Wikipedia

Summer stock theater

(Redirected fromSummer stock)
For the 1950 MGM film with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland, seeSummer Stock.For the Canadian conservatory, seeSummerstock Conservatory.

In American theater,summer stock theateris atheaterthat presents stage productions only in the summer. The name combines the season with the tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusingstocksceneryandcostumes.Summer stock theaters frequently take advantage of seasonal weather by having their productions outdoors, under tents set up temporarily for their use, orin barns.

Barn Theatre ofUniversity of California, Santa Cruz

Some smaller theaters still continue this tradition, and a few summer stock theaters have become highly regarded by both patrons as well as performers and designers. Often viewed as a starting point for professional actors, stock casts are typically young, just out of high school or still in college.

Elitch Theatre

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In 1958Edward G. Robinsonreturned to the Historic Elitch Theatre where he had performed in the Summer Stock in 1921 & 1922.

Summer stock started in Denver, Colorado, at theElitch Theatre(part ofElitch Gardens). A 1937 article in Time magazine reported: "Elitch's Gardens is the great-grandfather of all U. S. summer stock companies... and nearly every personage in U. S. show business, from General & Mrs. Tom Thumb to Douglas Fairbanks, has at one time or another played Elitch's."[1]

According to the 1948 bookBlueprint for Summer Theatre,"The first summer theater opened its doors atElitch Gardens,Denver,Coloradoon May 1, 1890. Plays were presented with a resident company and guest stars, a policy that has been followed with tremendous success for over fifty years. "[2]

Most sources consider 1893 to be the first year of summer stock. For that summer season, Elitch Gardens employed the Frank Norcross Company. It was the first full-length season of summer stock. The first stock play presented atElitch TheatrewasNancy and Companyby Augustin Daly. It opened on June 10, 1893.[3]The company's roster of actors included: Lilian Dailey, Marion Earle, Alfred Hampton, Jane Kenmark, Hudson Liston, Millie Liston, Charles Lothian, Jeanette Lowrey,James F. Neill(who had organized the company), Frank E. Norcross, Bernard Reynold, and Weevie Vivian.[4]The following year, James F. Neill and R.L. Giffen organized a company for theManhattan Beach,Denver,with a cast list including: Anne Blancke, Kate Blancke, Alfred Burnham,Harry Corson Clarke,Henrietta Crosman,Josepha Crowell, Zula Hanes,William Ingersoll,John B. Maher, James F. Neill, andMary Ryanas players, and with Alfred Fisher as stage director.[4]In September 1894, Neill and Giffen also organized the first winter stock company at the Lyceum Theatre, Denver.[4]

Another company was placed inSalt Lake Cityin December 1894 under the management of T. Daniel Frawley, who later purchased the Neill-Giffen interests and moved the organization toSan Francisco.[4]The roster of the combined Denver and Salt Lake City company included:Belle Archer,Blanche Bates,Robert E. Bell,H.D. Blakemore, Anne Blancke, Kate Blancke, Fanny Burt,Madge Carr Cook,Harry Corson Clarke, Jean Coyne, Henrietta Crosman, Charles Dade, Lilian Dailey, George W. Denham,Harry Gibbs,William Ingersoll, Jane Kenmark,Howard Kyle,George W. Leslie, Phosa McAllister, Cara Morlan, Robert Morris, James F. Neill,Phyllis Rankin,and Fred Trader, as players, with Walter Clark Bellow as stage director.[4]

1896 was the second stock season and J. H. Huntley was signed to direct the resident stock company, headed by leading actress Jennie Kennark. The season opened withRosedale,a play byLester Wallack.[5]

However, opinions differ on the official first year of summer stock. In a 1955 article for the Princeton University Library Chronicle, the authors suggest it was 1897:

Devotees of the straw hat circuit are usually under the impression that the summer theater movement originated when certain daft individuals beganproducing plays in barns.The true beginning was in the theater built by John and Mary Elitch on their ranch at Denver, Colorado, in 1891. After several seasons of vaudeville and light opera, the stock company inaugurated the 1897 season with its first dramatic performance. The director was George Edeson, with James O'Neill, father of dramatist Eugene O'Neill, as leading man. An unbroken series of successful seasons followed. This, then, is the oldest summer stock theater. In general, theatrical companies do not enjoy invariable successes, but widespread popularity has made summer theater a major industry, so that there is virtually no section of this country that does not boast at least one such dramatic group.[6]

In his 1964 Ph.D. dissertation on stock theatre companies and James F. Neill (not to be confused with James O'Neill,) William Zucchero: "Denver could boast that It was the only city in the country that could and did support two summer stock companies:"[7]He went on to quote an 1896 article stating:

The summer theatrical season Is now at its height and both Manhattan Beach and Elitch's Gardens are doing splendid business, and deservedly, too, for nowhere in the country are to be found better attractions or better Summer stock than those with which our local public is now being edified… The strength of these companies, as well as the plays presented, are way above the average.[8]

Cecil B. DeMille,who acted in minor roles in the summer stock cast in 1905, would regularly send congratulatory telegrams to the theater on opening night. In 1926, more than two decades after his time at the theater, he sent a telegram stating: "It is a long time since I spent a very pleasant summer in stock at the Elitch Gardens. Today in Hollywood I can hardly go anywhere without meeting one or more now rather famous people who either during that summer or at other times played in what all actors and actresses consider one of the greatest cradles of the drama in American history."[9]

Later history

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In the 1920s, summer stock expanded:The Muny,St. Louis, Missouri(1919) is the nation's oldest and largest outdoor musical theater; Manhattan Theatre Colony, first started nearPeterborough, New Hampshire(1927) and moved toOgunquit, Maine;Gretna Theatre, Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania (1927) as part of theChautauquamovement;[10]the Cape Playhouse,Dennis, Massachusetts(1927); and the Berkshire Playhouse,Stockbridge, Massachusetts(1928). Many of the theaters of theheyday,the 1920s through the 1960s, were in New England. Part of the "straw hat circuit," theaters also were in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, among other states. (Lakewood Playhouse near Skowhegan,Maine(1901 for summer), was an earlier theater, but it was an established stock theater that had then been used as a summer venue.)[11]

The structure was to present different plays in weekly or biweekly repertory, performed by a resident company, generally between June and September. The usual fare consisted of light comedies, romances and mysteries. The theaters were located in rural areas.[11]Touring companies would carry hand props and costumes to each venue, where sound, lights and set would be awaiting them.

Summer stock provided a training ground for actors and inexpensive entertainment for vacationing East Coast urbanites. Craig Mamrick describesLouis Edmonds' early summer stock experience: "Louis spent the summer of 1949 working as part of the repertory company at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine... The Ogunquit Playhouse was affiliated with the Manhattan Theatre Colony, an apprentice program that hopeful actors could attend (paying $150 for the summer) to learn their craft and observe—and possibly work with—professionals. Such stage luminaries as Maude Adams, Ethel Barrymore, Lillian Gish, and Ruth Gordon had trod the boards here. Students took classes in acting, stagecraft, makeup, and voice, and if they were talented enough, they might be asked to appear in plays with the resident acting company."[12]Additionally, many notable performers spent their summers on the circuit. Plays and musicals that had closed onBroadwaywould play the circuit. By 1950, there were 152 Equity companies, including the Ogunquit Playhouse[13]and Skowhegan Playhouse in Maine; theWoodstock Playhouseand theForestburghPlayhouse in upstate New York;FalmouthPlayhouse in Massachusetts (burned down in 1994);[14]Priscilla Beach TheatreinPlymouth, Massachusetts,and the Bucks County Playhouse inNew Hope(suburban Philadelphia), Pennsylvania (established in 1939).[15]TheWestport Country PlayhouseinConnecticut,since renovated with the support ofJoanne WoodwardandPaul Newman,was also part of the summer stock circuit.

The circuit toured inFloridaand the Southeast during the winter. Venues included theBeacham Theaterin Orlando and the Royal Poinciana Playhouse inPalm Beach, Florida(closed since 2004)[16]where performers fromBob Cummingsin 1958 toArlene Francis(1961) andRichard Chamberlain(1966) appeared.[17]

Performers

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Stars of Broadway, film, and television would regularly spend summers performing in stock. The Council of Stock Theatres (COST) negotiated a special contract withActors Equityto cover the work of actors and stage managers.[18][19]

Summer Stock at the Historic Elitch Theatre in Denver was the proving-grounds for a number of would-be stars. For the 1905 season, a 20-somethingCecil B. DeMillewas a minor player in the stock cast. Denver-natives, such asDouglas Fairbanks,Maude Fealy,andAntoinette Perry,all got their start in summer stock at the Elitch Theatre.[20]Additionally,Fredric March,Minnie Maddern Fiske,Beulah Bondi,Edward G. Robinson(see photo above), andSylvia Sidneywere all stock cast members at one time.[21]In the summer of 1951, a youngGrace Kelly(just 21-years old) was the ingénue for the stock company. While performing at the theater she received a telegram fromFred Zinnemannasking her to come to Hollywood to star in his filmHigh NoonasGary Cooper's wife. She initially thought she had to decline because of her contract that lasted through the end of the summer, but her director at the theater quickly reminded her that she only had to give two-weeks notice and she could head to Hollywood.[22]

John Kenley,anOhio-based producer, ran his own summer stock circuit,Kenley Players,inColumbus,Dayton,Warren,the Carousel Theatre inAkron,andCanton, Ohio,and sent many of the shows to an affiliated theater inFlint, Michigan.Starting in 1958 performers such asDan DaileyinGuys and Dolls,Barbara EdeninLady in the Dark,andHoward KeelinKismetappeared. Kenley cast "movie stars and television personalities" who were nationally known.[23]DuringGypsy Rose Lee's engagement inAuntie Mameat the Warren theater,Erik Premingerwrote: "Working for him [John Kenley] was a joy. Everything about his operation was first-class from the director and supporting cast he had assembled through the scenery, props, and costumes...He was attentive, supportive."[24]Performers such asPaul Lynde,[25]Bill Bixby,Karen Morrow,Phyllis Diller,Andy Devine,Gordon MacRae[26]andPatrice Munselstarred in Kenley stock productions.Ethel Mermanperformed inCall Me Madamat the Kenley Players in 1968 (as well as appearing at the Parker Playhouse andCoconut Grove Playhousein Miami earlier that year).[27]

The Cape Playhouse inDennis, Massachusettsopened in 1927 withThe Guardsman,starringBasil Rathbone,and has continued through the 2009 season withHunter FosterandMalcolm Gets.[28]

Gretna Theatre, opened in 1927 in the PennsylvaniaChautauquacommunity ofMount Gretna,and has hosted performers such asBernadette Peters,Faith Prince,Tommy Tune,Kim Zimmer,Charlton Heston.

The Ogunquit Playhouse, begun in 1933, attracted performers such asMaude Adams,Ethel Barrymore,andLaurette Taylorin the early years and more recently,Sally Struthers,Lucie Arnaz,andLorenzo Lamas.[13]

Performers such asGinger Rogers,Douglas Fairbanks Jr.,Angela Lansbury,Bob Hope,Sergio Franchi,Zero Mostel,Ann Miller,Jane Powell,andDebbie Reynoldsperformed at theCape CodMusic Circus and its sister theater, the South Shore Music Circus.[29]

Colleen Dewhurstwrote of her experiences in summer stock as a new actress: "My first professional jobs were in summer stock, in small, medium and large companies that presented ten plays in ten weeks from June until Labor Day...At that time, the core of each summer stock company was made up of a stage manager and six resident actors: a leading man and woman, a character man and woman, and aningenueand a juvenile. In some cases, five or six of the summer plays would be 'star vehicles', featuring a familiar actor or actress. "[30]

William Shatnerperformed in summer stock after the cancellation ofStar Trek.[31]

Notable theaters

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Some summer theaters specialize in a particular type of production, such asShakespeareanplays,musicals,or evenopera.Some notable summer theaters include: theNew York Shakespeare Festival(better-known asShakespeare in the Park,although a number of other summer stock Shakespearean series use this name); the Gretna Theatre, Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania,[10]Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre,Grand Lake, Colorado,[32]Summerstock Conservatory,Calgary[33]Utah Shakespearean Festival,Cedar City, Utah,[34]Santa Fe Opera,[35]Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival,Becket, Massachusetts,[36]Williamstown Theatre Festival,Williamstown, Massachusetts,[37]Berkshire Theatre Festival,Stockbridge, Massachusetts,[38]Glimmerglass Festival,Cooperstown,New York,[39]The Barn Theatrein Augusta, Michigan,American Players Theatre,Spring Green, Wisconsin,Vancouver'sBard on the Beach,[40]and Tent Theatre (John Goodman Amphitheatre) inSpringfield, Missouri,[41]

TheHistoric Elitch Theatreis still standing today, and after several phases of restoration, the foundation running the theatre hopes to have regular productions again in the next few years.[42]

Circus tent theater

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The Sacramento Music Circus tent in 2001

In 1949,St. John Terrellbegan a new experience presenting summer stock theater under an arena-type (circus) tent inLambertville, New Jersey,theMusic circus.This began a new period of outdoor theater.[43]In 1951 this new style of summer stock made its way west with the addition of theSacramento Music Circus.

TheCape CodMusic Circus (now the Melody Tent) inHyannis,Massachusetts opened in 1950, the third tent theater to open, and The South Shore Music Circus inCohasset,Massachusetts followed in 1951. A tent theater had opened earlier in Florida.[29]

The Sacramento Music Circus stage in 2001

Another theater in the round, theValley Forge Music Fair(which closed in 1996), in Devon, Pennsylvania, was opened in 1955 byShelly Gross,Lee GuberandFrank Ford.They then opened other theaters in the round, including Shady Grove Music Fair in Washington, DC, Painters Mill Music Fair in Maryland (closed in 1991), and theWestbury Music FaironLong Island,opened in 1956.[44]By 1957, there were 19 tent theaters, many located in Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey, and all presenting musicals only. (The musicalThe Pajama Gamewas the major show making the tent circuit in the summer of 1957.)[45]

Thetheatre-in-the-roundconcept brought Broadway-style musicals to northernCaliforniaunder a big top tent each summer. Original producers Russell Lewis and Howard Young presented their first production,Show Boat,the same opening production at both the Lambertville and the South Shore Music Circus. The original Lambertville theater closed in 1970, and both the Sacramento and South Shore theaters continue to thrive today. In Sacramento, live musicals in the round are presented in a new permanent complex, TheWells Fargo Pavilion.The South Shore Music Circus and Cape Cod Melody Tent now serve primarily as intimate settings for musical acts including popular singers, oldies groups, and orchestras.

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Straw Hat Season".Time.July 5, 1937. p. 32.RetrievedJuly 2,2021.
  2. ^Beckhard, Richard (1948).Blueprint for summer theatre.John Richard Press. p. 1.OCLC589457337.
  3. ^Borrillo, Theodore A. (2012).Denver's historic Elitch Theatre: a nostalgic journey (a history of its times).[publisher not identified]. pp. 25–26.ISBN978-0-9744331-4-1.OCLC823177622.
  4. ^abcde"Developing a National Training School for Actors".New York Times.New York, New York.September 10, 1911. p. 12; 6th column: "Growth of the System".RetrievedDecember 12,2021.
  5. ^Borrillo, Theodore A. (2012).Denver's historic Elitch Theatre: a nostalgic journey (a history of its times).[publisher not identified]. p. 29.ISBN978-0-9744331-4-1.OCLC823177622.
  6. ^"Summer Theatre U.S.A., 1955".The Princeton University Library Chronicle.17(1 (AUTUMN 1955)). Princeton University Library: 49–54. 1955.JSTOR26403282.
  7. ^Zucchero, William Henry (1964)."THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF JAMES F. NEILL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN AMERICAN THEATRICAL STOCK COMPANY".Ohio State University, Ph.D. Dissertation:149–150.
  8. ^Carstarphen, F.E. (August 8, 1896). "In Other Cities".The Mirror.p. 5.
  9. ^Borrillo, Theodore A. (2012).Denver's historic Elitch Theatre: a nostalgic journey (a history of its times).[publisher not identified]. p. 65.ISBN978-0-9744331-4-1.OCLC823177622.
  10. ^ab"About Us"gretnatheatre.org, retrieved July 13, 2019
  11. ^abWilmeth, p. 629
  12. ^Hamrick, Craig.Big Lou(2004), iUniverse,ISBN0-595-29716-1,p. 18
  13. ^abOgunquit Playhouse official siteogunquitplayhouse.org, accessed July 22, 2009
  14. ^McLaughlin, Jeff.Article summary: "Predawn fire destroys Falmouth Playhouse, a summer tradition",The Boston GlobeMarch 1, 1994
  15. ^"Before the theater fell on hard times in the 1970s...it was part of the straw-hat circuit that showcased stage and screen stars in the summer." D'Alessandro, Gene. "Bucks County Playhouse owner Ralph Miller is celebrating his career and looking ahead to more",The Philadelphia Inquirer,June 18, 2006, p. L03
  16. ^Kelly, William."Town Council willing to allow Royal Poinciana Playhouse demolition,"Archived2011-07-18 at theWayback Machinepalmbeachdailynews, April 15, 2009
  17. ^"Royal Poinciana Playhouse-Merged History, research by Tom Clarie", pp.71-73Archived2007-10-08 at theWayback Machinepbtheaterguild.org, April 3, 2006
  18. ^Armbrust, Roger."Equity-COST Contract Set - Three-year Contract Includes 9-12% Salary Increases,"allbusiness, as published inBackstage,March 26, 1999
  19. ^Actors Equity Association Agreement and ules Governing Employment in Non-Resident Dramatic Stock, Effective: December 27, 2004actorsequity.org, accessed July 22, 2009
  20. ^L., Dier, Caroline (1932).The lady of the Gardens: Mary Elitch Long.Hollycrofters, Inc., Ltd.OCLC307807.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^Borrillo, Theodore A. (2012).Denver's historic Elitch Theatre: a nostalgic journey (a history of its times).[publisher not identified].ISBN978-0-9744331-4-1.OCLC823177622.
  22. ^Borrillo, Theodore A. (2012).Denver's historic Elitch Theatre: a nostalgic journey (a history of its times).[publisher not identified]. pp. 222–223.ISBN978-0-9744331-4-1.OCLC823177622.
  23. ^Vacha, John.The music went 'round and around,(2004), Kent State University Press,ISBN0-87338-798-8,p. 90
  24. ^Preminger, Erik Lee.My G-string mother(2004), Frog Books,ISBN1-58394-096-0,p. 172
  25. ^"Names in the News",The Associated Press,Dateline: Akron, Ohio, July 5, 1979
  26. ^TheCincinnati Magazinelisting for Kenley Players Summer Theatre, showsMilk and Honeystarring Gordon MacRae, week of August 1, 1972, and the remainder of August 1972Theatre listingsCincinnati Magazine,August 1972
  27. ^Kellow, Brian.Ethel Merman(2007), Viking,ISBN0-670-01829-5,p. 219
  28. ^Cape Playhouse official sitecapeplayhouse, accessed July 22, 2009
  29. ^abCape Cod Melody Tent historyArchived2011-10-16 at theWayback Machinemelodytent.org, accessed June 22, 2009
  30. ^Dewhurst, Colleen.Colleen Dewhurst(2002), Simon and Schuster,ISBN0-7432-4270-X,p. 74
  31. ^David Hochman."Q&A; with William Shatner".details.Archived fromthe originalon 2010-11-10.
  32. ^Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre official siterockymountainrep, accessed July 22, 2009
  33. ^Summerstock Conservatory official sitesummerstock.ca, accessed July 22, 2009
  34. ^Utah Shakespearean Festival official sitebard.org, accessed July 22, 2009
  35. ^Santa Fe Opera 2009 Festival Seasonsantafeopera.org, accessed July 22, 2009
  36. ^"History"Jacob's Pillow.org
  37. ^Williamstown Theatre Festival official sitewtfestival.org, accessed July 22, 2009
  38. ^Berkshire Theatre Festival official siteberkshiretheatre.org, accessed July 22, 2009
  39. ^Glimmerglass Festival official siteglimmerglass.org, accessed July 22, 2009
  40. ^Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival 2009bardonthebeach.org, accessed July 22, 2009
  41. ^[1]tenttheatre.Missouristate.edu, accessed May 9, 2023
  42. ^"Historic Elitch Theatre | Denver, CO".Historic Elitch Theatre.Retrieved2021-04-11.
  43. ^Music Circus archives, history, show/cast listslambertville-music-circus.org, accessed July 22, 2009
  44. ^Simonson, Robert.Shelly Gross, Creator of Summer Stock "Music Fairs," Dies at 88, "playbill, June 22, 2009
  45. ^Kirby, Irwinn."Tented Broadway Grows",The Billboard,June 24, 1957, accessed July 24, 2009

Sources

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  • Wilmeth, Don B., Jacobs, Leonard.The Cambridge Guide to American Theatre(Ed. 2,2007), Cambridge University Press,ISBN0-521-83538-0

Further reading

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  • LoMonaco, Martha Schmoyer.Summer Stock! An American Theatrical Phenomenon(2004), Palgrave Macmillan,ISBN1-4039-6542-0
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