HISTORY IN PICTURES!!!

Last year, Jim Poor donated many photos and documents from his years of participation at Putnam County Playhouse to us.  We thought we would share a few of them with our readers.  Jim has been active at PCPH since 1962.  He is a long-time board member, and he also served as President of the board for many terms.

Jim gave us many scores and scripts from plays and musicals he was involved in over the years. Interesting newspaper articles and meeting minutes illuminate the early years of PCPH.

Lois Martin, Jim Poor. 1965 "Come Blow Your Horn"

After organizing in 1961 as Greencastle Summer Theater, the group presented its first full production Blithe Spirit in July, 1962.

As Jim wrote in his history of PCPH published in the Banner-Graphic in 2011 - "We were off and running."

Tracy Alig & Hugh Glick in "Blithe Spirit."

Another popular show presented during those early seasons (at the old Jr. High School Auditorium) was Thornton Wilder's Our Town in 1963.

Ray Mizer as he Narrator.

Reed Williams & Sue Nickerson

The comedy Kiss and Tell was also popular with early Putnam County Playhouse audiences.

Top Row: Ray Brush, Frank Livernoche, Jim Bunnell, Reed Williams (below) and Ray Mizer.

Bottom Row: Dorothy Lowdermilk, Nancy Bordon, Larry Creech, Virginia Robbins, Sue Nickerson, John Bergman

Reed Williams & Sue Nickerson

Musicals were also a big part of the program for PCPH in the early years.  Jim appeared twice as Billis in South Pacific.

Jim Poor as Luther Billis in his grass skirt.

Pete Hill, Charley Aker & Unidentified working on music.

In 1981, Putnam County Playhouse moved to its current location.  While the board raised the funds to convert the larger barn into a theatre, they presented shows on the outdoor stage.  That stage was located in front of the small barn. Audiences paid $3 per ticket and sat on bleachers to enjoy the show.

Jim gives the curtain speech before a September, 1981, performance of "Mary ,Mary."

Longtime PCPH Treasurer Don Holley sells tickets circa 1981.

Refreshments were sold inside the Big Barn.

Marc Adams, Ann (Cooper) Swanson, Bill Cook in "Mary, Mary" - September, 1981

Cast member Joetta Milligan and Director Judy Huter check out the stage before a performance of "Dial M for Murder" in September, 1982.

Thanks, Jim for sharing these photos with us.  We've come a long way!  The history and the story of Putnam County Playhouse is all about the people who have been with us along the way.

We encourage everyone to come out and get involved with us during our 2016 season.  Watch this website and our Facebook pages for opportunities.  

DIRECTORS CHOSEN FOR 2016 SEASON!!

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the directors for the 2016 season of Putnam County Playhouse have been put in place. Each director will be responsible for bringing a production from page to stage at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre.

Tim Good

Tim Good will direct the season opener Little Women, The Musical.

It will be produced June 2-4 and June 8-11. First produced on Broadway in 2006, it has a book by Allan Knee, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and music by Jason Howland.

There will be two sessions of auditions for the show. The first will be Sunday, April 3, at 3 p.m. The second will follow on Monday, April 4, at 7 p.m.

Tim most recently appeared at PCPH as Felix in the mystery-comedy The Game's Afoot. He has also appeared in Blithe Spirit and Angel Street. He directed the PCPH production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

Jack Randall Earles

Jack Randall Earles will direct On Golden Pond, the July production. It will be presented July 14-16 and July 20-23. The comedy-drama was written by Ernest Thompson. It was the basis for a popular movie starring Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, and Jane Fonda. 

This production is a revival of the Putnam County Playhouse production presented in 1995 (originally directed by Peggy Tennis). Because it is a revival, members of the original cast have been invited to reprise their roles. No auditions have been scheduled.

Jack Randall most recently appeared as William Gillette in The Game's Afoot. Also last season, he directed The Bad Seed. Earlier PCPH directing credits include On Borrowed Time, Man of La Mancha, and Guys & Dolls. 

Shelly McFadden

Shelly McFadden will direct the August production of 1776, a musical about the founding fathers and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. It will be produced August 11-13 and August 17-20. The book of the musical is by Peter Stone with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards.

Two sessions of auditions are planned. The first will be Sunday, June 5, at 3 p.m.  The second will be Monday, June 6, at 7 p.m.

Shelly directed 7 Brides for 7 Brothers last season. She also appeared as The Witch in Into the Woods. Some of her other PCPH directing credits are The Music Man, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Shelly has appeared onstage in many shows including Arsenic & Old Lace, Man of La Mancha, and The 1940's Radio Hour.

Andrew Ranck

The season closer Neil Simon's The Odd Couple Female Version will be directed by Andrew Ranck. It will be produced September 8-10 and September 14-17. One of Simon's most popular comedies, it was first produced by PCPH in 1991.

There will be two audition sessions. The first will be Sunday, July 24, at 3 p.m. The second will be Monday, July 25, at 7 p.m.

This will be Andrew's first directing assignment at PCPH. He has extensive experience at other theatres including award-winning productions at Buck Creek Players, Theatre on the Square, and Dramatic Club of Indianapolis. Andrew is a graduate of DePauw University where he was very active in theatre. Last season appeared in 7 Brides for 7 Brothers and as The Narrator in Into The Woods.

The 2016 season also includes SHAKESPEARED! planned for June 13-25. The Children's Workshop will be July 25-29.

More information about all of the shows and workshops will be on the website soon.

Plan to join us for what looks to be one of our most exciting seasons!

DON'T PANIC!!!

We are rebuilding our Photo Albums, so they may be unavailable for viewing.  They will be back!!!!

WATCH FOR YOUR FUND DRIVE LETTER!!!

Photo by Shelly McFadden

Your 2016 Fund Drive Letter is in the mail. Thank you for your continued support for Putnam County Playhouse.  

All donations are used entirely for the costs associated with producing our shows and maintaining our facility. 

If you haven't received your letter, or you are not on our mailing list, you can download a form by clicking HERE.