Belmont Theatre

Belmont Theatre is a community theatre in York, Pennsylvania. It was established on February 5, 1933, as York Little Theatre, during the expansion of the Little Theatre Movement in the United States. The organization initially operated without a permanent venue, borrowing or renting performance space from local institutions including the Women's Club, York Collegiate Institute, and the local YMCA. Its first full-length production was Lady Windermere's Fan, presented at the Phineas Davis School Auditorium on December 14, 1933. After two unsuccessful efforts to obtain a permanent property, the theatre secured the former Elmwood Theatre, a cinema building that had opened in 1949. A lease-purchase agreement was signed in July 1953, and the organization obtained title to the building in May 1956, seven years earlier than originally scheduled. This transition gave the theatre a stable home and enabled it to develop a continuing local production program. Bert Smith served as artistic director from 1953 to 1982, a period that helped establish the theatre's long-term artistic identity. Eric Bradley Long subsequently served as artistic director until 2010. In 2012, Rene Staub became artistic director and Lyn Bergdoll became executive director. During the 1990s, the venue expanded its facilities: a 7,000-square-foot addition was completed in 1997 after a fundraising effort that generated more than $1 million under the leadership of Henry Leader. The theatre experienced financial pressure during the 2008 financial crisis but had recovered by 2012, when it had paid off its debts and made delayed improvements to the building and stage equipment. In mid-2016, the organization adopted the Belmont Theatre name, taking its new identity from Belmont Street. According to executive director Lyn Bergdoll, the change reflected a shift in how the phrase "little theatre" was commonly understood; the older expression had referred to community theatre, while it increasingly suggested children's theatre or smaller-scale productions. Belmont Theatre's activities extend beyond staged plays and musicals. It has hosted community events and musical performances, including a December 2015 Frank Sinatra centennial tribute by York-based Unforgettable Big Band, which played to two sold-out audiences. The organization also operates an annual food stand at the York Fair, known for steak sandwiches. The volunteer-run stand began in 1957 under Betty Gerberick and, from 2018, was operated through a partnership with Roosevelt Tavern that began in 2017. In early March 2026, Belmont Theatre reached an agreement for Creative York, an arts-supporting nonprofit led administratively by Lyn Bergdoll, to assume management and administrative responsibilities. The theatre had reportedly been closed for renovations, with a subsequent production expected to open in late April. Belmont Theatre remains principally a local cultural institution, combining community theatre production, venue use, fundraising, and arts participation in York.

Belmont Theatre began as York Little Theatre on February 5, 1933, in the context of the Little Theatre Movement, which encouraged locally organized, noncommercial theatrical activity. The organization did not initially possess a dedicated venue. It borrowed or used space at the Women's Club, York Collegiate Institute, and the local YMCA. Its first full-length production, Lady Windermere's Fan, was staged at the Phineas Davis School Auditorium on December 14, 1933. The organization made two unsuccessful attempts to secure its own real estate before acquiring the Elmwood Theatre. The Elmwood had originally been built and opened as a cinema in 1949. In July 1953, York Little Theatre entered a lease-purchase agreement for the property. The arrangement concluded ahead of schedule when the theatre obtained title to the building in May 1956. The former cinema consequently became the organization's permanent theatrical home. Bert Smith was artistic director from 1953 through 1982. He was followed in the later history of the organization by Eric Bradley Long, who remained artistic director until 2010. Rene Staub became artistic director in 2012, while Lyn Bergdoll assumed the executive director role. The theatre also undertook a substantial facilities expansion. A 7,000-square-foot addition was completed in 1997 after a campaign led by Henry Leader raised more than $1 million. The 2008 financial crisis created difficulties for the organization. By 2012, however, the theatre had reportedly recovered, retired its debts, and completed overdue improvements to the building and stage equipment. That period marked a transition from financial stabilization toward renewed facility and programming development. In mid-2016, York Little Theatre was renamed Belmont Theatre. The name was taken from Belmont Street. Lyn Bergdoll explained that the terminology had changed over time: "little theater" had historically meant community theatre, but was increasingly associated with children's theatre or productions of limited scale. The rebranding therefore served as a clearer public identity for the organization. The theatre has maintained a broad community role beyond conventional stage productions. Its programming has included musical and community performances. In December 2015, York-based Unforgettable Big Band presented a Frank Sinatra centennial tribute at the venue; both performances sold out. The organization has also supported itself through an annual food stand at the York Fair. The stand, which sells steak sandwiches, began in 1957 through the efforts of Betty Gerberick and volunteers. A partnership with Roosevelt Tavern began in 2017, with the tavern helping operate the stand from 2018 onward. In early March 2026, Belmont Theatre agreed that Creative York would take over managerial and administrative duties. Creative York is an arts-supporting nonprofit whose executive director is Lyn Bergdoll. The arrangement was reported while Belmont Theatre was closed for renovations, with the next production expected to open in late April. The available reference material does not establish whether the arrangement changed the theatre's ownership, legal structure, or artistic programming. Belmont Theatre's documented history therefore remains that of a community-based performing-arts institution operating from a repurposed cinema and serving the York area through productions, events, and fundraising.

• 2026

  Creative York assumes management duties

  [1]The Belmont Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre reached an agreement in early March for Creative York to take over managerial and administrative responsibilities.

• 2016

  Renamed Belmont Theatre

  [1]The Belmont Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  York Little Theatre adopted the Belmont Theatre name in mid-2016.

• 2012

  New artistic and executive leadership

  [1]The Belmont Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Rene Staub became artistic director and Lyn Bergdoll became executive director.

• 1997

  Facility addition completed

  [1]The Belmont Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A 7,000-square-foot addition was completed following a fundraising campaign that raised more than $1 million.

• 1956

  Permanent building acquired

  [1]The Belmont Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre obtained title to the Elmwood building in May, seven years earlier than scheduled.

• 1953

  Lease-purchase agreement for the Elmwood Theatre

  [1]The Belmont Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The organization signed a lease-purchase agreement in July for the former 1949 cinema.

• 1933

  York Little Theatre is founded

  [1]The Belmont Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was founded on February 5, 1933, as part of the Little Theatre Movement.

• 1933

  First full-length production

  [1]The Belmont Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Lady Windermere's Fan was presented at the Phineas Davis School Auditorium on December 14.

A locally rooted community theatre and arts venue serving York, Pennsylvania through live productions, special events, and fundraising activities.

• Live theatre · 1933

  Community theatre productions

  Belmont Theatre's core activity is the presentation of community-based theatrical productions. The organization began with staged drama in 1933 and developed a permanent venue after acquiring the former Elmwood cinema. The available reference material does not provide a complete catalogue of titles or genres, but identifies the theatre as a continuing local production institution.

• Events and performances

  Musical and community performances

  In addition to its theatrical season, the venue hosts community and musical events. One documented example is a 2015 Frank Sinatra centennial tribute by York's Unforgettable Big Band, which attracted two sold-out audiences.

• Fundraising · 1957

  York Fair food stand

  The theatre's longest-running fundraiser is a volunteer-supported food stand at the York Fair, recognized for its steak sandwiches. It was started by Betty Gerberick in 1957, and a partnership with Roosevelt Tavern supported operation of the stand from 2018 onward.

• 1997Facility expansion fundraising campaign

  York, Pennsylvania

  Under Henry Leader's leadership, the theatre raised more than $1 million for a 7,000-square-foot addition to its building.

  Outcome. The addition was completed in 1997.

  Source
• 1957York Fair food-stand fundraiser

  York, Pennsylvania

  Betty Gerberick and volunteers established an annual York Fair food stand selling steak sandwiches to support the theatre.

  Outcome. The fundraiser became the theatre's most enduring fundraising activity; Roosevelt Tavern joined its operation from 2018.

  Source

• 2026

  Transfer management and administrative duties to Creative YorkStrategy

  Background

  The theatre was reportedly closed for renovations when it reached an agreement with Creative York, an arts-supporting nonprofit led administratively by Lyn Bergdoll.

  Action taken

  Creative York agreed to assume the theatre's managerial and administrative responsibilities.

  Aftermath

  A subsequent production was expected to open in late April; the available material does not specify any change in ownership or legal status.

  Source

• 2016

  Rename York Little Theatre as Belmont TheatreStrategy

  Background

  The organization determined that the phrase "little theatre" no longer clearly communicated its community-theatre identity.

  Action taken

  It adopted the Belmont Theatre name, referencing Belmont Street.

  Aftermath

  The organization continued operating as a community theatre under the Belmont identity.

  Source

• 2026

  Belmont Theatre reaches management agreement with Creative York[1]The Belmont Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  In early March 2026, the theatre agreed for Creative York to assume managerial and administrative duties while the venue was reportedly closed for renovations.

• 2016

  Belmont Theatre changes name from York Little Theatre[1]The Belmont Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The theatre adopted the Belmont Theatre name, referencing its street address and responding to changing public interpretations of the phrase "little theatre."

1. 1The Belmont Theatreen.wikipedia.org