The Arctic Playhouse is a non-profit theater in West Warwick, Rhode Island located at 1249 Main Street in the village of Arctic, Rhode Island.
History The Arctic Playhouse evolved the ‘Daydream Theater Company’ that was founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 2002.- Reviewed 2019-01-07 In 2014, Daydream Theater Company was looking for a new, larger location. A venue was secured- Reviewed 2019-01-07 in Arctic Village, West Warwick.- Reviewed 2019-01-07 This location, seating 90 patrons, became home to The Arctic Playhouse,- Reviewed 2019-01-07- Reviewed 2019-01-07 (TAP) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The theater contributes to the revival of this formerly vibrant mill village and is theater as is should be.
After demand for more space, TAP acquired the former Maxine's Department Store,- Reviewed 2019-01-07 (1249 Main Street) which will be the new home of The Arctic Playhouse, following a $1.5-million renovation- Reviewed 2019-01-07- Reviewed 2019-01-07 that will give the theater company room to grow. “At the current location, the playhouse has 90 seats. At 1249 Main Street, it will have over 200 seats”, said board member Lloyd Felix.- Reviewed 2019-01-07
The new facility plan is divided into a main theater with balcony seating and a cabaret stage for smaller, more intimate, audiences. Long time supporter Ida ZeccoAbout Ida Zecco hosted the first Cabaret Club on April 30, 2019 with Jim Rice on piano and guest artist John Abernathy. Another regular supporting artist, Lon Cerel,About Lon Cerel followed on May 3 with his Thief of ThoughtsThief of Thoughts performance.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, performances were streamed live to keep the Arts alive, actors and patrons involved and continued funding for renovations.
September 23, 2021 marked TAP's first "in person" performance at 1249 Main Street - "Murder at the Howard Johnson's" directed by Tony Annicone, with patrons assembled in a modified area of 1249 which presently seats 96 people.
Future
Renovations continue for completing the theater with fundraising a vital part of this so equipment and materials can be purchased avoiding the need to finance into the future.
Seasons
2024 Season • Legally Blonde The Musical • The Brothers Grimm • And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie • Crimes of the Heart • One Slight Hitch • Lone Star Love Potion • 45 Seconds from Broadway (A New Comedy) o A Tribute to Tony – Kelley Lennon o From My Heart, Aloha – Al Lorenzo o The Pickup Line – Jeanne Collins Crowley o The New Belters – Nicolas King and Seth Sikes o A Tribute to Billie and Amy – Frankie Campofelice and Andy Lantz o Becoming Okay with Being Gay – Krisanthi Pappas o French Women Don’t Shave and Other Truths Revealed – La Mechante et le Connard o The Jim and Val Show – Jim Rice and Valerie Sneade-Roy o Between Yesterday and Tomorrow – Marieann Maringolo o Autumn in my Soul – Michelle Currie o A Taste of Thanksgiving – David Rivera Bozon o A Song for the Season – Ida Zecco and Jim Rice
2022-23 Season 39 Steps Bedroom Farce Don't Dress For Dinner Lon Cerel Love Sex & The IRS Miracle on 34th Street The Addams Family (outside production) The Games A Foot or Holmes For The Holiday There's A Burglar In My Bed Cabaret: Love Notes - The High C's Ocean State Trio P.S. I Love You - Kelley Lemon Stories of Family Friends and Fun - Krisanthi Pappas Art Isn't East - John Abernathy Billy and Amy - Frankie Campofelice and Andy Lantz Heart Attack! - Michael Hammond
2021-22 Season Exit Laughing Lie, Cheat and Genuflect Miracle on 34th Street Noises Off Second Nature Rides Again! Sex and the Older Girl Social Security The Hatmaker's Wife Lon Cerel Cabaret: Angela Bacari David Bozon Eden Casteel Ida Zecco and Jim Rice Ida Zecco John O'Neil Michelle Currie Robb Bernard Roderick Ferguson The Next Generation Valerie and Jim
2020-21 Season Miracle on 34th Street - The Radio Play Murder at the Howard Johnsons The Edgar Allan Poe Afterlife - Radio Show
2019-20 Season Vintage Hitchcock (Joe Landry) dir. Diane Lupo Bermuda Avenue Triangle (Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna) dir. Tony Annicone Any Friend of Percy D'Angelino is A Friend of Mine (Jason Milligon) dir. Fred Davidson The Gift of the Magi / Balls / The First Noel (O. Henry / George Cameron Grant) dir. Rachel Hanauer Seussical the Musical Who's Calling? Visiting Mr. Green (Jeff Baron) dir. Sandy Cerel All My Sons (Arthur Miller) dir. Tony Annicone
2018-19 Season Steel Magnolias (Robert Harling) dir. Ida Zecco All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten - The Musical (Robert Fulghum and Ernie Zulia) dir. Diane Lupo The Diary of Anne Frank (Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett) dir. Rachel Hanauer Breaking Legs (Tom Dulack) dir. Hen Zannini and Fred Davison Who's Calling? (Rachel Hanauer) dir. Rachel Hanauer and Chelsea Swan A Life in the Theatre (David Mamet) dir. Tony Annicone A Christmas Carol the Musical (Charles Dickens) Original Score By Philip Martorella dir. John Martorella Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Neil Simon) dir. Tony Annicone- Reviewed 2019-01-07 Lost in Yonkers (Neil Simon) dir. Christian O'Brien
2017-18 Season Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll) dir. Rachel Hanauer- Reviewed 2019-01-07 13 Rue de l'Amour (Georges Feydeau) dir. Christian O'Brien- Reviewed 2019-01-07 MISGIVINGS: A “Divine” Comedy of Belly laughs, Blessings, Blarney & Bingo (Dave Kane) dir. Dave Kane TWO ONE ACT PLAYS! The Actor's Nightmare & Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You (Christopher Durang) dir. Chris Plonka- Reviewed 2019-01-07- Reviewed 2019-01-07 A Christmas Carol – A Live Radio Play (Charles Dickens), Adapted by Kevin Connors, Joe Landry dir. Christian O'Brien- Reviewed 2019-01-07 I LOVE… WHAT’S HIS NAME? Directed and performed by Rachel Hanauer and the Newport Arts Collaborative Tuesdays and Other Plays (William Donnelly) dir. William Donnelly On Golden Pond (Ernest Thompson) dir. Sandy Cerel- Reviewed 2019-01-07- Reviewed 2019-01-07- Reviewed 2019-01-07 The Odd Couple (Neil Simon) dir. John Faiola
2016-17 Season Butterflies Are Free (Leonard Gershe) dir. Tony Annicone The Dining Room (A. R. Gurney) dir. Sandy Cerel- Reviewed 2019-01-07 Barry Weintraub: LEGACY (Lenny Schwartz) dir. Lenny Schwartz- Reviewed 2019-01-07 Goodbye & Hurry Back (Lenny Schwartz) dir. Jennifer Rich Mrs. Mannerly (Jeffrey Hatcher) dir. Mary Beth Luzitano I Hate Hamlet (Paul Rudnick) dir. Christian O’Brien Carol’s Christmas (Shannon McCloud) dir. Dave McCloud Matt & Ben (Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers) Ben Minus Zoe Minus Ben (Lenny Schwartz) dir. Lenny Schwartz Einstein & the Polar Bear (Tom Griffin) dir. Sandy Cerel
2015-16 Season The Social Avenger (Lenny Schwartz) dir. Lenny Schwartz Mac…Beth (Stephen Nani & Shannon McLoud) dir. Stephen Nani My Husband’s Wild Desires (John Tobias) dir. John Faiola Carol’s Christmas (Shannon McCloud) dir. Dave McCloud Late, A Cowboy Song (Sarah Ruhl) dir. Kelli Noonan Our Distance Between Stars (Lenny Schwartz) dir. Lenny Schwartz Human Nature (Christopher Ferreira) dir. Christopher Ferreira
2014–15 Season Crystal Romance (Lenny Schwartz) dir. Lenny Schwartz Co-Creator (Lenny Schwartz) dir. Lenny Schwartz The Man who Saw Snoopy (Lenny Schwartz) dir. Lenny Schwartz
References