Theatre-By-the-Sea
Encyclopedia
Theatre-By-the-Sea is an historic theater and playhouse
at Card Ponds Road in South Kingstown, Rhode Island
.
quickly limiting the market for summer camps, she decided to instead create jobs by turning the old shingled barn into a theatre. She teamed up with Russian defector and actor Leo Bulgakoff, the cockney producer, Leslie Spiller and famed lighting designer Abe Feder – and on August 7, 1933, Mrs. Jaynes’ 300-seat barn theatre came to life. The theater was founded in 1933. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980.
The next thirty five years brought numerous changes. On September 2, 1938, a hurricane caused extensive damage which led fortuitously to the first “renovation.” After carefully cutting the theatre in half with a hand saw, the box office was literally pulled forward by a dump truck, and a new section of theatre and a balcony were added. By 1941, with the war raging, the theatre went mainly dark. During this time, it did however became a target spot for military planes to practice their diving maneuvers during the war and sporadically played as a movie house. By 1947, during the Golden Era of Summer Stock, TBTS was again in full swing and entered into a long and fruitful stretch that lasted for almost 10 years. Famous "golden era" stars that played TBTS include Marlon Brando, Carol Channing, Groucho Marx, Tallulah Bankhead, Mae West, Judy Holiday, Shelley Winters, and many others. The passing of Mrs. Tyler in 1951, another hurricane in 1954 and a “dark” summer in 1959, threatened the theatre’s life when it went dark once again in 1963.
In 1967, upon hearing that the theatre was to be destroyed, Tommy Brent
, former Press Agent and Producer saved the theater from demolition by mere hours. Mr. Brent began a brand new tradition and future for the fabled theatre by completely producing shows on site – sets, costumes, everything. He was able to run the theatre to enormous success for 22 years. However, the property itself was in serious need of repair and renovation. The multi-faceted entertainment company, FourQuest took over the theatre in 1988 and became the third owners of the property. Following extensive, multi- million dollar renovations that fall and winter, FourQuest re-opened the theater in the spring of 1989 and continued producing the highest quality summer theater in Matunuck
until the fall of 2003. The theatre went dark once again until a Massachusetts businessman and movie theatre owner, Mr. William Hanney, purchased the property, hoping to continue the tradition of theatre at this historic Rhode Island landmark. A not-for-profit organization, Ocean State Theatre Company, Inc (OSTC)was quickly formed in 2007 by Amiee Turner and Joel Kipper and a lease agreement was established with Mr. Hanney that allows OSTC to produce all shows at Theatre By The Sea. The mission of Ocean State Theatre Co., Inc is as follows: "The purpose set forth by Ocean State Theatre Company, Inc. is to preserve the historic continuity of the Rhode Island landmark known as Theatre By The Sea and to pursue avenues of enrichment and education for the benefit of South County and the state of Rhode Island through live theatre." For the first time in its 75 year history, TBTS is trying to succeed as a non-profit organization. The restaurant/cabaret is currently overseen by The Crowe Family of Wakefield, RI.
Adjacent to the Theatre is the famous Bistro By The Sea (formerly Seahorse Grill) and Cabaret. The restaurant is open when there are performances at the Theatre. Historically the Cabaret series plays after the show on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Produced by Ocean State Theatre Company, five shows are playing during the 2011 summer season: The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee, Man of La Mancha, Hairspray, The Drowsy Chaperone, and "The 39 Steps". There are also six different performance days (Fridays) scheduled in the summer Children's Theatre Festival.
Previous Ocean State Theatre Company seasons:
2010: A Chorus Line, Hello Dolly starring Tony Award winner Cady Huffman
, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Fully Monty
2009: My Way:A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, Crazy for You, Peter Pan, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
2008: Ain't Misbehavin, George M!, Evita, and The Producers
2007: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
The theatre and restaurant are connected by a covered brick walk and gazebo area and include over 100 different plants and trees throughout the property.
Playhouse
Playhouse is a common Elizabethan term for a theatre, especially those built in London such as The Globe and The Rose.It is also used as the name for theatres today:- Australia :* Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre...
at Card Ponds Road in South Kingstown, Rhode Island
South Kingstown, Rhode Island
South Kingstown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 30,639 at the 2010 census.South Kingstown includes the villages of Kingston, West Kingston, Wakefield, Peace Dale, Snug Harbor, Tuckertown, East Matunuck, Matunuck, Green Hill, and Perryville. Peace...
.
History
Theatre By The Sea (TBTS) has had many incarnations over the years. Between 1928 and 1933, Mrs. Alice Jaynes Tyler ran a camp for girls on the property of her summer home. With the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
quickly limiting the market for summer camps, she decided to instead create jobs by turning the old shingled barn into a theatre. She teamed up with Russian defector and actor Leo Bulgakoff, the cockney producer, Leslie Spiller and famed lighting designer Abe Feder – and on August 7, 1933, Mrs. Jaynes’ 300-seat barn theatre came to life. The theater was founded in 1933. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1980.
The next thirty five years brought numerous changes. On September 2, 1938, a hurricane caused extensive damage which led fortuitously to the first “renovation.” After carefully cutting the theatre in half with a hand saw, the box office was literally pulled forward by a dump truck, and a new section of theatre and a balcony were added. By 1941, with the war raging, the theatre went mainly dark. During this time, it did however became a target spot for military planes to practice their diving maneuvers during the war and sporadically played as a movie house. By 1947, during the Golden Era of Summer Stock, TBTS was again in full swing and entered into a long and fruitful stretch that lasted for almost 10 years. Famous "golden era" stars that played TBTS include Marlon Brando, Carol Channing, Groucho Marx, Tallulah Bankhead, Mae West, Judy Holiday, Shelley Winters, and many others. The passing of Mrs. Tyler in 1951, another hurricane in 1954 and a “dark” summer in 1959, threatened the theatre’s life when it went dark once again in 1963.
In 1967, upon hearing that the theatre was to be destroyed, Tommy Brent
Tommy Brent
Thomas Brent Cheseldine , better known as Tommy Brent, was an American theater producer who was known for preserving and managing the historic Theatre-By-the-Sea at Card Ponds Road in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Brent was born in 1922 in Washington, D.C. and died at Matunuck, Rhode Island in...
, former Press Agent and Producer saved the theater from demolition by mere hours. Mr. Brent began a brand new tradition and future for the fabled theatre by completely producing shows on site – sets, costumes, everything. He was able to run the theatre to enormous success for 22 years. However, the property itself was in serious need of repair and renovation. The multi-faceted entertainment company, FourQuest took over the theatre in 1988 and became the third owners of the property. Following extensive, multi- million dollar renovations that fall and winter, FourQuest re-opened the theater in the spring of 1989 and continued producing the highest quality summer theater in Matunuck
Matunuck, Rhode Island
Matunuck is a village in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States near Charlestown, Rhode Island. The village is located on a point along the southern Atlantic coast of Rhode Island off of U.S. Route 1...
until the fall of 2003. The theatre went dark once again until a Massachusetts businessman and movie theatre owner, Mr. William Hanney, purchased the property, hoping to continue the tradition of theatre at this historic Rhode Island landmark. A not-for-profit organization, Ocean State Theatre Company, Inc (OSTC)was quickly formed in 2007 by Amiee Turner and Joel Kipper and a lease agreement was established with Mr. Hanney that allows OSTC to produce all shows at Theatre By The Sea. The mission of Ocean State Theatre Co., Inc is as follows: "The purpose set forth by Ocean State Theatre Company, Inc. is to preserve the historic continuity of the Rhode Island landmark known as Theatre By The Sea and to pursue avenues of enrichment and education for the benefit of South County and the state of Rhode Island through live theatre." For the first time in its 75 year history, TBTS is trying to succeed as a non-profit organization. The restaurant/cabaret is currently overseen by The Crowe Family of Wakefield, RI.
Visiting information
Produced by Ocean State Theatre Company, five shows are playing during the 2011 summer season: The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee, Man of La Mancha, Hairspray, The Drowsy Chaperone, and "The 39 Steps". There are also six different performance days (Fridays) scheduled in the summer Children's Theatre Festival.
Previous Ocean State Theatre Company seasons:
2010: A Chorus Line, Hello Dolly starring Tony Award winner Cady Huffman
Cady Huffman
Catherine Elizabeth “Cady” Huffman is a Tony Award-winning American actress.-Early life:Huffman was born in Santa Barbara, California to Lorayne, a pre-school assistant director turned realtor, and Clifford Huffman, an attorney...
, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Fully Monty
2009: My Way:A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, Crazy for You, Peter Pan, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
2008: Ain't Misbehavin, George M!, Evita, and The Producers
2007: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum