Washington County Playhouse

Information may not be reliable

I’m going to update the performance schedule on the 2010-2011 Season page, but thought it might be a handier reference to include the dates on the home page as well. If you have reservations for any of the dates that we are eliminating, we’ll need to find new days for you. You can call us, or we will call you.
Nunsense – Feb. 4, 5, 11, 12, 13 (Sunday), 18, 19, 25 & 26.

Camelot – June 10, 11, 12 (Sunday), 17, 18, 24, 25, July 1 & 2.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – July 29, 30, Aug. 5, 6, 12, 13, 14 (Sunday), 19 & 20.
As explained in yesterday’s post, we will be offering 9 performances of each production, rather than 20. Also, there will be only one Sunday matinee for each show. And as we line up additional entertainment, we will post it here on the web site, as well as in the newspapers.

It is time to grow. A lesson I learned in business quite some time ago is, if youre not growing, youre dying. When I examined our first years data at The Playhouse, it became clear to me that, for now, weve got about as many customers as were going to getuntil the economy improves, and people believe it is improved. That second part, the part about people believing the economy has improved may be quite a way down the road.
So, our growth is stagnated. That requires attention. Since weve already done most of the things we can do to grow the customer base for the dinner theater, and it is not growing, we need to do something or some things differently. That is the plan.
When we close LIQUORED-UP LUCILLES BROADWAY BONANAZ, we are going to change the rest of the schedule for this season. Instead of doing about twenty performances of each production, we are going to do nine or ten. Well still do all the shows, but they will run for one month each instead of two. Well do every Friday and Saturday evening and one Sunday matinee during the even months. (February, April, June, August, October, and December.) During the odd months (January, March, May, July, September and November) we will present other entertainment opportunities.
The alternate opportunities will include, karaoke nights, comedy nights, cabaret nights, themed nights, piano bar nights, and other types of performance nights for plays and musicals that we feel will appeal to those to whom dinner theater does not appeal.
To our regular loyal guests, the only difference is that you/they will choose nights within a four week window rather than an eight week window. But, the cycle is the same, which is every two months there will be another show, just as it has been for twenty-six seasons.
Consequently, we will not be opening the first show of calendar-2011 on January 14th, but rather will open on February 4th. But, it will still close on February 26th,, as planned and announced. I will update the website as soon as possible to reflect the new dates, and the new types of entertainment which will be available. We hope youll join us for some of the fun and entertainment on those nights when the dinner theater is dark. And, were open to suggestions regarding what types of things appeal to you in the new night-club.
As audiences for the dinner theater grow, we will add more performances. And if that results in eliminating the other activities, so be it. Whether or not we go back to a twelve-month calendar of just dinner theater is something that we simply cannot determine now. This is all about growth. We expect The Playhouse to be here for at least another twenty-five years, doing what its always tried to doprovide quality entertainment perceived as an unsurpassed value.

Well, it’s big news as far as The Playhouse is concerned. Look for it right here on Thursday morning, November 18.

…and here are ten reasons why: (in alphabetical order!)
Jeff Clise…Donny Cook…Lauren Ebbin…Suanne Eckel…Sheryl Keefauver…Renee Levin…Shawn Ryan Martin…Terry Moore…Ashley Myers…and, of course, Liquored-Up Lucille.
Need we say any more? I think not. Book now.

We realize that many of you already have your holiday parties planned and booked. To you, consider us next year, please. But, for those who are not yet committed, we’d be more than happy to explore the possibilities with you. We can accommodate a group as small as 15 or as large as 120. And if you book early enough, we might be able to have a “closed house” for you. As for gift certificates, they’re always available, in any amount you choose. And, they’re always appreciated.

Between now and December 17, 2010, if you are employed by the Washington County Board of Education in any capacity, you can join us on any Friday for dinner and show for only $25.00/person. When you call to make your reservation, just let us know that you work for the Washington County Board of Education. Then, when you join us, simply flash your badge and that’s it! That’s $13.50 off the regular adult ticket price for everyone in your party! It all begins this Friday, October 15 and runs through (and including) December 17. (Price includes dinner and show. Beverages, taxand gratuity are additional. And tax is only on beverages.)

We are working on what we believe will be an effective syllabus for a summer theater class for youngsters ages 8 – 16. The course would be to provide young folks with fundamentals in acting, singing, and movement. It would be a four week program with Week One focusing on Acting. Week Two would continue Acting, and begin Voice. Week Three would continue Acting & Voice, and begin Movement. Week Four would continue Acting, Voice, and Movement, and culminate with Testingof the students’ acquired skills. We are looking at holding the class in June, from June 6 through July 1. We’ll provide additional information and details as they develop. If you would be interested in having one of your children attend, please drop us a line at jczerbinski@wcpdt.com.

It’s not too soon, or too late, to reserve for New Year’s Eve at The Playhouse. The menu will include the full fresh salad bar and the hot buffet. But, in addition we will be serving Beef Wellington and Lobster Tails w/drawn butter.
After dinner we will be performing the world-wide premier presentation of AN INFORMAL GATHERING AT RIVER EDGE PLAZA STEAKHOUSE by J. Paul Clifford. It might best be described as a slightly wacky comedy which takes place in a restaurant. A shooting, paternity suits, philandering, and surprise after surprise, not to mention the conjugation of verbs,will keep you smiling, laughing, and guessing.
Then, after a short intermission for you to stretch your legs and refresh your beverages, we will present a special performance of LIQUORED-UP LUCILLE’S BROADWAY BONANAZ. (Don’t we wish Lucille could spell?) The all-Broadway review features Suanne Eckel, Jeffrey Clise, Sheryl Keefauver, Terry Moore, Renee Levin, Shawn Martin,Lauren Ebbin, & Ashley Myers. That will be followed by a brief intermission before the midnight champagne (and/or sparkling cider) toast. The festivities will conclude with continental breakfast and dancing until you’ve had enough. (Within legal limits, that is!) The house is about three-quarters full at this point, so please, please, please don’t end up disappointed. Call us now while there is room.
Season Ticket-Holders and Life Subscribers, this is not a regular show, but your status entitles you to a healthy discountas long as you haven’t already redeemed your tickets for the regular run of BROADWAY BONANAZ. Call today.

Welcome to the Washington County Playhouse, the oldest dinner theater in Western Maryland. We are a year-round dinner theater in Hagerstown, Marylands Arts & Entertainment District. This is the theaters twenty-sixth season of presenting classic musicals, musical revues, comedies, and more current works. We recommend reservations well in advance, however we usually have room for the last minute decision. Please join us.