- Youngstown Playhouse
The Youngstown Playhouse, based in the former industrial center of
Youngstown, Ohio , is one of the nation's oldest and most respected community theaters.cite web | url = http://theyoungstownplayhouse.com/ | title = Youngstown Playhouse Homepage | publisher = The Youngstown Playhouse | accessdate = 2007-11-07]Early years
The Youngstown Playhouse traces its origins to
February 16 ,1927 , when several local drama organizations formed a single organization called the Youngstown Players.cite web | url = http://theyoungstownplayhouse.com/ | title = Youngstown Playhouse Homepage | publisher = The Youngstown Playhouse | accessdate = 2007-11-07] With the support of local civic leaders, the group eventually secured its own building.cite web | url = http://theyoungstownplayhouse.com/ | title = Youngstown Playhouse Homepage | publisher = The Youngstown Playhouse | accessdate = 2007-11-07] The Youngstown Playhouse was initially housed in a renovated 19th-century barn.cite web | url = http://theyoungstownplayhouse.com/ | title = Youngstown Playhouse Homepage | publisher = The Youngstown Playhouse | accessdate = 2007-11-07] In1940 , supporters of the Playhouse raised $30,000 to build a new facility. Instead, the money was used to renovate a vacant movie house for live theater. Two years later, the Playhouse christened its new location with a production of "Camille of Roaring Camp".cite web | url = http://theyoungstownplayhouse.com/ | title = Youngstown Playhouse Homepage | publisher = The Youngstown Playhouse | accessdate = 2007-11-07]Transformation
During
World War II , the Youngstown Playhouse raised its artistic standards considerably. Under the artistic direction of Broadway director Arthur Sircom, the Playhouse became known as a training ground for professional actors. Local theatrical figures who gained experience at the Youngstown Playhouse included the late dramatic screen actressElizabeth Hartman .cite news
title = Biff Hartman of Playhouse Roles Has Broadway Lead
work = The Steel Valley News
page = 24
date =November 22 ,1964 ] In 1959, the Playhouse moved to a new two-theater building that serves as its current site.cite web | url = http://theyoungstownplayhouse.com/ | title = Youngstown Playhouse Homepage | publisher = The Youngstown Playhouse | accessdate = 2007-11-07]Recognition
Believed by some observers to be the oldest continuously operating community theater in the country, the Youngstown Playhouse is the only community theater in
Ohio to receive major institutional support from theOhio Arts Council .cite web | url = http://theyoungstownplayhouse.com/ | title = Youngstown Playhouse Homepage | publisher = The Youngstown Playhouse | accessdate = 2007-11-07]References
External links
* [http://theyoungstownplayhouse.com/ Official website]
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