Black Hills Playhouse

The Black Hills Playhouse is an American theater located just off the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road in Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The playhouse is managed by Black Hills Playhouse Inc. It is one of the oldest continuously operated summer stock theaters in America. Founded in 1946 by University of South Dakota drama professor Dr. Warren M. Lee, the Black Hills Playhouse and its dormitories for actors had been constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. The current theater was built in 1955. New Dormitories for its theatrical company were built between 1979 and 1982. Leonard Anderson took over as the Managing Director in 1976. In 1987 Jan Swank became Managing Artistic Director. In 2007 a restructuring occurred and Bruce Halverson was hired as the Executive Director with Dan Workman as the Artistic Director and Debra Kern Workman as the Business Manager. In 2008 Michael Burgraff became the new Executive Director. The BHP will close it's doors following this season.

The Black Hills Playhouse is affiliated with the University of South Dakota. Each summer 5 to 6 plays are offered covering musicals, drama, and comedies. The playhouse also supports an outreach program for children called the Children's Theater Company of South Dakota.

External links

[http://www.blackhillsplayhouse.com, Black Hills Playhouse Website]