Life Without Lesson Plans

Brooke Hills Playhouse at the end of the first season, 1972 ON WITH THE SHOWS! The first season progressed, and it is somewhat a blur. One after another, the shows were outstanding. The shows ran five nights a week (Wednesday through Sunday) which was very ambitious, and we just rushed from one show to another.… Continue reading Brooke Hills Playhouse: A Collective Memoir, Part 10 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

We like to start 'em young! My sister Kay's son Joey (now the CEO of his own healthcare company) standing by the door we cut into the side of the barn for a second exit from the dressing rooms. 1972. BEYOND THE REMODELING HELP! WHERE DO YOU GET A FREE PIANO? The Playhouse would open… Continue reading BROOKE HILLS PLAYHOUSE: A COLLECTIVE MEMOIR, Part 7D →

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 →

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, 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 →

Brooke Hills Playhouse, 1972. Stage end of the barn and the side nearest the park entrance. No ramp until 1979. FROM BARN TO THEATRE CONTINUES The first massive job--removing the big, wooden uprights on the second floor was complete. (see Part 6A) While that was being done, other crew members had been working on another… Continue reading BROOKE HILLS PLAYHOUSE: A COLLECTIVE MEMOIR, PART 6B →

Brooke Hills Playhouse, 1972. Stage end of the barn and the side nearest the park entrance. No ramp until 1979. FROM BARN TO THEATRE To say that transforming an old barn into a theatre entailed a lot of hard, dirty, heavy work is a mammoth understatement.  Those who were there (See Parts 5A, 5B, and… Continue reading BROOKE HILLS PLAYHOUSE: A COLLECTIVE MEMOIR, PART 6A →