Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#2re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 6:28pm
For those who don't know, this was the sister theater to the Bucks County Playhouse, where Sondheim got his start.
Sad. I hope they rebuild it.
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
"He's a tramp, but I love him."
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
#2re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 6:30pmWow. That was close to where I went to college. I think I know some people who appeared in some shows there.
"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005
"You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.
Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates
#3re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 6:32pm
Both this and the Bucks County Playhouse were dumps.
Honestly, this is no great loss.
#4re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 6:33pmHow awful! I worked at both of those theaters in the summer of 1986, along with the Woodstock Playhouse (which burned down years ago, I think) and the Falmouth Playhouse. Physically, they had all seen better days, even back then. I won't go into our living conditions or pay, for nine shows a week. Not to mention the travel. But artistically, I am quite proud of what we achieved, and the audiences flocked to the shows and had a good time. Theater is good for the Poconos, I'm sure of it.
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#5re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 6:33pm
So sad.
And off-topic, but Sondheim really got his start-ings at the Bucks County Playhouse? (I thought it was the Walnut - he's on the board there!). Didn't know that -- shame they're productions aren't that great anymore 
!
#6re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 7:15pmMaybe I'm wrong about that, but it was definitely in that area. I thought I heard that it was Bucks County.
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
"He's a tramp, but I love him."
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
#7re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 7:23pm
Can anyone say "Jewish Lightning"?
P
#8re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 7:29pmTwo of his other theatres were destroyed in fires under suspicious circumstances, as I recall.
#9re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 7:54pmAnd they have both been mentioned in this thread.
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
"He's a tramp, but I love him."
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#10re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 8:04pm
It could have been Bucks. Haven't been there in a year - that's the one in New Hope. All of the theatres (save for the super-regional Walnut Street in downtown Philly) are in pretty bad condition.
Bucks County Playhouse floods usually atleast once a year. It's a shame!
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#11re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 8:21pm
I'm surprised that this wasn't the Ogunquit Playhouse, considering they had a fire there this year.
That place is LUCJY it didn't go up in a flash. It's a tinderbox.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
#12re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 8:22pm
I worked at Pocono for 7 years, and it is where I fell in love with theatre. Yes, the building was falling apart and the shows were not always wonderful, but there was a lot of great art created here and true friendships were made.
If it were not for this building I would not be who I am now, and for that I will always be grateful. I will always remember the Childrens' Theatre, which is where I started. We put on 9 shows a summer, usually with 2 weeks of rehearsal. It was very intense but also so much fun and so rewarding. It was a rare day when we did not sell out the theater (something the mainstage only saw when there was a television star in the show) and after every show we would rush out to the front lawn and greet the kids and sign autographs in character.
I stopped by the property this afternoon to take some final pictures and was surprised to see a nice crowd of actors, techies and fans. There was even a little memorial next to one of the signs with a few flowers and some notes.
This theater will be missed by many. It has been the main cultural hot spot since 1942 and was one of the last remaining pieces of the "old Poconos". While I do not think it will be rebuilt, I do hope someone decides to build a new theater there soon.
ps- Yero, while Sondheim lived in Bucks County he did not work at the theatre.
David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
-Into the Fire
Scarlet Pimpernel
#13re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 8:33pm
I must have misheard, then. Thanks for the correction.
It's always hard when a big piece of your childhood is gone. I'm sorry.
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
"He's a tramp, but I love him."
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
#14re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 9:39pmI've always wondered...where do the ghosts of theaters go when the theaters burn down?
#15re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 9:43pmI'm so glad I'm not the only person who's wondered about displaced ghosts in theatres (or any other old building that's destroyed).
#16re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 9:52pmWell, they can move to the Shawnee Playhouse now. Apparently that one was also burned down about 24 years ago, but it got rebuilt.
"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005
"You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.
Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates
#17re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 10:44pmAw, this is depressing. I'm glad it wasn't the Bucks County Playhouse though, since I live right near it.
nycdncr
Leading Actor Joined: 7/25/04
#18re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/3/09 at 11:35pm
I hope there's a thorough investigation as to how this happened. It seems suspect that the owner of this theater owned two other theaters that burned down. Arson was the official cause of the other two's demise...though no arrests were made. I think we need to get CSI on the case.
The loss of any theater is an awful occurrence, no matter how run down the place may be. That place still brought culture to the community and served as an outlet for artistic dreams and ambitions.
Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says, "I will try again tomorrow."
#19re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/4/09 at 12:35amjust curious, but how bad is the pay for working at Bucks County Playhouse?? I was thinking of trying to work for them next year.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#20re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/4/09 at 2:37am
ACL, I'd love to know the same thing. Tickets are like $17, and they're lucky if half the audience shows up.
Pocono Playhouse is NOT in Bucks County for the record!
#21re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/4/09 at 2:46amMy sister loves to go to the Bucks County Playhouse. It's only about half an hour from here and she can go during the week with her caretaker. It's a nice little trip for her
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#22re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/4/09 at 3:02amBucks County Playhouse seems to attract very good young female singers/actresses, and then the young male actors are hit or miss! It's ALWAYS nice to spend the day in New Hope anyway though!
#23re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/4/09 at 8:34amPocono and Bucks are sister Playhouses. This means that the Pocono season (which was much shorter than Bucks') was made up of shows that happened at Bucks, full cast (and usually set) transfer included.
David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
-Into the Fire
Scarlet Pimpernel
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#24re: Historic Pocono Playhouse gutted in fire
Posted: 10/4/09 at 2:41pmjacobtsf , that's often not true anymore (or atleast from what I remember). The Pocono Playhouse is atleast an hour if not 2 hours away. Usually though, they do take whatever Bucks County Playhouse's OUTSIDE Series and put it inside for them. Sometimes the cast transfered, but not usuaully as many of the outside productions are high school and college kids.
Videos