July 1st, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
On July 12th Weathervane Playhouse will be hosting a very special evening to Celebrate 40 years of Theatre!
This will be an amazing event with Cabot Rae singing and the Weathervane 2008 cast performing, and the Mayor of Newark speaking….and ALL for the Benefit of improving the Theatre! You see Weathervane is literally falling apart at the seems, and they are seeking support…monitary support…
Just to give you a little background & information:
Weathervane Playhouse, Ohio’s oldest professional summer stock theatre, celebrates 40 years of summer magic and launches a Capital Campaign for improved facilities. Weathervane’s story has been one of resolve, rebirth, and rekindling through community efforts. The ongoing contributions, donations, and moral support have been the chapters that continue to make the Weathervane book a true success story. Weathervane has entertained over 225,000 people, reached out to special needs groups, and provided education for over a thousand students.
Weathervane Playhouse had its birth in a barn in Heath,
Ohio, July 8, 1969, opening with a most appropriate musical, Good News! From the first moment,
Licking
County’s professional summer theater grew in the hearts and minds of the local community.
After having been housed in a barn, a tent, and a large open-air pavilion, Weathervane Playhouse moved to it’s permanent location on land provided by the Thomas J. Evans Foundation. It was in the spring 1976, with strong community support from the Newark Area Jaycees and the Ohio National Guard, that the theater was transported and rebuilt in its present location.
Scott Keys, Managing Director during this difficult period, continued his dedicated work for Weathervane and brought the 1988 season to fruition. The first phase of rebuilding was completed just in time for the season opener. On June 15, 1989, the second phase of reconstruction was completed and the structure was dedicated as the Mary A. Alford Memorial Theater.
The “growing pains” of Weathervane continued in 1994. Just prior to the opening of the season, one of the biggest fires in the history of downtown
Newark occurred, destroying the Playhouse’s complete costume collection of some fifteen years. When the plea went out to rebuild the costume stock, the response was overwhelming and continues to this day.Then Weathervane turned its sights to the education and entertainment of children, embarking on a Children’s Theater structure. This $135,000 building was made possible through a generous donation from long-time Weathervane supporter Larry W.
Anderson, in memory of his wife Dawn Holt Anderson. The remaining monies were collected through a sale of personalized paving bricks that currently make up the “Children’s Walk”, a beautiful pathway leading from our outdoor pavilion to the front entrance of the Children’s Theater. The structure was completed in the spring of 1999. The Larry W. and Dawn Holt Anderson Children’s Theater has proved to be a valuable addition to Weathervane, allowing us to hold acting, vocal and dance workshops as well as other events, with many more scheduled for the upcoming season.
A study released by the National Endowment for the Arts demonstrated that people who participate in the arts also engage in positive civic, volunteer and individual activities. The report also indicated a declining interest in the arts among young people.
Many schools are cutting arts programs, and Weathervane will be able to fill the gap for children who may be left with little to do by providing education in the arts at our newly renovated facility.Currently, through the Anderson Children’s Theatre, over 250 youth each summer engage in stimulating workshops and activities, and Weathervane will be able to reach many more with a year-round use facility.
From 1999 to the present Weathervane has made a name for themselves within the professional theatre world and has earned several awards for excellence in theatre. Some of the awards include the 2006 recipient of the Award of Excellence for Outstanding Production from the Theatre Roundtable of Central Ohio and the Central Ohio Theatre Critics’ Circle, 2007 recipient of
Central Ohio’s highest award for Outstanding Production (Ragtime) and Best Director. As well as attracting Broadway stars like Carmen Keels.
Twenty years in our current building has brought us to June 2008, and Weathervane is busting out all over. Maintenance repairs, lack of air conditioning and a significant increase in audience size, are prompting us to reach out to the community again in order to renovate in hopes of supporting the world-class theatre Weathervane produces.
Renovations will include larger restrooms, an enclosed and air-conditioned performance space, as well as new facilities for the Costume Shop, Scenic Shop, and dressing rooms. These upgrades will increase safety for both patrons and staff, as well as continue to improve the quality of Weathervane’s productions and workshops.
