There's A Lot Going On Backstage At Old Town Playhouse

There’s more going on inside Eighth Street’s Old Town Playhouse than there has been in years, and as the public’s interests evolve, so too must a local theatre.

“The face of community theatre is changing,” Old Town Playhouse Executive Director Phil Murphy tells The Ticker. “Millennials have different tastes, different ideas. It’s not just ‘Let’s put on a play.’"

On the ticket revenue front, things are healthy; Murphy says sales met projections last year and are on track this year.

“Ticket sales for Twelve Angry Men (which recently completed its run) were very strong. They’re already selling well for Mary Poppins,” he says of the mainstage musical coming in March. He also cites strong sales for the current studio theatre offering at the Depot, The Book of Liz, by Amy and David Sedaris.

Since its formation in 1960, the playhouse has weathered many storms, from structural issues to the recession to the overall decline in arts participation nationwide. Murphy says the area’s commitment to the arts has helped, while innovations and renovations have made the audience experience more enjoyable. Among recent changes are licensing to serve alcohol, larger, comfy seats (including six for persons with special needs), an orchestra pit out of the line of sight, and a bigger stage.

Murphy also notes the ways in which today’s pop culture is cycling back to styles and the types of presentations that haven’t been popular for decades.

Up until 1970 or so, pop charts included show tunes and crooners like Perry Como. Movie musicals were all the rage, and variety shows dotted the small screen. Then they all seemed to disappear…but now they’re coming back.

“Glee wouldn’t have lasted five minutes in 1989,” he says. “We have variety shows on, and they’re called American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.”

Meanwhile Murphy says OTP continues to reach out to all ages for ideas, patronage and casting. Aged to Perfection is a program geared towards helping those 55 and older become more comfortable in theatrical productions. The group performs two or three times a year in the Schmuckal Theatre downstairs in a “readers theatre” style of presentation. Murphy says those participants serve as ambassadors for theatre.

At the other end of the age spectrum, the playhouse continues to host students as young as elementary age for workshops and classes. Programs include Bringing Storybooks to Life, Intro to Acting & Theatre, and Dance, led by Education Director Mychelle Hopkins.

New this year is a bus service to pick students up at school and take them to the playhouse, eliminating the need for parents to leave work in the middle of the afternoon to shuttle kids back and forth. The service is being offered at Cherry Knoll, Westwoods, Long Lake Elementary School and Willow Hill. After spring break, East and West Middle Schools will be included as well.

Hopkins says she expects the number of riders to increase next session with students coming to OTP to rehearse the Young Company show The Wizard of Oz.

For many years, OTP supported the comic improv group Good on Paper before it branched out on its own. Murphy says the playhouse is now looking to revisit the concept with a different approach, one more in line with education and training.

OTPis also looking at its own type of variety shows.

“Now that we have bar service we can do other things, smaller scale immersive things,” Murphy observes. With competition for attention and dollars that includes everything from movies and restaurants to concerts, Murphy believes innovation is critical to future success.