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Large commercial theatres were diminishing and small local theatre was taking over in America. Many small buisiness owners were jumping at the opportunity to create small theatres in their home towns. Broadway was moving from New York City to bordering towns and spreading all the way to costal towns.
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Summer theatres became popular around New England, Vermont, New York and New Jersey. As commercial theatre broke down into smaller seasonal theatres, so did the colonies of actors and actresses and the big coorperate groups surrounding the big theatres. This is the RKO theatre in New York City, 1935
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The Manhattan Theatre Colony was created by Walter Hartwig and he brought the participants out to Ogunquit. This started the kick-off of local attraction to the small theatre. The move from an old garage in the middle of town to the current building on rt.1 was also important in the success of the playhouse. Boy Meets Girl was the first production!
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The Ogunquit Playhouse was the first and only of it's time to be built purposly as a "seasonal" theatre. The origional building has been added to and also remodeled but is in the same position as it was when it was built.
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turbulent years for any small playhouse or theatre- but the Ogunquit Playhouse pulled through and stayed open becuase of the efforts of volunteers, a supportive community and the wonderful actors and actresses that participated in plays and shows!
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the legacy was passed from husband to wife after Hatrwig's death.
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When Walter died, his wife took over the ownership of the playhouse until John Lane and his wife Helen bought the thatre.
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John Lane did an amazing job running the theatre and increasing buisiness. These are referred to as, "The Golden Period."
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The playhouse was offered to the town of Ogunquit as a gift from John Lane. He created the Ogunquit Playhouse non-profit foundation and left it to the visitors and citizens of the town. He raised $500,000 before he died to maintain the building and premises.
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The Ogunquit Playhouse was deemed worthy of historical preservation by the US government. The National Register of Hisotric places protects different plots of historically rich land, buildings and objects nationally. The playhouse is so rich with history of Maine that it is like a museum of archeological resources.
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Every summer childrens theatre camps are open to the public. The colony is set in back of the theatre building. There is also an annual "fairy house building contest" in the wooded area between the theatre and the colony. The public is encouraged to participate in this event to kick off the chilren's acting camps!
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Joe Hill and Henry Weller unveiled the plaque which named the Ogunquit Playhouse to the National Register of Historic Places in the state of Maine.
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The playhouse went under a 5 year long construction process which included new handicapt seating, a bigger stage, better rigging backstage, health-code updates for actors and actresses, additions to the property and a new air conditioning system. This is a photo taken of the play "Buddy Holly Story" in 2012
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Ballroom with a twist came to the playhouse the summer of 2012. This was a thetrical version of hit series Dancing With The Stars. The playouse decided to also do a one-week lomg special event: a non-musical! The tickets were sold out this summer and the summer of 2011.
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United States Senate recognizes the fabulous work of all of those at the Ogunquit Playhouse. She wrote a letter to the board of directors saying congratualtions on the 80th anneversary! She said, "From it's starts as a small stock theatre to "Broadway at the Beach," the playhouse continues to be a theatrical gem for all of Maine as well as New England."
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Bigger theaters were charging 30-40 cents a ticket and the Ogunquit Playhouse was doing the same. Being only a summer theatre, it had to keep up the profits. "Glamour, romance and adventure kept the public's interest" -Hartwig
