalist, even mentioned PBT on the PBS show "Do You Speak American?" He said it helped him with his Canadian accent.
Awards and Recognition
Actors and artists who trained at PBT have won many important awards! They have earned at least four Academy Awards (Oscars), nine Tony Awards, three SAG Awards, four Golden Globes, and 15 Emmy Awards. Five stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame also belong to PBT alumni. This shows how much talent came from this special theater.
A New Chapter for PBT
In February 2013, Bob and Sandy Malone bought the Priscilla Beach Theatre. Over the next two years, they worked hard to fix up and restore the old barn. The first play performed back in the renovated barn was "Fiddler on the Roof" in July 2015. Today, PBT continues to be a place where new talent can grow and amazing shows are performed.
