OGUNQUIT, Maine — Though it’s just weeks into 2015, the year is already poised to be a successful one for the Ogunquit Playhouse. It culminates years of historic research with the announcement that the Playhouse has been elevated to a “National Level of Significance” by the National Register of Historic Places.
“Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled and honored to be recognized by the federal government, not only as an artistic landmark for almost a century of theatrical productions but also as a national historic site with impact on America’s architectural and cultural fabric,” said Bradford T. Kenney, the Ogunquit Playhouse’s executive artistic director. “This is a wonderful designation as the entire Playhouse family and foundation continues our stewardship of one of America’s theatrical jewels.”
According to Earle G. Shettleworth Jr., director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, this new designation indicates that the property has been documented, evaluated and considered worthy of preservation and protection as part of the nation’s cultural heritage.
Founded in 1933 by Walter J. Hartwig, the Ogunquit Playhouse has since been a staple providing both entertainment and education within the arts. It has housed greats such as Carson Kressley, Clay Aiken, Sally Struthers, Walter Matthau and Bette Davis in such performances as the “Sound of Music,” “Cats,” “Chicago” and “Grease.”
Originally situated in a restored garage, Hartwig had the current day theater built specifically for performances in 1937, and research that helped the Ogunquit Playhouse gain the historic designation states that it remains the only purpose-built theatre from the summer stock era left in the nation.
The Ogunquit Playhouse was first listed on the National Register in 1995 at which point it was transitioning from a privately owned business to its present day not-for-profit arts organization.
In 2007, Kenney and Cheryl Farley, the Ogunquit Playhouse’s director of marketing and public relations, were determined to raise the listing of significance to a national level. Both Kenney and Farley have historic preservation backgrounds and passionately studied the theatre’s heritage. During the 75th anniversary came a new book written by Susan Meffert, Carole Lee Carroll and Bunny Hart that brought new research to light.
Kenney and Farley presented it to Christi Mitchell, architectural historian with the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. The information was sufficient enough to move forward with an application for national significance, and historian Dr. Katherine Edney, assistant professor of the History, World Languages and Cultrural Heritage Department at Regis College was hired to perform the further research needed.
To reach this new level, there needed to be proof that “the theatre’s productions, creative teams and Hartwig, through the school attached to the Playhouse helped to build the cultural environment of the United States,” Farley said.
The Ogunquit Playhouse draws in more than 100,000 ticket buyers per year. The 2015 year brings five exciting new titles to the stage: “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” “Ragtime the Musical,” “Victor Victoria,” “Saturday Night Fever the Musical” and “Sister Act.”