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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Ogunquit Playhouse
Ogunquit Playhouse is a regional theater on 10 Main Street (United States Route 1) in Ogunquit, Maine. Ogunquit Playhouse is one of the last remaining summer theaters from the Summer Stock which still produces musical theatre. The Playhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a 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."

About

Ogunquit Playhouse produces four or more shows each season, running May through October, with performances Tuesday through Sunday. Creative teams are brought in from around the world; casting for each show is hand-picked from Broadway and Regional actors in New York, Los Angeles, and across the country; and their commitment to New Works has given the industry world premieres musicals such as Heartbreak Hotel, Mystic Pizza, and Mr. Holland's Opus.

Ogunquit Playhouse Arts Academy

Theatre education at The Playhouse began in the 1930s, under the direction of founder Walter Hartwig. Young actors were trained in theatre arts by talents of Broadway and Regional theatres. In the 1990s, the Playhouse began a wildly successful summer camp program, in which students were in class and rehearsals five days a week, culminating in a final mainstage performance of a full-scale production. In 2020, the Playhouse Arts Academy was born under the guidance of Education Director Joyce Presutti. With three seasons of programming and performances and students transitioning into mainstage productions, the Academy continues to grow and thrive in bold new ways.

History

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

In 2022, the Playhouse celebrated 90 years with productions of regional premiere of The Cher Show, The Nutty Professor written by Rupert Holmes and the late Marvin Hamlisch, the World Premiere of Mr. Holland’s Opus written and directed by B.D. Wong and the regional premiere of Beautiful, The Carole King Musical.

In 2024, the Playhouse presented productions of Waitress, Crazy For You, A Little Night Music, Little Shop of Horrors, and the world premiere of My Best Friend's Wedding.

Shows

Shows by season for the last 13 seasons:

* – World premiere

** – Regional premiere

*** – Play, not a musical

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
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 Grease
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 Billy Elliot the Musical
Hello, Dolly! Crazy for You The Producers Guys and Dolls Sunset Boulevard The Music Man Ballroom with a Twist Young Frankenstein Mary Poppins
Cinderella 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 The Witches of Eastwick
Menopause The Musical The Kings and I Les Misérables All Shook Up Chicago Miss Saigon 9 to 5 Ballroom with a Twist The Addams Family
Hairspray Forbidden Broadway Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story West Side Story Mary Poppins (Revival)
The Full Monty (Revival) High School Musical Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Revival)
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024
Sister Act Let It Be: Music of the Beatles Mamma Mia! Smokey Joe's Cafe Jersey Boys (Revival) Monty Python's Spamalot The Cher Show** Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Revival) Waitress
Victor/Victoria Anything Goes Bullets Over Broadway Oklahoma! 42nd Street Escape to Margaritaville** The Nutty Professor* Singin' in the Rain Crazy for You
Nice Work if You Can Get It The Hunchback of Notre Dame** Ragtime An American in Paris** Cabaret Mystic Pizza* Mr. Holland's Opus* On Your Feet! A Little Night Music
Million Dollar Quartet Priscilla, Queen of the Desert** Heartbreak Hotel* Grumpy Old Men** Agatha Chrsties' Murder on the Orient Express*** Young Frankenstein Beautiful: The Carole King Musical** The Da Vinci Code*** Little Shop of Horrors
Saturday Night Fever Seven Brides for Seven Brothers From Here to Eternity** Jersey Boys** Menopause The Musical Elf Tootsie** My Best Friend's Wedding*
White Christmas Million Dollar Quartet White Christmas Elf Kinky Boots** The Sound of Music Frozen
Beauty and the Beast Annie

Notable performers

Performers who have appeared at the Ogunquit Playhouse include the following:

Awards and Recognitions

New England Theatre Conference (NETC)

  • Moss Hart Award for West Side Story (2013)
  • Moss Hart Award for Best Professional Production in New England for The Music Man (2011)
  • Award for Outstanding Achievement in American Theatre (2010)

BroadwayWorld.com Maine Awards

Billy Elliot the Musical (2014)

  • Best Musical
  • Best Actor in a Play - Noah Parets
  • Best Choreography - Adam Pelty
  • Best Dance Performance in a Musical - Noah Parets
  • Best Director (play or musical) - BT McNicholl
  • Best Ensemble Performance in a Play or Musical
  • Best Vocal Performance in a Musical - Noah Parets

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2013)

  • Best Musical
  • Best Actor in a Musical - Clay Aiken
  • Best Actress in a Musical - Keala Settle
  • Best Choreography - Jayme McDaniel
  • Best Director (play or musical) - Jayme McDaniel
  • Best Costume Design (play or musical) - Dustin Cross
  • Best Ensemble Performance in a Play or Musical
  • Best Lighting and/or Sound Design - Eric Martin
  • Best Scenic Design (play or musical) - Geof Dolan
  • Best Vocal Performance in a Musical - Clay Aiken

Eco-maine Awards

  • eco-Excellence Community Award for the town of Ogunquit*

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Correspondent, HEATHER BURNS News (2022-07-30). "Ogunquit Playhouse has all the summer stars". Homenewshere.com. Retrieved 2024-07-30. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ Fierberg, Ruthie (March 23, 2019). "How Ogunquit Playhouse Shed Its Summerstock Past to Become a Regional Powerhouse".
  4. ^ "2015 National Register of Historic Places Listing Raised Press Release". Archived from the original on 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2015-01-22.
  5. ^ "Playhouse History". Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  6. ^ "Million Dollar Quartet (2016)". www.ogunquitplayhouse.org. Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  7. ^ "Ogunquit Playhouse Adds Mr. Holland's Opus World Premiere to 2022 Season - TheaterMania.com". 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  8. ^ Staff, A. O. L. (2024-04-09). "Ogunquit Playhouse summer lineup 2024: 'Waitress,' return of Sally Struthers and more". www.aol.com. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-11-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ "Nik Walker, Julia Murney, More Join Ogunquit A Little Night Music". July 1, 2024.
  11. ^ "Ogunquit Playhouse honored with Moss Hart Award - Gate House".
  12. ^ Coverage, BWW Special. "2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Winners Announced - Noah Parets, Heidi Kettenring, Susan Finch & More!".
  13. ^ Coverage, BWW Special. "2013 BroadwayWorld Maine Awards Winners Announced - Clay Aiken, Keala Settle & More!".
  14. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-01-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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