Priscilla Beach Theatre Information

BROADWAY IN A BARN SINCE 1937! PLYMOUTH MASS. The historic Priscilla Beach Theatre (PBT) is one of the oldest barn summer stock theaters still in operation in America. Founded by Dr. Franklin Trask in 1937, PBT quickly became one of the most respected schools of theater training in America. During this era, as many as 150 actors and actresses were in residence, performing in one play during the evening, while rehearsing another play during the day. Also, many famous students grew from a rising crop of young talent, including Paul Newman, Robert MacNeil, Estelle Parsons, Pat Carroll, Sandy Dennis, Dan Blocker and Jean Seberg. During the 1960s, James Lonigro, purchased PBT. Lonigro continued the resident company summer-stock training for several decades. This era also produced many famous students including Rob Reiner, Al Brooks, Andre Bishop, news legend Andy Lack (former president of NBC News, producer of "60 Minutes"), Peter Gallagher, Jennifer Coolidge and Kitty Winn. In 2013, PBT was purchased by Bob and Sandy Malone. At that time, many of the theatre properties had been sold off and the remaining buildings were in nearly tear-down condition. Additionally, the college student resident company program had been stopped and PBT focused exclusively on children's theatre training. Over the next 2 years, the Malones embarked on an extensive restoring and rebuilding of all the theatre properties including the historic barn theatre (originally built in 1875). Additionally, they repurchased and restored several of the original theatre building that had long been sold off. In 2015, the next chapter of PBT began with the opening of the renovated barn theatre! At that time, PBT reintroduced it's original mission of providing rigorous summer-stock training with a resident company. Today, PBT produces 6 shows from May to October. Actors from all over the country audition to become part of the resident company. Auditions are held in Boston MA each February.