42°19′31″N 85°22′22″W / 42.32535°N 85.37275°W The Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, Kalamazoo County, United States is one of the oldest summer stock theatres in the United States [1] and the oldest one in Michigan. [2] [3] It also houses The Barn Theatre School.
The barn theatre is just off the State Highway 96 by Augusta. [2]
The theatre originated in 1946 when Jack Ragotzy, Betty Ebert and others formed the Village Players troupe. After playing several seasons in a community hall in a former Methodist church (in Richland [2]), in 1949 Jack and Betty moved a dairy barn, which was converted into a theatre and was purchased by them in 1954. [4] It was incorporated as "The Barn Theatre" in 1949. [2] [3] In 1951 it became an Equity theatre. [2]
Its first show was the Finian's Rainbow musical. [5]
A number of notable performers made appearances at The Barn, including:
The Barn Theatre School lists the following persons, in addition to the above ones, in their "Wall of Fame": John Newton, Adrienne Barbeau, Becky Ann Baker, Lauren Graham, Jonathan Larson, Robert Newman, and Jennifer Garner. [11]
42°19′31″N 85°22′22″W / 42.32535°N 85.37275°W The Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, Kalamazoo County, United States is one of the oldest summer stock theatres in the United States [1] and the oldest one in Michigan. [2] [3] It also houses The Barn Theatre School.
The barn theatre is just off the State Highway 96 by Augusta. [2]
The theatre originated in 1946 when Jack Ragotzy, Betty Ebert and others formed the Village Players troupe. After playing several seasons in a community hall in a former Methodist church (in Richland [2]), in 1949 Jack and Betty moved a dairy barn, which was converted into a theatre and was purchased by them in 1954. [4] It was incorporated as "The Barn Theatre" in 1949. [2] [3] In 1951 it became an Equity theatre. [2]
Its first show was the Finian's Rainbow musical. [5]
A number of notable performers made appearances at The Barn, including:
The Barn Theatre School lists the following persons, in addition to the above ones, in their "Wall of Fame": John Newton, Adrienne Barbeau, Becky Ann Baker, Lauren Graham, Jonathan Larson, Robert Newman, and Jennifer Garner. [11]