Plays and Players

Results: Plays and Players began in 1911 at the Art Alliance as a social club devoted to expanding and developing new theatre experiences for and by its membership. Primarily, members commissioned works to be written and performed for charitable purposes. The first President, Maud Durbin Skinner, was the wife of the famed American actor, Otis Skinner, who performed upon the Delancey Street stage during its early history. Many other theatrical greats have acted here over the years including John Drew and Ethel Barrymore, Kevin Bacon, and Tony Award winner, Laurie Beechman. Plays and Players is very likely the community theatre on which Philadelphia playwright George Kelly based his slapstick comedy The Torch Bearers. It is also the theatre where the acclaimed Broadway play, Stalag 17, premiered. In the 1960's, Plays and Players decided to "go public" and opened its productions to the entire community. In the 70's the Plays and Players Children's Theatre was added to the busy schedule. Once an exclusive club, P&P grew into a company in which local artists, young and old, practiced and performed their craft. In 2011-2012, P&P will celebrate its 100th season of local and community focused performance in Philadelphia. A historic company existing in a vibrant modern arts scene, P&P continues to change and grow with the times, all the while keeping an eye on its rich and powerful past.

Geographic areas served: Philadelphia, PA

Programs: Membership: players and players is a gathering place for local artists to share ideas on the performing arts. Plays and players provides space for readings, meetings, rehearsals, social gatherings, and fundraising events. For the year plays and players provided their space to 200 members and had 40 classes and workshops, 13 readings, and numerous meetings.

production: during the year plays and players produced 5 plays over 53 performances that included 1 world premieres for an audience of more than 1,700 people. In addition plays and players leased their space to 23 theatre companies during the year and these companies held 160 performances.

outreach: plays and players does not focus on a certain type of production like comedy or musicals. Plays and players offers a multi-faceted output that showcases the local artist. This provides and entry point for all artists, production support, and audience into the community that plays and players provides.