As the groundbreaking for the Maple Leaf Performing Arts Center nears, the Brown County Playhouse is working to find its niche in the local entertainment scene.
Musical theater shows at the Playhouse last year, such as “Nunsense,” drew crowds. The Playhouse plans to have eight more acts like that in 2018, plus concerts.
“We have refocused a lot because (the Maple Leaf) is coming, and we had to have a hard look at what our strengths were and what their strengths were going to be,” said Suzannah Levett Zody, Playhouse executive director.
The Maple Leaf Performing Arts Center will be built less than a mile from the Playhouse, on 13 acres of farmland behind Brown County Health & Living Community. If ground is broken this spring as planned, construction is estimated to take 13 months, which would make the opening date around spring 2019.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]The Playhouse will celebrate its 70th birthday in 2019. It was founded in a barn and tent that used to stand where the theater building is now, on South Van Buren Street downtown.
The Playhouse was a joint project between local businessman A. Jack Rogers and Indiana University theater director Lee Norvelle. Norvelle described the endeavor as “an attempt to do for theater in Brown County what has been done in the field of painting.”
For a time, Brown County locals and visitors had several stages to choose from: the Playhouse, the Pine Box Theatre, the Coachlight Theater and then the Palace Theatre, all downtown; and the Little Nashville Opry, until it burned in late 2009.
IU shuttered the Playhouse in 2010, and a nonprofit community group stepped in to take it over in 2011. The Playhouse has been the only dedicated stage downtown since 2013.
Since a local board has been managing it, it’s hosted a variety of acts — concerts featuring local and nationally touring musicians, plays, live radio shows, magic shows, youth musicals, nostalgia musical groups and, recently, movies.
Musical theater appears to be more of a strength for the Playhouse than it can be for the Maple Leaf, said Zody, who has a background in musical theater management.
“I don’t think they would attract the audiences they would need to be able to sell the ticket prices,” she said about the Maple Leaf. “Based on what I know, this is something we can do that they probably wouldn’t be able to. But on the other hand, it doesn’t mean we won’t do concerts anymore because they are doing concerts,” she said.
Since the Playhouse has fewer seats than the Maple Leaf will, it will focus on booking acts that will sell 200 to 300 seats over performances that would sell out 2,000 seats.
“In order to keep tickets $45 or cheaper, our maximum budget is $14,000 to $15,000. That, we can afford. If I call someone and they say it’s $30,000 or $40,000 (to book the act), that’s not realistic for us, but it could be for (the Maple Leaf). That’s how we’ll find our way through this,” she said.
On the bill
The first musical theater production was “Twist the Night Away” earlier this month. Silver Night Entertainment will present three other musical shows in May, June and August.
The creator and producer at Silver Night Entertainment is Rhett Thomas, the owner of Thomas Treehouse shop and gallery in Nashville. Thomas produced two critically acclaimed shows in French Lick last year, according to a press release from the Playhouse.
Three other musical theater shows are slated for September, November and December — “Platinum Girls,” Seriously Sinatra” and “Believe: A Brown County Christmas Tradition 2018.” They will be presented by Brown County’s Golden Ticket Productions. The owners of that company also are co-owners of the restaurant across the street from the Playhouse, Out of the Ordinary, and produce the Artist Colony Inn’s murder mystery dinner theaters.
“Believe” has been staged in Brown County for 11 years, first in the now-shuttered Coachlight and Palace theaters and for the past four years at the Playhouse.
“We always end the year on a high because of that,” Zody said about “Believe.” “They change it up every year. You could come back every year and not see the same stuff.”
“Hoosier Harmony: Hoosier Composers” is scheduled for multiple dates in August. The revue will explore the music of Indiana greats like Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter and Michael Jackson.
The Playhouse also shows new movies Thursdays through Sundays if there are no live performances planned for the weekend.
“If anything new comes along, I am totally up for a new idea,” Zody said about programming.
One successful repeat performance is popular country music group Asleep at the Wheel, which sold out last year. The band will return April 14.
Country music star Pam Tillis will be another national act gracing the Playhouse stage. She’ll perform an acoustic show with her all-female trio on April 28.
One Pulse Entertainment, based in Bloomington, is returning to the Playhouse for a fourth year to present 20 live, themed concerts starring musicians Jenn Cristy, Eric Brown and a full band. Upcoming shows include “The Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “The 4 Dimensions” and “Working Class Heroes.”
The Brown County community also has a place on the Playhouse stage. A community theater show, “The Gin Game,” will be staged in June, the seventh annual Indiana State Fingerstyle Guitar Competition in July, and the fourth annual Brown County Youth Music Showcase benefit for the BETA Teen Center on March 3.
As chairwoman of the Playhouse’s programming committee, Zody is responsible for scheduling acts and shows depending on budget and appeal.
“I use my own instincts, my own experiences, but I also try not to let my own taste and prejudice influence. You have to think, ‘OK, how many of our people would enjoy seeing this?’ If the answer is ‘a lot,’ then I do it,” she said.
The Playhouse receives a few thousand dollars from the Indiana Arts Commission; the rest of its $350,000 annual budget comes from ticket sales and donations. Ticket sales make up about 80 percent of it.
The Maple Leaf will be funded by ticket sales, a proposed new entertainment tax specific to that venue, and innkeepers tax revenue as needed.
“It’s going to be a great year. We’re just going to keep at it,” Zody said. “The more people who come to the shows, the more helpful it is to us, so keep on coming.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Brown County Playhouse schedule for 2018″ ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
2018 musical theater schedule
“Broadway Remembered” May 11, 12, 18, 19, 20
“Live from Branson: The Thomas Brothers” June 15, 16
“I’ve Got the Music in Me” Aug. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11
“Hoosier Harmony: Hoosier Composers” Aug. 17, 18, 24, 25, 26
“Platinum Girls” Sept. 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23
“Seriously Sinatra” Sept. 28, 29, 30
“Believe: A Brown County Christmas Tradition 2018” Nov. 30 to Dec. 23
Tickets are $21.50 or $20.50 for students, seniors and military members.
2018 concert schedule
Asleep at the Wheel April 14 ($44.50)
Pam Tillis Acoustic Show April 28 ($39.50)
Sounds of Summer Beach Boys Tribute Nov. 17 ($21.50)
One Pulse Entertainment presents “It Takes Two: Great Love Duets” Feb. 10 ($21.50/$20.50)
2018 community events schedule
($6.50 to $22.50 depending on the event)
Brown County Bluegrass Bash for Shriners Children’s Hospital April 21
“The Gin Game,” a live play by Brown County Community Theater June 1, 2, 8, 9
Brown County Playhouse Youth Summer Theater Camp June 18-30
Seventh annual Indiana State Fingerstyle Guitar Competition July 28
Patrons have the option to buy single-show tickets or a flex pass to get into any six shows except Asleep at the Wheel, Pam Tillis and the Indiana State Fingerstyle Guitar Competition.
To purchase tickets or get more information, visit BrownCountyPlayhouse.org or call the ticket office at 812-988-6555 Thursdays through Sundays.
Beer, wine, champagne and mixed drinks are sold in the auditorium.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
