Our History

Founded in 1989, Park Playhouse began producing free, outdoor summer theatre in Albany’s Washington Park. Original Executive Producer Dr. Mimi Scott and Original Artistic Director Venustiano Borromeo worked to expand the program rapidly in it’s infancy. After just a few short years, Park Playhouse was attracting audiences of thousands, and the City of Albany transformed the hillside opposite the Lakehouse stage into a stepped amphitheatre allowing comfortable seating for 1,500.  In 1995, under the direction of Mayor Gerald D. Jennings, the Park Playhouse II Youth Theatre Training Program was created to help train the area’s next generation of theatre artists. That program grew by leaps and bounds through the dedication of former Director of Education Shirley Arensberg. In 2006, in an effort to bring theatrical training to young students in the Albany area, a Park Playhouse after-school program was created in the City School District of Albany.

In 2010, Park Playhouse hired Owen M. Smith, a graduate of Park Playhouse II, to come on board as the new Producing Artistic Director of the company.  Recent years have seen great growth for the company, with several of Park Playhouse’s most successful productions ever being featured in Washington Park.  As stated in Metroland, “Park Playhouse has evolved into something truly adventurous and special.” In addition to enhancements in the quality of the professional summer productions, great strides were made in the area of arts education. The Park Playhouse Kids training program began, serving students ages 9-12 and Park Playhouse II expanded to a prime-time performance opportunity in Washington Park in 2012.

In 2017, in celebration of the company's 30th Anniversary, Park Playhouse expanded its offerings to a year-round slate of productions, some produced in the park and at the historic Cohoes Music Hall.

The company rebranded as Playhouse Stage Company in 2019 with the mission to provide artistic and educational services to the entire region, with a headquarters in Cohoes, NY alongside a continued, robust presence in the Capital City of Albany. The company now produces more than a dozen productions annually, at venues Park Playhouse and Cohoes Music Hall, and offers the region’s largest pre-professional theatre training program for students, Playhouse Stage Academy. Playhouse Stage Tykes was introduced in 2019, a summer program for students ages 5-8. Playhouse Stage Academy produces multiple productions annually and maintains an on-going series of classes throughout the school year, allowing students to engage in theatrical training alongside their performance experiences through various dance, acting, audition coaching and introductory classes for students ages 4-18. Scholastic touring productions are also mounted throughout the year, bringing professional live theatre into elementary schools in Albany and the surrounding area, serving over 25,000 students annually.

In 2020, Playhouse Stage Company was selected by the City of Cohoes as the management entity of the historic Cohoes Music Hall. In 2021, Playhouse Stage Company announced the grand opening of Playhouse Stage Studios, a rehearsal and theatrical education space in Cohoes.

Playhouse Stage Co. remains proud of its rich history and looks forward to a bright future yet to come!