FORT HILL PLAYERS
A BIT o' HISTORY n' LOOKING AHEAD
In the late 1930's, avid theatre
lovers, Catherine and Ed Macon along with Kay and Roland Brown met in their
homes to read plays aloud. Before long, their neighbors began attending these
readings, either to participate or to listen. Soon after, a twenty-five cent
dues fee was charged and upon collecting seven dollars, they bought enough
fabric to create a curtain.
They named themselves after the Greenville
street address most of them shared and raised that curtain for the first time in
1939 for a production of the one-act play "House of Juke," written by Valentine
Davies, of "Miracle on 34th St." fame, and directed by Cleaveland Van Wert.
Thus, Fort Hill Players was born.
Today, the proverbial curtain still
goes up three times a year. Two main stage productions in the fall and spring,
and an Experimental Theatre Lab, featuring the works of new playwrights, dance,
mime and more abstract theatrical genres, are mounted at the Rochambeau school,
the group’s home since 1967.
Incorporated in 1954, The Fort Hill Players
played in a variety of venues until moving to White Plains where Recreation &
Parks Commissioner, Joseph Curtis, wanted to establish a permanent theatre
company in the city. A match was made, a contract signed, and in 1970, then
Mayor Richard S. Hendy proclaimed Fort Hill Players as "The Official Theatre
Company of White Plains."
On October 11, 2013, Fort Hill Players held its
75th Anniversary Party. Mayor Thomas C. Roach proclaimed the date, Fort Hill
Players Day. Assemblywoman Amy Paulin issued a Citizen Worthy of our Esteem
citation. State Senators, George Latimer and Andrea Stewart Cousins respectively
issued a Certificate of Merit and a proclamation of the date as Fort Hill
Players 75th Anniversary day.
Our company has come a long way since the
fireside readings in the Macon's and Brown's homes. Over seven and a half
decades and more than 175 productions later, after the Great Depression, World
War II, thirteen presidential administrations and countless changing styles and
social mores, Fort Hill Players lives on.
We're proud of our history,
and continued success We remember our predecessors, who played to an empty house
during an opening night blizzard in 1961, and to 14 people during the windstorm
of 2010. There was the triumph of 40 cast members taking an original light
opera, The Scarecrow, to the 1975 International Light Opera Festival, in
Waterford Ireland. The Company returned home to ovations, carrying with it FOUR
first prizes. Despite air-raid drills, FHP performed non-stop during World War
II and yes, even performed with live goats onstage.
Now that's
dedication.
Sometimes dramatic, sometimes comedic, occasionally
provocative and always entertaining,
Fort Hill Players serves its community
with a quality, affordable theatrical experience.
Whether as a Member,
Contributor, Performer, Audience Member, or all of the above, we look forward to
you joining us!