Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre

Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre is a nonprofit community theatre in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and is described as one of the oldest continuously operating community theatres in the United States. The organization began in 1922 as the Drama League, reflecting the early twentieth-century little-theatre movement that created spaces for amateur performers, developing playwrights, directors, and audiences outside the commercial theatre system. Its first performance was Rudyard Kipling's The Elephant's Child, presented at what is now Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre. The organization adopted the name Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre and was incorporated as a nonprofit on June 17, 1929, by decree of Judge Valentine. The original incorporators and directors included Bernard F. Burgunder, Brandon A. Gearhart, Mrs. Fredrick Hillman, Mrs. Simon Long, Todd Rippard, Raijean Breese, Mrs. Franck G. Darte, Annette Evans, Mrs. Hugh Jenkins, Mrs. Ernest G. Smith, Daniel W. Davis, and Leonard W. Parkhurst. The incorporation formalized the theatre's civic and cultural role and established the legal foundation for its continuing operations. During the 1920s and 1930s, Little Theatre operated within a national movement of community-based theatrical organizations. Such groups served both as venues for performance and as practical training grounds where local participants could experiment with plays, develop stagecraft, cultivate self-expression, and gain experience that could lead toward professional theatre work. Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre's stated historical record credits the organization with presenting hundreds of productions and reaching more than two million people since 1923. A major institutional turning point came in 1956, when the theatre purchased a former movie theatre at 537 N. Main Street. After the building was renovated for live theatrical use, performances began there in 1957. The playhouse has remained the organization's principal home and gives the theatre a permanent venue rather than requiring it to rely on temporary school or civic facilities. In 1972, renewed federal and state attention to the arts helped bring additional recognition to the facility. The Pennsylvania Theatre Association approved the building for theatrical production and commented favorably on its stage and equipment. The theatre's historical significance rests primarily on continuity, local participation, and the preservation of community performance infrastructure. It is identified as the third continuously running community theatre in the United States, ranked among the leading little-theatre groups nationally, and a charter member of the American National Theatre and Academy. Its activities center on live theatrical productions and the stewardship of its playhouse. No separate commercial product portfolio, public-company structure, or corporate parent is identified in the available reference material.

Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre traces its origins to 1922, when it was established as the Drama League in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Its creation took place during the expansion of the American little-theatre movement, which emphasized local artistic participation and provided alternatives to commercial theatrical production. The organization's earliest documented performance was Rudyard Kipling's The Elephant's Child, staged at what is now Coughlin High School. The theatre adopted its current name before receiving formal nonprofit status. On June 17, 1929, Judge Valentine issued the decree incorporating Little Theatre as a nonprofit corporation. The incorporation documents identified twelve members, incorporators, and directors: Bernard F. Burgunder, Brandon A. Gearhart, Mrs. Fredrick Hillman, Mrs. Simon Long, Todd Rippard, Raijean Breese, Mrs. Franck G. Darte, Annette Evans, Mrs. Hugh Jenkins, Mrs. Ernest G. Smith, Daniel W. Davis, and Leonard W. Parkhurst. This legal structure enabled the organization to continue presenting theatre as a civic and cultural institution rather than as a conventional commercial enterprise. Through the 1920s and 1930s, the theatre participated in the broader role of little theatres as laboratories for plays, talent, and theatrical practice. Community members could perform, direct, design, organize, and develop stage skills in an environment that combined entertainment with education and self-expression. According to the theatre's historical account, its work since 1923 has included hundreds of productions and has reached more than two million people. The organization secured a permanent home in the mid-twentieth century. In 1956, it purchased a former movie theatre at 537 N. Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. The building was renovated for live stage use, and performances began there in 1957. The conversion transformed an existing cinema into a dedicated playhouse and allowed the theatre to consolidate its activities in a permanent facility. The venue received further institutional recognition in 1972. During a period of renewed federal and state interest in the arts, the Pennsylvania Theatre Association approved the building for theatrical production and noted the quality of its stage and equipment. The playhouse remains the central physical marker of the organization's identity. Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre is characterized by unusually long continuity for a community theatre. Its historical materials identify it as the third continuously running community theatre in the United States, place it among the ten best little-theatre groups nationally, and describe it as a charter member of the American National Theatre and Academy. The available sources do not identify a current artistic director, executive director, detailed production archive, or current season schedule. The organization is nevertheless described as continuing to operate as a community theatre.

• 1972

  Pennsylvania Theatre Association approval

  [1]Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barreen.wikipedia.org

  The Pennsylvania Theatre Association approved the building for theatrical production and recognized the quality of its stage and equipment.

• 1957

  Performances begin at the current venue

  [1]Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barreen.wikipedia.org

  After renovation, the organization began presenting performances at its Main Street playhouse.

• 1956

  Purchase of the Main Street playhouse

  [1]Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre purchased a former movie theatre at 537 N. Main Street for conversion into a permanent live-performance venue.

• 1929

  Nonprofit incorporation

  [1]Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barreen.wikipedia.org

  Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre was incorporated as a nonprofit on June 17, 1929, by decree of Judge Valentine.

• 1923

  First documented performance

  [1]Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barreen.wikipedia.org

  The first performance was Rudyard Kipling's The Elephant's Child, presented at what is now Coughlin High School.

• 1922

  Founded as the Drama League

  [1]Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barreen.wikipedia.org

  The organization began in Wilkes-Barre as the Drama League, establishing the community-theatre activity that later became Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre.

A historic, nonprofit community theatre focused on accessible live performance, local participation, theatrical development, and the preservation of a permanent Wilkes-Barre playhouse.

• Performing arts · 1923

  Live theatrical productions

  The theatre's principal offering is live stage performance. Its historical record describes hundreds of productions presented over the organization's operating life, beginning with The Elephant's Child and continuing as community-based programming at its Wilkes-Barre playhouse.

• Theatre venue · 1957

  537 N. Main Street Playhouse

  The organization's permanent venue is a former movie theatre purchased in 1956 and renovated for theatrical use. Performances began there in 1957, and the building became the principal home and defining physical asset of Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre.

1. 1Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Back Mountain Chamber donates $1,000 to Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barrefox56.com