The Clague Playhouse stays hidden gem of leisure

When many consider Westlake, the picture of Crocker Park’s iconic streets come to thoughts, with many envisioning the movie show at its forefront.

However those that know Westlake, acknowledge that isn’t the one place to seek out leisure within the metropolis.

Clague Playhouse, situated at 1371 Clague Street, simply outdoors of downtown Westlake, usually is described because the hidden gem of Ohio’s leisure business, bringing high quality performs to an academic setting for all ages, leaving many with a way of satisfaction after visiting it’s halls.

Lisa Wiley, advertising and marketing and publicity supervisor for the playhouse, prides the institution not solely on its high quality, however the historical past behind it as effectively.

“In 1928, the playhouse bought its begin because the Bay Village Ladies’s Membership performing in church buildings, basements and barns all through the world,” Wiley stated.

In 1967, the gamers lastly had been capable of finding their residence within the previous Clague Home and Barn in Westlake’s Clague Park.

“The group joined forces with the Westlake Historic Society to compromise on a lease to the property and in November of 1967, the newly shaped Clague Playhouse Gamers carried out their first play within the packed barn,”  Wiley stated.

Since then, the playhouse has continued to convey the lots in with its reveals, highlighting the smaller gems of the theatre world.

“Whereas folks could not at all times know the title of the performs, they nonetheless depart having loved them at all times,” Wiley stated.

In 1996, the playhouse underwent  20-foot-by-70-foot growth, permitting it to not solely have a brand new place to maintain its costumes and tools, but additionally introduce a brand new facet of artwork to the theater.

Corresponding with every present season, members of the neighborhood can go to the playhouse to see the works of native artists with themes matching the performs.

Lately, members of the Clague Playhouse board additionally took half within the gallery celebrations with members Dottie Palazzo and Gary Aheimer featured within the present.

As for the way the group comes up with what performs to supply, all of it comes all the way down to the Studying Committee.

“The committee chooses one of the best performs that swimsuit us and the neighborhood,” Wiley stated. “We not solely take a look at the technical aspect of issues akin to will it match on our stage, but additionally bear in mind what our viewers will wish to see.”

The playhouse additionally features a kids’s program in the summertime and winter referred to as the Pink Barn Youth Theatre, bringing kids of all ages to the stage for an opportunity to have enjoyable and carry out.

“Our mission is to convey high quality leisure whereas additionally educating significance of the humanities and our kids’s program does simply that,” Wiley stated.