Click the CURRENT SEASON tab at the top of the page on our website for more details on our Mainstage shows.
Information and applications for SHAKESPEARED! and the Children’s Workshop will be available after May 1.
Author: putnamcountyplayhouse
BARN GETS A FACELIFT!
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| Barn in 1981 |
In 1981, Hazel Day Longden made a gift to Putnam County Playhouse of property on Round Barn Road that included two barns. For two seasons, shows were presented on an outdoor stage in front of the small barn. In 1983, renovations were completed on the big barn – and the Hazel Day Longden Theatre was dedicated.
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| Hazel Day Longden and then PCPH President Jim Poor on June 4, 1983, dedication. |
Since then, the stage in the auditorium has held more than 800 performances of 128+ productions. This off-season, the stage was renovated so that the tradition can continue.
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| The stage & prescenium |
After all of those performances plus countless rehearsals and meetings, the stage was rebuilt and strengthened. The proscenium was also enlarged so that set building could be facilitated. It was raised about two feet and squared off so that the opening would be more “plum” for building sets.
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| Risers and seating area |
The risers that hold the seats were also repainted for the first time since 1983!
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| The “new” stage. |
Since the building of the new Rehearsal Center in 2007, the small barn has been used for storage of flats, large properties, and set pieces. The past couple of seasons, there has been a problem with rain and other water coming into the building. A concrete wall and raising of the front entrance doors will solve this problem.
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| Small barn front entrance |
As we get ready for our 2016 season, we are happy to keep improving our physical space and making it better for our participants and our patrons!
Renovation photos by Linda Gjesvold.
HISTORY IN PICTURES!!!
Last year, Jim Poor donated many photos and documents from his years of participation at Putnam County Playhouse to us. We thought we would share a few of them with our readers. Jim has been active at PCPH since 1962. He is a long-time board member, and he also served as President of the board for many terms.
Jim gave us many scores and scripts from plays and musicals he was involved in over the years. Interesting newspaper articles and meeting minutes illuminate the early years of PCPH.
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| Lois Martin, Jim Poor. 1965 “Come Blow Your Horn” |
After organizing in 1961 as Greencastle Summer Theater, the group presented its first full production Blithe Spirit in July, 1962.
As Jim wrote in his history of PCPH published in the Banner-Graphic in 2011 – “We were off and running.”
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| Tracy Alig & Hugh Glick in “Blithe Spirit.” |
Another popular show presented during those early seasons (at the old Jr. High School Auditorium) was Thornton Wilder’s Our Town in 1963.
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| Ray Mizer as he Narrator. |
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| Reed Williams & Sue Nickerson |
The comedy Kiss and Tell was also popular with early Putnam County Playhouse audiences.
Top Row: Ray Brush, Frank Livernoche, Jim Bunnell, Reed Williams (below) and Ray Mizer.
Bottom Row: Dorothy Lowdermilk, Nancy Bordon, Larry Creech, Virginia Robbins, Sue Nickerson, John Bergman
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| Reed Williams & Sue Nickerson |
Musicals were also a big part of the program for PCPH in the early years. Jim appeared twice as Billis in South Pacific.
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| Jim Poor as Luther Billis in his grass skirt. |
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| Pete Hill, Charley Aker & Unidentified working on music. |
In 1981, Putnam County Playhouse moved to its current location. While the board raised the funds to convert the larger barn into a theatre, they presented shows on the outdoor stage. That stage was located in front of the small barn. Audiences paid $3 per ticket and sat on bleachers to enjoy the show.
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| Jim gives the curtain speech before a September, 1981, performance of “Mary ,Mary.” |
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| Longtime PCPH Treasurer Don Holley sells tickets circa 1981. |
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| Refreshments were sold inside the Big Barn. |
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| Marc Adams, Ann (Cooper) Swanson, Bill Cook in “Mary, Mary” – September, 1981 |
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| Cast member Joetta Milligan and Director Judy Huter check out the stage before a performance of “Dial M for Murder” in September, 1982. |
Thanks, Jim for sharing these photos with us. We’ve come a long way! The history and the story of Putnam County Playhouse is all about the people who have been with us along the way.
We encourage everyone to come out and get involved with us during our 2016 season. Watch this website and our Facebook pages for opportunities.
DIRECTORS CHOSEN FOR 2016 SEASON!!
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the directors for the 2016 season of Putnam County Playhouse have been put in place. Each director will be responsible for bringing a production from page to stage at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre.
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| Tim Good |
Tim Good will direct the season opener Little Women, The Musical.
It will be produced June 2-4 and June 8-11. First produced on Broadway in 2006, it has a book by Allan Knee, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and music by Jason Howland.
There will be two sessions of auditions for the show. The first will be Sunday, April 3, at 3 p.m. The second will follow on Monday, April 4, at 7 p.m.
Tim most recently appeared at PCPH as Felix in the mystery-comedy The Game’s Afoot. He has also appeared in Blithe Spirit and Angel Street. He directed the PCPH production of The Importance of Being Earnest.
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| Jack Randall Earles |
Jack Randall Earles will direct On Golden Pond, the July production. It will be presented July 14-16 and July 20-23. The comedy-drama was written by Ernest Thompson. It was the basis for a popular movie starring Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, and Jane Fonda.
This production is a revival of the Putnam County Playhouse production presented in 1995 (originally directed by Peggy Tennis). Because it is a revival, members of the original cast have been invited to reprise their roles. No auditions have been scheduled.
Jack Randall most recently appeared as William Gillette in The Game’s Afoot. Also last season, he directed The Bad Seed. Earlier PCPH directing credits include On Borrowed Time, Man of La Mancha, and Guys & Dolls.
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| Shelly McFadden |
Shelly McFadden will direct the August production of 1776, a musical about the founding fathers and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. It will be produced August 11-13 and August 17-20. The book of the musical is by Peter Stone with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards.
Two sessions of auditions are planned. The first will be Sunday, June 5, at 3 p.m. The second will be Monday, June 6, at 7 p.m.
Shelly directed 7 Brides for 7 Brothers last season. She also appeared as The Witch in Into the Woods. Some of her other PCPH directing credits are The Music Man, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Shelly has appeared onstage in many shows including Arsenic & Old Lace, Man of La Mancha, and The 1940’s Radio Hour.
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| Andrew Ranck |
The season closer Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple Female Version will be directed by Andrew Ranck. It will be produced September 8-10 and September 14-17. One of Simon’s most popular comedies, it was first produced by PCPH in 1991.
There will be two audition sessions. The first will be Sunday, July 24, at 3 p.m. The second will be Monday, July 25, at 7 p.m.
This will be Andrew’s first directing assignment at PCPH. He has extensive experience at other theatres including award-winning productions at Buck Creek Players, Theatre on the Square, and Dramatic Club of Indianapolis. Andrew is a graduate of DePauw University where he was very active in theatre. Last season appeared in 7 Brides for 7 Brothers and as The Narrator in Into The Woods.
The 2016 season also includes SHAKESPEARED! planned for June 13-25. The Children’s Workshop will be July 25-29.
More information about all of the shows and workshops will be on the website soon.
Plan to join us for what looks to be one of our most exciting seasons!
DON’T PANIC!!!
We are rebuilding our Photo Albums, so they may be unavailable for viewing. They will be back!!!!
WATCH FOR YOUR FUND DRIVE LETTER!!!
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| Photo by Shelly McFadden |
Your 2016 Fund Drive Letter is in the mail. Thank you for your continued support for Putnam County Playhouse.
All donations are used entirely for the costs associated with producing our shows and maintaining our facility.
If you haven’t received your letter, or you are not on our mailing list, you can download a form by clicking HERE.
FAQ About Season Tickets!
Longtime Ticket Committee Chair Linda Gjesvold has answered some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about Season Tickets for us in the following article.
Season tickets to Putnam County Playhouse productions are primarily sold through mail order subscriptions. A brochure is mailed in late April or early May to all persons on our mailing list. Patrons return the attached order form with payment to our Post Office Box. Reserved seating is assigned and tickets are mailed the third week of May.
Tickets must be reserved for a specific Series – the same night for each show. No mixed Series please.
Tickets for individual shows may be exchanged at the box office.
In appreciation for their continued patronage, past season ticket holders receive their order forms two weeks before the remainder of the mailing list. This gives them the opportunity to order the same seats as they had the previous season(s). After this two week grace period this advantage is no longer valid. You must send in your request during this two-week period to get your same seats!
If you attend as a season ticket holder under another patron’s name, we need to know that name to assign you the same seats. If your seat partners do not renew, we do not have your name as a season ticket holder.
Orders are filled in order of postmark. No phone orders please.
If you change your request to a series other than the one you received last year you may not be assigned the same seats. Someone else sat there last year and has the first choice.
Season tickets may also be purchased during box office hours. The box office will open May 29, 2016, during our annual Open House. Regular Box Office hours are 5:00 – 7:00 pm Monday through Saturday of each performance week. The Box Office is NOT open at any other time.
In order to receive a brochure you must be on our mailing list.
Putnam County Playhouse is an ALL-VOLUNTEER corporation. All the people involved give the time because they want to support PCPH. This includes all Board Members.
We do NOT have a paid Box Office Staff, so the Box Office is open only during show weeks and only during the posted time.
To contact us during the off season – please click on the Contact Us tab at the top of the page and send us an email.
Season tickets to Putnam County Playhouse productions are primarily sold through mail order subscriptions. A brochure is mailed in late April or early May to all persons on our mailing list. Patrons return the attached order form with payment to our Post Office Box. Reserved seating is assigned and tickets are mailed the third week of May.
- Tickets must be reserved for a specific Series – the same night for each show. No mixed Series please.
- Tickets for individual shows may be exchanged at the box office.
- In appreciation for their continued patronage, past season ticket holders receive their order forms two weeks before the remainder of the mailing list. This gives them the opportunity to order the same seats as they had the previous season(s). After this two week grace period this advantage is no longer valid. You must send in your request during this two-week period to get your same seats!
- Orders are filled in order of postmark.
- No phone orders please.
- If you change your request to a series other than the one you received last year you may not be assigned the same seats. Someone else sat there last year and has the first choice.
- Season tickets may also be purchased during box office hours. The box office will open May 29, 2016, during our annual Open House. Regular Box Office hours are 5:00 – 7:00pm Monday through Saturday of each performance week.
- In order to receive a brochure you must be on our mailing list.
Putnam County Playhouse is an ALL-VOLUNTEER corporation. All the people involved give the time because they want to support PCPH. This includes all Board Members.
We do NOT have a paid Box Office Staff, so the Box Office is open only during show weeks and only during the posted time.
– See more at: http://www.putnamcountyplayhouse.com/tickets.html#sthash.0D2MVm4s.dpuf
GOODBYE TO 2015!!
At the end of every season, the Hazel Day Longden Theatre is put to bed. This year, “closing the barn” took place on Saturday, September 25. Board members and friends worked to make sure everything was cleaned and put away.
Fiona Good and Melissa Green worked on the flower beds while Ric McFadden and Jim Green painted the fences around the air conditioners.
Dustin Bond and Caroline Good worked in the shop helping to sort through a season’s worth of work and deciding what to keep.
Ric and Jim made short work of a difficult job.
Kathryn Dory worked on the box office and lobby.
TJ Tincher and Linda Gjesvold worked on painting the display letters from the front and east side of the barn. They will be stored for the winter and put back up in the spring.
Meghan Armitage helped sort and stuff the envelopes for the mailing that announced the annual meeting and the Upstage Award nominees.
Brad Sandy, Drew Brattain, Jim Rambo, Kathryn Dory, and Lita Sandy made a great team working to get the letters in the envelopes.
Shelly McFadden, Cecily Girton, and Bethany Bax joined them to finish up the job.
PCPH Board President Michael McClaine was given the most prestigious job.
The board will continue to meet in the off season to make sure that the 2016 is the best it can be. Housekeeping and maintenance details will continue to be worked on.
No electronic equipment is kept on the premises for the off-season. No trespassing is permitted on the private property. Camera surveillance and regular inspections by board members and local law enforcement officials help keep the facility safe.
Thanks to everyone for their great support for the 2015 season. Watch the mail in November for your Fund Drive Letter, and please make plans to join us for our 2016 season.
HAMMY FINDS ITS WAY HOME!!!
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| Director Shelly McFadden & Chet Clodfelter |
Upstage Award winner Chet Clodfelter was unable to attend the Annual Meeting on October 11.
Director of 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Shelly McFadden, delivered the award to him earlier this week.
Congratulations to Chet!