Plays and Players Theatre

Infobox_nrhp | name =Plays and Players
nrhp_type =


caption =
location= 1714 Delancey St.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
lat_degrees = 39
lat_minutes = 56
lat_seconds = 48.59
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 75
long_minutes = 10
long_seconds = 14.41
long_direction = W
locmapin = Pennsylvania
area =
built =1911
architect= Amos W. Barnes
architecture=
added = March 14, 1973
governing_body = Private
refnum=73001665cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Plays and Players Theater, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the oldest nonprofessional theaters in continuous use in the United States. It was designed and constructed in 1912 by Philadelphia architect Amos W. Barnes. Murals were added in 1923 by the American artist Edith Emerson. Since its inception Plays and Players has undergone many changes, but has never closed its doors.

History

Plays and Players was founded in 1911 at the Art Alliance as a private social club devoted to expanding and developing new theater experiences for and by its membership. Membership was an exclusive group of friends who commissioned works to be written and performed for charitable purposes. The first president, Maud Durbin Skinner, was the wife of famed American actor Otis Skinner, who performed upon the Delancey Street stage during its early history. Many other theatrical greats have acted here over the years, including the Barrymores, John Drew and Kevin Bacon. Plays and Players is very likely the community theater on which Philadelphia playwright George Kelly based his slapstick comedy "The Torch Bearers". It is also the theater where the acclaimed Broadway play "Stalag 17" premiered.

By the 1950s the membership of the club was less exclusive and more representative of the Center City community, but performances were still only for members. In the 1960s, its productions were opened to the entire community. In the '70s, the Plays and Players Children's Theater was added to the schedule. In addition, the theater has hosted many other artistic endeavors, including the Drama Guild, Pocket Playhouse, Gilbert and Sullivan Players, American Music Theater, Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC), and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

Current activities

Plays and Players is in a state of constant change as center city populations are often transient. In their busiest seasons, Plays and Players produces several adult plays and 5-6 children's plays while supporting a workshop theater and full calendar of social events. Additionally, the theatre brings performances to nursery schools, swim clubs, street festivals and Philadelphia's Bicentennial Celebration.

In recent years, the Family Theater has remained active, but commitments to the building necessitated a hiatus of their own adult productions in favor of rental income. Since 1982 Plays and Players has been the home of the professional regional Philadelphia Theatre Company, their in-house rental. The 2006-2007 season was the Philadelphia Theatre Company's last at the Plays and Players Theater, when the group moved to its own venue, the Suzanne Roberts Theater, in October 2007.

Preparations are underway to fill the gap from Philadelphia Theatre Company's departure with their own, original productions and new rental partners. Building and theater equipment concerns must be met, especially lighting and sound equipment. A group of artists known as the Torchbearers, are lending talents and time to ever-expanding activities. More family theater productions are being brought to the main stage as was done last season with "It's a Wonderful Life" and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" and this season with "The Secret Garden" in September 2005 and "James and the Giant Peach" opening in June 2006. They have also been working to revive adult productions, starting with "Half The Rent in America", which premiered in November 2004, followed by the musical "La Cage Aux Folles" in December 2005 and their second member-written premiere, "The Department", which took the stage in April 2006.

External links

* [http://www.playsandplayers.org Official website]

References