Beautiful music, vibrant costumes, elaborate plotlines, who doesn’t love to watch a good show? Especially one with a great cast full of talented actors and actresses. Well so many people do, in fact, that the Playmill Theatre is moving to a bigger location in Island Park so more people can watch every show. Roger Merrill, one of the owners of the theatre, is excited for the new change and can’t wait for audiences to experience the new venue.
The Playmill Theatre is a beloved institution in the world of performing arts. The theatre got its start back in 1964. Lynn Benson owned it until 2005 when Merrill took over. For almost 60 years they did what they could with what they had but it quickly became time for a change.
“We’re doing 13 performances a week simply to accommodate the demand, and even then, we turn an untold number of people away every night. We have no idea how many, so it’s kind of become evident that we’ve outgrown the space, and we just need more room,” Merrill said.
The new Playmill Theatre will be designed with the audience in mind, ensuring a more comfortable and immersive viewing experience, Merrill said. The updated venue will feature more modern seating arrangements with enhanced acoustics. The upgrade will allow for a more dynamic and visually stunning experience, making every performance a memorable event.
“It’s going to be a better viewing experience because the stage will still be close to the audience, it will still be a very intimate experience like it is now,” Merrill said. “The difference is that the seating overall will be a better view regardless of where your seat is. There are really going to be no bad seats in the house.”
The new changes will also benefit the stage performers. In the bigger space, they will be able to hold more elaborate productions with bigger sets, lighting set-ups and everything they need to bring a new wave of enthusiasm for the local arts community.
“As far as the creative space, it’s going to be much more conductive to doing what we need to do. With better lighting positions, more headroom, higher space about the stage and just more accessibility,” Merrill said.
With construction underway, the Playmill Theatre remains dedicated to having artistic excellence and community engagement. If you would like to purchase tickets for a show or want updates on the construction, you can find their information on their website atplaymill.com.