Bucks County/ Pocono Playhouse — Page 2

The statement that was made was saying that what the Playhouse is doing today is keeping theater alive.

Which is a total joke.

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OK, you guys win! After hearing that, I give up! Of course, the Playhouse was always known as one of the few summer stock theatres that DID NOT thrive on musicals for it's lifeblood, in fact ,they put on very few and those they did were new or experimental and,in truth,pretty darned awful; in fact, I don't think that even one of them made it to Broadway. But despite that, people still came because of the sheer magnitude of the talent ( it was sure worth the $ to see Coleen Dewhurst in "Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolfe?" or to see Julie Harris in anything- she could have read the local phone book aloud and the place would have been packed!
The "stagehands" that would work for the summer experience were housed in some awful "inn" next door, but the actors were given first class all the way, and New Hope had it to give. It is really saddening to hear the stories of the place today (but the organ story was worth a good laugh- sorry you had to sit through that dihope, but you have to admit, it was memorable!!!).

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I swear I don't understand you people. WE ARE PERFORMERS! That's what we do! Of course, for an employee to be treated poorly in any venue (even the Ground Round!) should not be tolerated, but you guys sound so snotty when discussing one of the few "local" venues that gives musical performers an outlet to perform. If you're not good enough to work on Broadway (which is what it sounds like) your only other outlets are theme parks (and maybe dinner theater). So what, the Playhouse is rickety and old, but its still there, and audiences come. My mom used to be the "house pianist" during the 70's and I know the theater has seen better days, but it sounds like some of you need to get out of your little "dreamworlds." If the phone isn't ringing - and your agent (if you have one) isn't calling. You're lucky to have a place like Bucks to work.

I guess I'm incredibly untalented because I was treated poorly.. perhaps I will leave the business and then fire my imaginary agent for not letting me be hired in their production of H2$ with just an organ.

thanks stonewall. No harm done. I like to kid around :) I'm home sick on a saturday night..nothing better to do hehe.

Dover - Finally the voice of reason. No doubt, if you need to choose between working for an employer that treats you well, or one that doesn't, it goes without saying...

But all of this bashing of the theater?! Times change, producers (and owners) change. Historically speaking, actors have always been treated like crap. The pay is usually low, hours long and the work is hard. We still do it. We have to! When I think of all of the dumps I've performed in over the years, I only WISH I could've been at the BC Playhouse.

p.s. I think the organ's gone. I'm pretty sure they just use "tracks" now (which also sucks) but keeping an orchestra together for an entire run is very difficult, and very expensive. then -- ticket prices go up -- then audiences don't come (might as well go to B'way). It's not an easy business to run.