Bucks County Playhouse Theater

ABOUT BUCKS COUNTY PLAYHOUSE

Bucks County Playhouse, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is committed to providing the finest in theatrical entertainment for visitors and residents of New Hope and the Bucks County area.

The Playhouse has become one of the leading theaters on the East Coast and is the largest arts organization in Bucks County. Bringing back to life a sterling example from the history of 20th century theatre, the Playhouse presents a year-round schedule of six to nineoriginal productions, giving established theatre artists the chance to try new things and talented early career artists the experience and mentorship to launch successful careers. It also presents twenty-five plus visiting artist presentations of music, dance, comedy and theatre. Its two-acre campus includes the historic playhouse, its full-scale restaurant and bar Playhouse Deck, an outdoor courtyard bar, waterfall picnic area, river promenade, and an intimate performance space in a historic barn. It also operates Lambertville Hall, home of its education programs, in Lambertville, New Jersey.

HISTORY

In 1939, Bucks County Playhouse opened in a former gristmill on the banks of the Delaware River in New Hope, Pennsylvania. New Hope was just an unpaved road along the river but soon a town began to form around the Playhouse. Broadway and Hollywood artists, who were drawn to the region by the painters and writers living in the area, put the theatre on the map. As the Playhouse’s reputation and audience grew, New Hope developed into a bustling town—its fortunes linked to the Playhouse at its center. Always a commercial operation, the Playhouse had an extraordinary 30-year run but then fell on hard times. After decades of mismanagement, the theater became decrepit, losing its reputation, its audience, and finally closed its doors in 2010.

Shortly thereafter, a group of dedicated residents’ campaign to save the Playhouse drew the attention of Broadway producer Jed Bernstein, and Kevin and Sherri Daugherty whose Bridge Street Foundation funded its restoration. After a muti-million-dollar restoration, the Playhouse re-opened on July 1, 2012. In 2014, Tony Award-winning producers Alexander Fraser, Robyn Goodman and Josh Fiedler joined the Playhouse, building a staff of theatre pros and began to rebuild the artistic and educational programs.In 2024, the Board of Directors appointed Teresa Sanpietro as Managing Director and Nicole Hackmann as Executive Director.

MISSION:

Bucks County Playhouse inspires, entertains, and engages audiences by producing theatrical productions of the highest quality in a nationally renowned historic theater. It als0 presents innovative arts education and community programs for all ages.

VISION:

Recognized for its world-class productions, and for nurturing future generations of artists and audiences, Bucks County Playhouse draws an ever-expanding community of neighbors and visitors as the leading theatrical destination between New York City and Philadelphia. Creating a stimulating array of offerings in an inviting variety of venues, the Playhouse is also the glittering epicenter of cultural and civic activity in New Hope.

VALUES

The culture of Bucks County Playhouse can best be understood by the values by which we strive to guide our day-to-day operations and programs:

• Artistic Excellence
• Belonging
• Honesty
• Trust
• Respect
• Compassionate Empathy
• Courage
• Integrity