Hackmatack Playhouse Celebrates 40 Years With 8/20 Celebration

Hackmatack Playhouse will celebrate their 40th birthday with an evening of live music, good food and great comedy on Saturday, August 20, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The barn has been providing live, professional theater to the Seacoast area since 1972.

Tickets for the fundraising event are $50, and include seats for the evening's performance of 39 Steps, an Alfred Hitchcock mystery thriller and comedy starring Dan Clay, David Kaye, Jeff Seabaugh and Amanda Dane as 150 different character roles.

"There are so many people that have been coming to shows at Hackmatack year after year," said Michael Guptill, owner and producer of The Playhouse. "We are excited to celebrate the theater's history with past and present patrons of this summer tradition."

The evening will include a silent auction featuring art and theater related items from around the Seacoast area such as tap dancing lessons, photography, artwork and a handmade quilt crafted by a member of the Guptill family.

At least four past and present artistic directors will be in attendance, including the current artistic director, Sharon Hilton. Many present and former actors also will be on site, including John Edmonds, an actor from the opening show in 1972. John is now the owner of Mountain Catering of Wells Maine, and will be providing dinner for the event.

Guests are invited to sing along to live music and show tunes from many musicals performed at The Playhouse throughout the years, with entertainment provided by pianist Kathy Fink and former artistic director Steven Dascoulias.

While the theater celebrates its past, it also honors new additions to its rich character. Take a walk to the back field and admire the beginning stages of The Bison Project, a new organization founded by Conor Guptill and Chris Gallot, to promote the production of sustainable, local alternatives to industrial food sources. Six bison already roam the fields, and meat is available to buy at the concession stand.

Since its first performance, Hackmatack Playhouse has produced hundreds of shows and showcased thousands of actors on stage. Now, join the historic theater and community in celebration of a past and present growing family tradition.

To make required reservations for 39 Steps and the 40th birthday celebration fundraiser, call the box office at (207) 698-1807.

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