Huron Playhouse records, 1946-2018

Collection

Identifier: UA-0091

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

Records of the summer-stock theatre company Huron Playhouse, based in Huron, Ohio, from its inception to its closing in 2016.

Dates

Creation: 1946-2018

Extent

32.56 Cubic Feet (62 archive boxes, 12 oversize boxes)

Creator

Huron Playhouse (Huron, Ohio) (Organization)

Scope and Contents

This collection covers the entire run of the theatre and is made up of financial records, print photographs and negatives (both actor publicity shots and of productions themselves), videotapes, newsletters, show programs, scrapbooks, correspondence (including reports from the BGSU advisors), guest books and newspaper clippings.

These materials, mostly organized by season or individual production, offer extensive insight into the operations of a summer stock theatre. For example, financial records detail attendance figures, revenue sources, and the myriad of expenses the theatre paid. The guest books – which indicate the hometowns of visitors – help demonstrate how geographically far-reaching the theatre’s appeal was.

Of particular interest for studying the history of the Huron Playhouse are the materials gathered to mark its 50th anniversary. An alumni survey was created and generated hundreds of letters with reminiscences by former theatre participants, some of whom went on to perform professionally.

Because the Huron Playhouse materials were acquired in several separate transfers over the years, there is a good deal of overlap between various portions of the collection, particularly the production files and the materials organized into scrapbooks.

Biographical / Historical

The Huron Playhouse has been connected with Bowling Green State University since its inception, however, in 1951 the BGSU Speech Department officially began operating the playhouse. The early seasons allowed students enrolled at BGSU to participate in the playhouse and receive university credit for acting, stagecraft and lighting, and dramatic production. The first show put on by the Huron Playhouse in 1949 was John Loves Mary. While the show was attended by BGSU President Frank Prout, the rest of the audience was made up of only ten paying admissions. However, the remainder of the 1949 season was well attended and began the 67 year run treating Northwest Ohio to Broadway-style musicals and plays, everthing from dramas, mysteries, melodramas, Shakespeare, children's theatre, and musicals.

The Huron Playhouse used the McCormick middle school as part Broadway theatre, part scenery shop, part costume shop, and part dormitory to house students. Every year, the playhouse produced up to seven shows one per week, from musicals, mysteries, and even original plays. The student participants were mostly BGSU students but the playhouse attracted young thespians from across the country. The students received housing and a stipend for their work, and the communal housing created a family atmosphere that alumni have never forgotten.

Because of BGSU’s active theater department on campus, in 2011, the university ended its financial support of the Huron Playhouse. The Playhouse began operating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, but despite its beloved status in the community the institution struggled to maintain attendance and held its last season in 2016. The Huron Playhouse attracted many devoted BGSU faculty from both the main campus and the nearby Firelands campus. Dr. Elden Smith of the speech department initiated university support and served as the playhouse managing director from 1951 to 1955. Dr. F. Lee Miesle also championed the playhouse and ran the institution for almost a decade from 1957 to 1966. And last but not least is Dr. Jann Glann and her husband Dr. Frank Glann’s dedication to the Huron Playhouse. Both professors at Firelands, the Glanns were actively involved for the majority of the playhouse’s history: Frank joined in 1955 and Jann in 1963.

The Huron Playhouse entertained for 67 summers starting in 1949 and coming to end with the final season in 2016 (except for one final farewell performance in July 2018, the 2017 and 2018 seasons were canceled due to financial constraints).

A list of all productions performed over the years by the Huron Playhouse is available in Box 61.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was acquired over several accessions directly from the Huron Playhouse.

Processing Information

The initial accession was process by Center for Archival Collections staff. Subsequent accessions (making up the bulk of the collection) were processed by Cooper Clarke, student archival assistant, 2018.