Lakewood Musical Playhouse: Barnesville, PA
July 30th, 2007 Posted in Lakewood, Theatres Past
In 1971 and 1972 I did my first two seasons of stock at the Lakewood Musical Playhouse in Barnesville, PA.
While I’m gathering my memories, I’d like to ask anyone to post memories they may have.
More soon!
8 Responses to “Lakewood Musical Playhouse: Barnesville, PA”
By Buzzer9 on Aug 2, 2007
Hi Thom, Thanks for starting your blog regarding the Lakewood Musical Playhouse! I’m actually surpised that there isn’t more information about it on the web, along with Lakewood Park itself. Even though the theatre closed in the late 70′s, it was actually a significant summer theatre, dating back to when it was built in the late 40′s. The theatre was renamed a few times throughout the years and settled on the name “Lakewood Musical Playhouse” from 1969 thru 1975. It was a non-Equity stock company, but I’ve come across a few alumni in later years on Broadway and TV. First show I saw there was THE SOUND OF MUSIC in 1971, starring Jeanne Lehman as Maria. Attended many shows up until the final season in 1975. I always remember that most shows I saw played to nearly full houses up until about 1974. The 1974 season consisted of several shows that I think may have been too unknown for Pennsylvania Coal Region audiences, such as ROSEMARIE, PAINT YOUR WAGON, CALL ME MADAM, and BABES IN ARMS. In my opinion, that season may have been fatal to the playhouse. I know for a fact that many regulars did not attend because they “never heard of that show.” Then, in 1975, several popular shows (SOUND OF MUSIC, WEST SIDE STORY, MUSIC MAN, OKLAHOMA! etc.) were brought back, maybe too soon, and people didn’t go because they “already saw that there a few years ago.” The playhouse remained dark for the summer of 1976, then reopened in 1977 as the “Lakewood Country Playhouse”, premiering with John Raitt and Gaylea Byrne in I DO! I DO! That lasted two years until the theatre was shuttered forever. Too bad!
By Frank C. Vento on Oct 14, 2007
I was a student at Leland Powers School of Radio, Theater, and TV. The summer after my freshman year I apprenticed at the Lakewood Playhouse (sic)in Barnesville, in 1954. At that time the Theater did not specialize in musicals although the first show we did under Producer Charles O. Carey was “The Boys from Syracuse.” It was a package with no stars. The resident Director was Charles W. Avery. I don’t remember the exact order but other shows we did that year were “Sabrina Fair,” with Constance Bennett and Tom Poston, “My Three Angels,” with Victor Jory, “Wish You Were Were,” a package with no stars, “Too True To Be Good,” with Zachary Scott, “Walk Tall,” with Paul Hartman, “You Can’t Take It With You,” starring Charles Coburn. I got my big chance in that show–I was cast as “Ed,” and played the zyliphone(sp?) for the first time in my life. To this day it represents the height of my acting “career.” We also did “A Story for a Sunday Evening,” with Terry Moore. The final show of that season was “The Actress,” with Bert Wheeler. He did not know his lines and he seemed to be partially deaf. The stage manager literally shouted out most of his lines to him from offstage. I can’t remember the rest of the shows. At my age the memory fades. I paid a hundred dollars for the privilege of going there and working long hours as the lighting technician. I operated a huge piano board that was on its last legs.
By Tapman1961 on Jul 14, 2008
Wow! Lakewood! Incredible memories. Thom, you and I were there at the same time, though I was a wee lad of 10. I played Winthrop in “Music Man” in 1971. It was my very first show, and I had all of six days to learn the role. I didn’t do any shows there in 1972, but I did do “Showboat” in 1973, “South Pacific,” “Camelot,” and “Annie Get Your Gun” in 1974 (which all ran consecutively), and played the Artful Dodger in “Oliver” in 1975. I was also in the chorus of “Music Man” in 1975, and this time, my younger brother played Winthrop. After that, I started doing high school and community theater, and I couldn’t BELIEVE how LONG and BORING the rehearsal process was. I thought mounting a full-scale musical in a week was normal. I went on to study musical theater at the Boston Conservatory of Music, moved to NYC after college, had no success at all, and two years later, went to law school. I’ve been practicing law in the Twin Cities for 20 years now. Thom, thanks for creating this website. Chet Taylor
By cramerw on Jan 14, 2009
I feel like Tapman1961 as I just by luck discovered this site. I was a member of the company of the Lakewood Playhouse in the summers of 1969 and 1970 and was in several productions with Jeanne Lehman. Most names escape me now, but my roommate and one of my favorite people was David Coakley (spelling? – sorry David if you ever read this). I’ll have to go dig out my old programs and pull back some details. I remember having a great time – 10 shows in something like 11 weeks; meeting a wonderful group of performers each summer and commuting from Mahonoy City where we lived in a hotel (name escapes me) daily. I would love to hear from anyone from that period. Can reach me at cramerw@wcsu.edu. Walt Cramer.
By ampav on Apr 2, 2009
Hi..
I did summer stock at the Lakewood Musical Playhouse in 1974…I was an apprentice…we did about 12 musicals in 13 weeks…and I paid $300 for the privilege of living in a shack, eating venison, countrytime lemonade and oreos…doing a new children’s show and acting in it every week and building the sets, running crew, etc. for all the mainstage shows…we did Cabaret, Annie Get Your Gun, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Camelot, No No Nannette, South Pacific, Call Me Madame, etc. We cleaned the theatre, sold concessions, tickets, made costumes, worked as dressers, grips, etc. and the owner did Pepsi commercials that he wrote and performed at intermission…in the midst of all this about5 30,000 Bavarians showed up for “Beer Fest” for two weeks of drunks peeing on the side of our “shack”…and non stop polka bands…it was quite an experience!
You can reach me at apinfo@ampav.com
X Julie Sisk
By dickens on Apr 25, 2009
I too have many memories of Lakewood Summer Playhouse from the 70′s. My sister was an extra in a show sometimes around then. My father was a self-employed plumber and every spring we would go up there and get everything ready for the upcoming season on the playhouse and more importantly, in all the cabins where the actors/actresses used to stay. I do have some old pictues scanned from an old theater book somewhere. And about ten years ago I was able to drive around inside the park through the weeds and took pictues of the shell of the theatre.
By dickens on Aug 24, 2009
I have some old pics scanned from a program, and I also have pics that I took about ten years ago and scanned of the dilapidated shell. I am not sure where/how to get them on here.