History of Park Playhouse

Every summer, there is a difference you can sense as well as see. Anticipation’s in the air, and then Albany becomes a destination for Capital Region audiences of young and old alike, to share in the “magic” of live musical theater in Washington Park. But how did it all begin?

In the early nineteen eighties, Lew Swyer imagined an open theater setting under the stars, presenting classical works at the Empire State Plaza to the Capital District audiences with no admission charge. Through his support, and the efforts of John Velie, Shakespeare in the Plaza was born. The performances at the Empire State Plaza were an overnight sensation and they quickly outgrew their space. In 1984, Shakespeare in the Plaza joined C. Patricia Devane of Live at the Lakehouse, and the City of Albany to premiere a season of FREE musical and classical entertainment to audiences at the Lakehouse in historic Washington Park. The popularity of the Live at the Lakehouse series opened the door to a continuing tradition of FREE live theater at the Washington Park Lakehouse through the summer of 1988.

In 1989, with Mimi Scott serving as Executive Producer, Park Playhouse, Inc. was incorporated as a not for profit 501(c)(3) organization with an initial Board of Directors appointed by Albany’s Mayor Thomas M. Whalen, III. In the summer of 1989, the curtain went up for the first time at Park Playhouse, Inc. in Albany’s historic Washington Park. The premiere productions of Annie and Camelot proved so popular and successful that the City of Albany replaced the hill opposite the Lakehouse with an outdoor Amphitheater prior to the second season of Park Playhouse, Inc.

Park Playhouse, Inc. reached a milestone in 1993 celebrating five tremendously successful seasons thanks to the support of our Corporate Sponsors and the Capital Region audiences. In 1993, Artistic Director Venustiano Borromeo, who had been a central figure of all the productions at the Lakehouse since 1985, succeeded Mimi Scott as the Producer. Ven Borromeo welcomed not only a new Mayor to the City of Albany, Gerald D. Jennings, but also a new President, Herb Ellis, to the Board of Directors of Park Playhouse, Inc.

Mayor Gerald D. Jennings has not only been committed to the support and success of Park Playhouse, Inc. since becoming Mayor, but was instrumental in the founding of the Park Playhouse II-Youth Theater Program in 1995. Ven Borromeo collaborated with Mayor Jennings in the founding of a Youth Theater Program that would allow youths from the Capital Region the opportunity to become involved with musical theater. The goal was to create a program that would give students an opportunity to be involved in all the aspects of “putting a show together.” Park Playhouse will celebrate its 13th season in the summer of 2007.
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In the Fall of 2002, “The Lyrics and Lyricists Series” premiered in Albany. The series can best be described as “an evening of musicals, soothing and astonishing...it’s about renowned composers and lyricists offering their finest works...it’s about people, young and old, reminiscing and rediscovering a passion for a timeless art form...but mostly, it’s about an evening in an intimate setting to celebrate decades of songs from Broadway musicals that shaped the American Musical Theater.” This critically acclaimed series, created by Ven Borromeo, to provide Park Playhouse a year round presence, enters its 5th season in the Spring of 2007.

Park Playhouse, Inc. celebrates its 19th season in 2007 and will continue the goals set by the founding members in 1989; achieving financial stability through concentrated efforts in Development and Fundraising, enhancing the cultural environment of the Capital Region, fostering community appreciation for the performing arts, and foremost, providing FREE live first rate theater for the entire Capital Region every summer. In addition, Park Playhouse will continue to venture into a year round presence in the Capital Region. Our growth has been in front of the eyes of our audiences. We have made mistakes and we have had our successes. But we will continue to grow and stand committed to our initial mission statement.

The evolution of Park Playhouse is a proud testimony to our founders, leaders, and sponsors whose vision of FREE Theater in Washington Park inspires us today. Park Playhouse has changed the Capital Region’s summer nights forever, and as it takes the next step to having a year-round theater presence, “the Magic of Park Playhouse” will continue to prevail, and the best is yet to come!