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Ogunquit Playhouse
Ogunquit Playhouse
Ogunquit Playhouse
Location10 Main Street (US 1),
Ogunquit, Maine
Coordinates43°14′20″N 70°36′2″W / 43.23889°N 70.60056°W / 43.23889; -70.60056Coordinates: 43°14′20″N 70°36′2″W / 43.23889°N 70.60056°W / 43.23889; -70.60056
Area4.1 acres (1.7 ha)
Built1937
ArchitectWyckoff, Alexander
Architectural styleColonial Revival
NRHP reference No.95001458[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 14, 1995

The Ogunquit Playhouse is a regional theater at 10 Main Street (United States Route 1) in Ogunquit, Maine. The Ogunquit Playhouse is one of the last remaining summer theatres from the Straw Hat Circuit, also referred to as Summer Stock, still producing live musical theatre. The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1] In 2015, the listing was raised to National Level of Significance "in consideration of the significant contributions made by its founder Walter J. Hartwig and the Playhouse to Performing Arts Education throughout the nation."[2]

About

The Ogunquit Playhouse produces five or more musicals each season, with each season running mid-May through mid-October with performances Tuesday through Sunday. Each show is cast for its audience, and shows are produced and rehearsed onsite or in New York City.[3]

Children's Theatre Program

The Children's Theatre Program began in the late 1990s, with programs on the Playhouse campus and stage.

History

Beginnings

The Ogunquit Playhouse was established by Walter and Maude Hartwig in 1933 in a renovated garage in the center of Ogunquit, Maine. As part of the Little Theatre Movement of the 1920s and early 30s, Walter Hartwig organized an annual theatre tournament in New York. When the Depression put an end to the tournament, Hartwig started the Manhattan Theatre Colony and brought it to the town of Ogunquit. In 1937, the theatre moved to a new building at its present-day location on Main Street in Ogunquit, Maine. The Ogunquit Playhouse was the first, and remains the only, summer theatre from the summer stock era built exclusively as a seasonal theatre. After Walter's death in 1941, Maude carried on his legacy at the Playhouse.[3]

1950s

In 1950, John Lane became the general manager and eventually took ownership of the Playhouse with his business partner, Henry Weller. Together they focused on modernizing and improving the building and grounds, and through John Lane's direction, audiences enjoyed the brightest stars and finest professional actors performing in Broadway's best shows. After a long and successful career, John Lane retired in 1994. He transferred ownership to the Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation that currently oversees the Ogunquit Playhouse. John Lane died in 2000.[3]

1990s

In September 1999, Roy M. Rogosin was hired as Producing Artistic Director to help usher the Playhouse towards a new era. During this transition, the playhouse began producing its own shows, designing and building sets, designing costumes and bringing back the stars. The old Manhattan Theatre Colony building was restored as a rehearsal space. At the same time, the Children's Theatre Program began, and continues today. The program provides a number of educational opportunities for children and teens interested in theatre, both as performers and behind-the-scenes.[3]

2000s

In 2006, Bradford Kenney came on board as the new Executive Artistic Director. The theatre expanded from a 10-week to a 21-week season.[3]

75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary Season

The Ogunquit Playhouse celebrated its 75th year in 2007 with seven shows. The season included a revival of 2006's Menopause The Musical, The Full Monty with Hunter Foster and Sally Struthers, Crazy for You with Rue McClanahan, La Cage aux Folles, The King and I with Lorenzo Lamas, Hairspray, and closed with a revival of The Full Monty with Hunter Foster and Sally Struthers.[3]

80th Anniversary Season

The Playhouse celebrated 80 years in theatre with productions of Sally Struthers in Always, Patsy Cline and 9 to 5, Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, Carson Kressley in Damn Yankees The Boston Red Sox Version, and Ballroom with a Twist featuring celebrity pros and talents from Dancing with the Stars, American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, including Anna Trebunskaya and Jonathan Roberts. The season closed with what became the theatre's most popular musical ever, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story starring Kurt Jenkins.[3][4]

Shows

Shows by season for the last 13 seasons:

** - Regional premiere of production

***- Play, not a musical

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Beehive, the 60s Musical Menopause The Musical (Revival) Fiddler on the Roof A Chorus Line The Drowsy Chaperone Avenue Q Always, Patsy Cline The Rat Pack is Back
Cabaret The Full Monty Breaking Up Is Hard to Do SHOUT! The Mod Musical The Sound of Music Summer of Love South Pacific Thoroughly Modern Millie
Cinderella Crazy for You The Producers Guys and Dolls Sunset Boulevard The Music Man Ballroom with a Twist Young Frankenstein
Hello, Dolly! La Cage aux Folles My Fair Lady Singin' in the Rain Monty Python's Spamalot Legally Blonde Damn Yankees Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Menopause The Musical The Kings and I Les Misérables All Shook Up Chicago Miss Saigon 9 to 5 Ballroom with a Twist
Hairspray Forbidden Broadway Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story West Side Story
The Full Monty (Revival) High School Musical Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Revival)
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021
Grease Sister Act Let It Be: Music of the Beatles Mamma Mia! Smokey Joe's Cafe Jersey Boys (Revival) Monty Python's Spamalot
Billy Elliot the Musical Victor/Victoria Anything Goes Bullets Over Broadway Oklahoma! 42nd Street Escape to Margaritaville**
Mary Poppins Nice Work if You Can Get It The Hunchback of Notre Dame** Ragtime An American in Paris** Cabaret Mystic Pizza**
The Witches of Eastwick Million Dollar Quartet Priscilla, Queen of the Desert** Heartbreak Hotel** Grumpy Old Men** Agatha Chrsties' Murder on the Orient Express*** Young Frankenstein
The Addams Family Saturday Night Fever Seven Brides for Seven Brothers From Here to Eternity** Jersey Boys** Menopause The Musical
White Christmas Million Dollar Quartet White Christmas Elf Kinky Boots**
Beauty and the Beast Annie

Notable performers

Performers who have appeared at the Ogunquit Playhouse include the following:[5]

Awards and Recognitions

New England Theatre Conference (NETC)

BroadwayWorld.com Maine Awards

Billy Elliot the Musical (2014) [7]

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2013) [8]

ecomaine Awards

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "2015 National Register of Historic Places Listing Raised Press Release". Archived from the original on 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2015-01-22.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Playhouse History". Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  4. ^ "Million Dollar Quartet (2016)". www.ogunquitplayhouse.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-11-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Ogunquit Playhouse honored with Moss Hart Award - Gate House".
  7. ^ Coverage, BWW Special. "2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Winners Announced - Noah Parets, Heidi Kettenring, Susan Finch & More!".
  8. ^ Coverage, BWW Special. "2013 BroadwayWorld Maine Awards Winners Announced - Clay Aiken, Keala Settle & More!".
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-01-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

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