BROOKE HILLS PLAYHOUSE: A COLLECTIVE MEMOIR, Part 11B

1973 Season Poster.  How about those prices?  It cracks me up that we were still using my mom and dad's address on Marianna Street for correspondence.  I don't think we had much! SEASON TWO, 1973, CONTINUED The eight-show, second season rushed on with the delightful, small-cast musical The Fantasticks.  On seeing some old photos of… Continue reading BROOKE HILLS PLAYHOUSE: A COLLECTIVE MEMOIR, Part 11B

Brooke Hills Playhouse: A Collective Memoir, Part 11A

Butterflies Are Free opens the 1973 season (Cast--Judy Porter Hennen, John Newton, Marlene Marston Bringarden, Bob Afflerbach) SEASON TWO, 1973           Season of Shows                                                      The Company Butterflies Are Free                                               Bill & Shari Murphy Harper Mary, Mary                                                           John & Judy Porter Hennen The Owl and the Pussycat                                               Al & Tommie Martin Bus Stop                                                                                      Bob Afflerbach The… Continue reading Brooke Hills Playhouse: A Collective Memoir, Part 11A

Brooke Hills Playhouse: A Collective Memoir, Part 9

Very early in the barn remodeling.  It's hard to see, but scaffolding is erected and most of the missing barn siding has been replaced. 1972 THE FIRST SEASON IS UNDERWAY The first show, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, opened to great reviews and modest-sized audiences that loved every moment of the production.  Many people… Continue reading Brooke Hills Playhouse: A Collective Memoir, Part 9

Brooke Hills Playhouse: A Collective Memoir, Part 8

Bill Harper, Opening Night, 1972.Cigarette in mouth, champagne in hand, big grin on face! BILL MADE IT COME TOGETHER While John, Judy, I, and all the staff and volunteers were right there with him, Bill Harper was really the driving force behind the barn-to-theatre conversion. He knew what needed to be done and how to… Continue reading Brooke Hills Playhouse: A Collective Memoir, Part 8

Brooke Hills Playhouse: A Collective Memoir, Part 7E

An early press release from some unknown local paper using my mom and dad's address and my sister's phone number for information. Eventually "Story Theater" was changed to "Fable Theater" and the "yet-undetermined" show would be "The Four Poster."NOTE: I know this is impossible to read.  You can read a transcription at the end of… Continue reading Brooke Hills Playhouse: A Collective Memoir, Part 7E

BROOKE HILLS PLAYHOUSE: A COLLECTIVE MEMOIR, Part 7C

One of the original haystack logos from 1972 BEYOND THE REMODELING ANNOUNCING OUR ARRIVAL One day in early June, Bill sent Judy Porter Hennen and me out to the Brooke Hills Park entrance to dig a 3'-deep hole for the post that would hold our sign announcing the current attraction. It was at least 85… Continue reading BROOKE HILLS PLAYHOUSE: A COLLECTIVE MEMOIR, Part 7C

BROOKE HILLS PLAYHOUSE: A COLLECTIVE MEMOIR, PART 7B

The Drover's Inn, Wellsburg, W. Va., by Russ Shaffer BEYOND THE REMODELING DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION In addition to putting on plays, there were a lot of jobs around the Playhouse that had to be done on a regular basis.  We had a duty roster for the “paid” crew that covered the following chores: K.P., Cleaning the… Continue reading BROOKE HILLS PLAYHOUSE: A COLLECTIVE MEMOIR, PART 7B

BROOKE HILLS PLAYHOUSE: A COLLECTIVE MEMOIR, PART 7A

Brooke Hills Playhouse, Print by Russ Shaffer, 1982 BEYOND THE REMODELING LODGING or HOUSING THE HORDE My aunt and uncle, Alice Cree Hamilton and Bob Hamilton, had a cottage at the Bellview Campgrounds.  Located just across the state line in Pennsylvania, it’s about 10 minutes from the barn.  I had spent many happy weeks during… Continue reading BROOKE HILLS PLAYHOUSE: A COLLECTIVE MEMOIR, PART 7A