Gateway Playhouse cancels entire season

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/30/20 at 12:02am

The Gateway in Bellport, Long Island has canceled its entire summer season. It will turn its parking lot into a drive-in movie theater.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/30/20 at 12:06am

I see drive-ins making a huge comeback this summer!

[Demitri2]

Posted: 5/30/20 at 3:58pm

I love the Gateway Theatre and have fond memories of being there. As a child, I saw my favorite production of THE LITTLE FOXES starring the frightening and wonderful Geraldine Page as Regina, heartbreaking Betty Field as Birdie and old-timer John Boles as Horace. I also saw a not too good production of ROBERTA starring Patricia Neal and Edward Everet Horton when the theatre was still an old barn. I recall one of the supporting actresses sang part of her song sitting on my lap. I thought she looked great up until that point. Instead, I saw safety pins keeping her costume together and runs in her fishnet stockings. Ah, the magic of theatre! 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/30/20 at 6:12pm

I was disappointed the last few times I visited the Gateway. Their CHORUS LINE was limp and lacked any tension And that is a show that is all about tension. I also had the misfortune of sitting directly in front of "bstoll" aka: Stoll the Show, who was blabbering about how many times he'd seen the A CHORUS LINE and was trying to get everyone within ear shot to attend his next library talk. He was very distracting.

Their version of NUNSENSE lost its charm by being played in that big theater. This was a show that would have benefited from the ambiance of the original barn theater. The crowd was small enough to fit comfortably in there, too.

I was hospitalized for most of last summer and didn't see any of last year's shows.

Updated On: 5/31/20 at 06:12 PM

[matt1982]

Posted: 5/30/20 at 6:35pm

Sutton Ross said: "I see drive-ins making a huge comeback this summer!"

I keep hoping one pops up in my area.  I'd be there in a heartbeat!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/30/20 at 10:24pm

I don't know where you live, Matt, but here on Long Island they're popping up everywhere: restaurants, libraries, diners... even a pizzeria. One nearby church is having a drive-in mass followed by a showing of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. on the screen.

Updated On: 5/31/20 at 10:24 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 8:59am

yeah, Gateway Playhouse used to put up very good shows about 10-15 years ago. But recently their shows haven't been good and look cheaply produced. Their A Chorus Line two years ago was one of the worst productions of the show I've ever seen.

[matt1982]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 9:03am

Dollypop said: "I don't know where you live, Matt, but here on Long Island they're popping up everywhere: restaurants, libraries, dinets... even a pizzeria. One nearby church is having a drive-in mass followed by a showing of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. on the screen."

I am in South Jersey, just outside of Philly.  So far I haven't seen or heard of any, but fingers crossed.  It would definitely add a safe and fun option for the summer months.   

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/31/20 at 6:55pm

matt1982 said: "Dollypop said: "I don't know where you live, Matt, but here on Long Island they're popping up everywhere: restaurants, libraries, dinets... even a pizzeria. One nearby church is having a drive-in mass followed by a showing of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. on the screen."

I am in South Jersey, just outside of Philly. So far I haven't seen or heard of any, but fingers crossed. It would definitely add a safe and fun option for the summer months."

The Holbrook Diner is showing ET tomorrow and giving a free bag of Reese's Pieces with each ticket. It's completely sold out.