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Ogunquit Playhouse

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Coordinates: 43°14′20″N 70°36′2″W / 43.23889°N 70.60056°W / 43.23889; -70.60056
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Ogunquit Playhouse
Ogunquit Playhouse is located in Maine
Ogunquit Playhouse
Ogunquit Playhouse is located in the United States
Ogunquit Playhouse
Location10 Main Street (US 1),
Ogunquit, Maine
Coordinates43°14′20″N 70°36′2″W / 43.23889°N 70.60056°W / 43.23889; -70.60056
Area4.1 acres (1.7 ha)
Built1937
ArchitectWyckoff, Alexander
Architectural styleColonial Revival
NRHP reference No.95001458[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 14, 1995

About

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Ogunquit Playhouse is a regional theater on 10 Main Street (United States Route 1) in Ogunquit, Maine.[2] Ogunquit Playhouse is one of the last remaining summer theaters from the Summer Stock which still produces musical theatre.[3] The Playhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places[1] as a 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."[4] The Playhouse's season runs from May-October, producing 5 shows each season.

New Works

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Ogunquit Playhouse’s New Works Program launched in 2016 and has fostered new productions such as Heartbreak Hotel, Grumpy Old Men, The Da Vinci Code, Mystic Pizza the Musical, From Here to Eternity, The Nutty Professor, and Mr. Holland’s Opus. [5]According to the Boston Globe, “Developing new musicals has been part of the theater’s mission, and Kenney says he and the board have been looking for suitable projects and partnerships since 2016, when the theater launched its new works program. That program yielded staged readings of “Frida” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus” in New York, as well as the 2017 world premiere of “Heartbreak Hotel” (described as the prequel to “Million Dollar Quartet”), produced with Fingerlakes Musical Theatre Festival.”[6] In 2024, Ogunquit Playhouse presented the World Premiere of My Best Friend’s Wedding based on the beloved Julia Roberts comedy.

History[7]

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1927- Walter Hartwig starts the Manhattan Theatre Colony

1933- Walter and Maude Hartwig establish Ogunquit Playhouse in a downtown garage

1937- The Playhouse is built at 10 Main St

1941- Walter Hartwig dies, Maude Hartwig takes over

1950- John Lane becomes General Manager, then owner of Ogunquit Playhouse with business partner, Henry Weller

1994- John Lane retires and transfers ownership of the Playhouse to the Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation that oversees the Playhouse to this day

1999- Roy M. Rogison is hired as Producing Artistic Director, and the Playhouse begins producing its own shows, Children’s Theatre Program Begins

2000- John Lane dies

2006- Bradford T. Kenney becomes Executive Artistic Director, Season expands from 10 week to 21 week season

2012- Ogunquit Playhouse celebrates its 80th season featuring- Always, Patsy Cline, 9 to 5, South Pacific, Damn Yankees, Ballroom With a Twist, and Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story[8]

2022- Ogunquit Playhouse celebrates its 90th season featuring- The Cher Show, The Nutty Professor, Mr. Holland’s Opus, and Beautiful-The Carole King Musical[9]

2023- Deborah Warren becomes Managing Director

2025- Bradford T. Kenney marks his 20th season with the Playhouse

Past Productions[10]

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Shows by season for the last 10 seasons:

2014 Season


2015 Season

2016 Season

2017 Season

2018 Season

  • Elf The Musical (At The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH), With Jennifer Cody, Directed and Choreographed by Connor Gallagher, November 28-December 16, 2018

2019 Season

2020 Season

  • Playhouse Patio Cabaret, Outdoor concert series featuring Playhouse stars
  • Broadway Gives Back to the Playhouse (Streaming Event)

2021 Season

All took place in the Leary Pavillion

2022 Season

2023 Season

2024 Season

  • Disney’s Frozen the Broadway Musical (at The Music Hall in Portsmouth), With Cate Hayman and Marilyn Caserta, Directed by Angelique Ilo, November 27-December 22, 2024

2025 Season

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  • Come From Away, Directed and Choreographed by Richard J. Hinds, May 15-June 14, 2025.
  • Guys and Dolls, Directed and Choreographed by Al Blackstone, June 19-July 19, 2025.
  • High Society, July 24-August 23, 2025
  • When Elvis Met The Beatles, World Premiere, August 28-September 27, 2025
  • Titanic The Musical, Directed by Shaun Kerrison, October 2-November 2, 2025

Notable performers

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Performers who have appeared at the Ogunquit Playhouse include the following:[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Correspondent, HEATHER BURNS News (2022-07-30). "Ogunquit Playhouse has all the summer stars". Homenewshere.com. Retrieved 2024-07-30. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ Fierberg, Ruthie (March 23, 2019). "How Ogunquit Playhouse Shed Its Summerstock Past to Become a Regional Powerhouse".
  4. ^ "2015 National Register of Historic Places Listing Raised Press Release". Archived from the original on 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2015-01-22.
  5. ^ "Why Ogunquit Playhouse is taking a chance on new works (because the next 'Hamilton' is out there)". Press Herald. 2024-10-20. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  6. ^ Comments, Share on Facebook Share on TwitterView. "At Ogunquit Playhouse, it's Mr. Wong's 'Opus' - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2025-01-22. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ "History". Ogunquit Playhouse. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  8. ^ Desk, BWW News. "Ogunquit Playhouse Announces 80th Anniversary Season, Sally Struthers Returns in ALWAYS PATSY CLINE". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-01-22. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ "Ogunquit Playhouse adds musical to its 90th Anniversary season". Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  10. ^ "Ogunquit Playhouse / Archives". Ogunquit Playhouse / Archives. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  11. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-11-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ a b "Nik Walker, Julia Murney, More Join Ogunquit A Little Night Music". July 1, 2024.
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