Ogunquit Playhouse


The Ogunquit Playhouse is a regional theater at 10 Main Street in Ogunquit, Maine. The Ogunquit Playhouse is one of the last remaining summer theatres from the Straw Hat Circuit, also referred to as Summer Stock, still producing live musical theatre. The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2015, the listing was raised to 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

The Ogunquit Playhouse produces five or more musicals each season, with each season running mid-May through mid-October with performances Tuesday through Sunday. Each show is cast for its audience, and shows are produced and rehearsed onsite or in New York City.

Children's Theatre Program

The Children's Theatre Program began in the late 1990s, with programs on the Playhouse campus and stage.

History

Beginnings

The 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.

1950s

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.

1990s

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.

2000s

In 2006, Bradford Kenney came on board as the new Executive Artistic Director. With his guidance the Playhouse continued a tradition of excellence, bringing regional premieres and stars of the stage and screen to Ogunquit. With help from grants from the Maine Arts Commission and the Donato J. Tramuto Foundation, improvements were made to both the sound and lighting systems. Audiences were growing, and soon the theatre expanded from a 10-weeks to a 21-week season. In 2010, a new steel support system for the stage house section of the theatre was installed to support the building and a new rigging system. In 2013, a state-of-the-art sprinkler system was installed.
75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary Season
The Ogunquit Playhouse celebrated its 75th year in 2007 with seven shows that performed to record-breaking audiences. 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.
80th Anniversary Season
The Playhouse celebrated 80 years in theatre with the most successful season to-date that included 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. The demand was so high that the show was brought back the following year as the season closer. This feat was achieved again two years later with the Playhouses production of Million Dollar Quartet.

Shows

Shows by season for the last 13 seasons:
* - Brought back by popular demand
** - Regional premiere of production
***- Play, not a musical
2006200720082009201020112012
Beehive, the 60s MusicalMenopause The Musical
Fiddler on the RoofA Chorus LineThe Drowsy ChaperoneAvenue QAlways, Patsy Cline
CabaretThe Full MontyThe ProducersSHOUT! The Mod MusicalThe Sound of MusicSummer of LoveSouth Pacific
CinderellaCrazy for YouBreaking Up is Hard To DoGuys and DollsSunset BoulevardThe Music ManBallroom with a Twist
Hello, Dolly!La Cage aux FollesMy Fair LadySingin' in the RainSpamalotLegally BlondeDamn Yankees
Menopause The MusicalThe Kings and ILes MisérablesAll Shook UpChicagoMiss Saigon9 to 5 the Musical
HairsprayHigh School MusicalHigh School Musical
The Full Monty
2013201420152016201720182019
The Rat Pack is BackGreaseSister ActLet It Be: Music of the BeatlesMamma Mia!Smokey Joe's CafeJersey Boys*
Thoroughly Modern MillieBilly Elliot the MusicalVictor/VictoriaAnything GoesBullets Over BroadwayOklahoma!42nd Street
Young FrankensteinMary PoppninsNice Work if You Can Get ItThe Hunchback of Notre Dame**RagtimeAn American in
Paris**		Cabaret
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatThe Witches of EastwickMillion Dollar QuartetPriscilla, Queen of the Desert**Heartbreak Hotel**Grumpy Old Men: The Musical**Agatha Chrsties'
Murder on the Orient Express***
Ballroom with a TwistThe Addams FamilySaturday Night FeverSeven Brides for SevenBrothersFrom Here to Eternity**Jersey Boys**Menopause, the Musical
Buddy - The Buddy Holly StoryWest Side StoryMillion Dollar Quartet*White ChristmasElf the MusicalKinky Boots**
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story

Stars

Stars that have appeared at the Ogunquit Playhouse includes the following:

New England Theatre Conference (NETC)

Ragtime
Bullets Over Broadway
Nice Work If You Can Get It
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Billy Elliot
Mary Poppins
South Pacific
Miss Saigon
Spamalot
Sunset Boulevard
My Fair Lady
Singin' in the Rain
Billy Elliot the Musical
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat