Happy 100th birthday, Ivoryton Playhouse

From the time I was about 10 years old and my mother took me to see “I Married an Angel,” which was my very first New York play, and the lights dimmed and I entered a new, enchanted world, I have been captivated by live theater.

Here in Connecticut, we are especially fortunate to enjoy an abundance of local theater. One of our remarkable treasures, the Ivoryton Playhouse, will be celebrating its 100th birthday the weekend of May 21 and 22.

The charming Colonial Revival-style building, which houses the theater, started life as a recreation hall for the employees of the Comstock, Cheney factory and probably would have been demolished except for a Mr. Milton Stiefel, a right-hand man to the famed David Belasco.

After a particularly exhausting tour, Stiefel came to Essex to relax and spotted the unused building and felt it would be perfect for a stock company. The Ivoryton was the first self-supporting summer theater in the nation; others were endowed by wealthy families. In the early 1900s, when there was no air conditioning, summer theaters sprang up throughout New England and the Ivoryton gained in prestige with invitations to work there becoming highly prized.

Gracing the theater’s walls are photographs of Katharine Hepburn, Joel Grey, Shelley Winters, Cornel Wilde, Julie Wilson, Sam Levine, Art Carney, June Allyson, Alan Alda, Dana Andrews, Beatrice Lillie, Van Johnson and many others.

However, in 1979, amid rumors that the theater might be torn down, the nonprofit Ivoryton Playhouse Foundation was organized and with the help of Essex Savings Bank, the theater was saved. Now, under the artistic direction of the dedicated Jacqueline Hubbard, the theater produces a year-round season of professional theater, with the exception of January and February when it is closed. Auditions are held for both Equity and non-Equity players and both musicals and dramas are presented.

I recently enjoyed “The Irish And How They Got That Way,” a delightful history of the Irish set to music and written by that master storyteller, Frank McCourt. Their current production of “How The Other Half Loves,” a hilarious British play, runs through May 1 and will be followed by “Barefoot in the Park” in June.

The Ivoryton is an ideal size, comfortably seating 280 theater-goers. The historic building has undergone several costly renovations and is air conditioned, but a large portion of ticket receipts must be devoted to building maintenance. In order to maintain the very reasonable ticket prices, the theater relies on the support of patrons (you can become a supporter for as little as $35) and on volunteer help as ushers, extra hands and for special events.

For ways to get involved, go to www.ivorytonplayhouse.org or call Beverly Taylor at 860-767-7318. The same number puts you in touch with the box office for ordering tickets.

Happy Birthday to the Ivoryton. Let’s all help them have many more encores.

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