Winni Playhouse Open House at Future Meredith Site

[winniplayhouse]

As many of you know, the Winni Playhouse has been planning a move to the former Annalee Doll Complex on Reservoir Road in Meredith. Due to many hold-ups (all of which have been out of our hands) we haven't been able to start construction yet. However, lots of people have been asking us what the new site will be like so we decided to have an Open House to invite the public onto the site and share our vision.

The Open House will be on Tuesday, Oct. 6th from 5:30-8:30. You can tour the site, see the plans, meet with Playhouse founders and board members and enjoy refreshements.

We will be developing the site into a performing arts campus for the entire region and envision a time when the Winni Playhouse will be a destination, not just for watching performances or participating in theatre education, but for picnicking, nature trails, socializing and more.

The long term plan we will have indoor performance spaces as well as an outdoor amphitheatre, classrooms, function rooms, workshops, housing for summer actors, storage facilities, and more.

If you'd like to see the site and hear more, please consider attending the Open House. It's open to the public but we would like to get an idea of how many people will be coming in order to provide enough refreshments. If you plan to come call 366-7377 or email bryan@winniplayhouse.com.

[fatlazyless]

A big round of applause for your ambitious undertaking to create a new theatre go-to spot for fans and students of the dramatic stage. I don't know but something seems to say that prying apart all the old family, legal entanglements over there, is like a three part play complete with lengthy intermissions. As always, the lawyers love to talk while making the big money and take their bloody time getting to a final conclusion.

As Shakespeare would like to be saying....... "let's burn all the lawyers" ....... and get on with building the playhouse. .........here, here! Meredith will be a better place for it. :) .........big applause here!

[winniplayhouse]

Thanks! We're hoping it's sooner rather than later! Were you there last night? We had a much bigger crowd than expected so I didn't get a chance to speak to everyone. Would have liked to put a face to the username! We hope it was informative for all who came.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

We wish the best of luck to The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (http://www.winniplayhouse.com/)!

Would it be possible to post photo updates on the progress of the new playhouse, either here or on your site?

[winniplayhouse]

Great idea! We will definitely do that when things start happening.

[Just Sold]

A local theater group is planning some dramatic changes to the former Annalee Dolls complex, as those who attended an open house held at the site learned.

The open house, which included tours and refreshments, was held to show the community the future home of Winnipesaukee Playhouse, a professional theater group that currently operates out of a cramped theater in the Alpenrose Plaza in the Weirs Beach area of Laconia.

Barbara Ganm of Moultonborough was one of a few dozen people who came to the open house and took the tour last week.

"We've been really impressed with the Winnipesaukee Playhouse," Ganm said. "We've held season tickets for the past three years and we were interested to see what they are planning to do here."

Lesley Pankhurst, marketing director for the organization, said the open house was chance to meet with current subscribers and other members of the community who might be familiar with what they do.

"We just really wanted to start bringing people to the site, to get them excited about the prospects," Pankhurst said.

She added they plan to renovate the site in three phases and they already have enough funding, approximately $1 million, to begin the first phase.

Phase one will include putting in water and sewer lines, grading and repaving the parking areas and roadways, the addition of exterior lighting throughout the complex and the conversion of some buildings into staff housing. The first phase also includes the construction of an outdoor amphitheater.

The playhouse is just awaiting permit approval from the town before work can begin, Pankhurst said, and it anticipates phase one will be completed by next summer.

The second phase will involve the conversion of the former Annalee Gift Shop, a barnlike structure, into a 180 to 200 seat theater to be used for main stage, summer productions and large scale, winter community and youth theater productions.

The main theater will include ample lobby space, including a concessions area and bathrooms, an outdoor deck, a rehearsal studio, a function room and a basement with dressing rooms, a green room, a prop and costume area and classroom space and offices.

Phase three entails transforming the former Annalee Doll Museum — a structure with a Victorian facade — into a small, 80 to 90 seat theater to be used for summer camp and children's theater productions as well as cabarets, special events and small scale community and youth productions.

Jim Rogato, chairman of the Winnipesaukee Playhouse Board of Directors, is enthusiastic about the Winnipesaukee Playhouse and it's mission.

Rogato said while he's pleased they have raised enough money for the first phase, there are two more phases to go and the total project is estimated at $3 million.

Rogato said he heard about the theater group two years ago, when he attended a few of their productions.

"I was thoroughly impressed with what they were doing and I decided I wanted to see this survive and thrive in the community, so I volunteered and was an actor in their first community production," Rogato said.

He added that level of programs and opportunities for children, let alone adults is amazing.

Not only can children take acting workshops or summer theater camps, Rogato said, the Playhouse has held youth play writing competitions in which the winners got to help select a director, pick actors and see their work come to life. The Playhouse also holds workshops on acting for adults as well other aspects of the theater industry including lighting and set construction.

"We're just lucky to have a group in the Lakes Region that caters to both professional actors and community theater," Rogato said."I wish more people would embrace it and come and see what it's about."


Full Story w/photos: http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009710139882 in the Citizen

[BroadHopper]

So Ma Thornidike boys tore the whole business apart and Annalee's dolls are no longer made? I notice the huge downfall when the boys split the business in two and started making the dolls in Asia.

Mama must be rolling in her grave...... Rest in Peace.

[winniplayhouse]

They do still make and sell Annalee Dolls. But you are correct that they make them in Asia now. They still maintain offices and a gift shop on Reservoir Road. They moved out of the back half of the property but still operate out of the building directly on Reservoir. Hope that info helps!

[RI Swamp Yankee]

My wife and I were members of the Annalee Doll Society for many years and went to almost all the Spring BBQ and auction events over the years. We have many fond memories of the place. It was sad to see what happened during Annalee's last years. I think the final straw was when production moved to Aisia and the "Factory in the Woods" ceased operation. There were many good people that made it a success.

I wish the Winni Playhouse group well in their endeavor. It will be good to see the spirit of fun and good times return to the property.