Brown County Playhouse

Old and New Beginnings

~by Julia Pearson

Some IU student players from the 1950s.

Aprominent mainstay of the area’s artscape is the Brown County Playhouse. Following World War II, it was the first summer stock theater in Indiana, and became one of the longestrunning professional summer stocks in the Midwest.

It brought well-known seasoned actors from around the country and served as a training ground for student actors, directors, and designers. A non-profit “strawhat” theater, the Playhouse was built on property donated by Brown County businessman, Jack Rogers, who also financed the initial construction.

Indiana University Theatre director, Lee Norville, agreed to oversee productions from the Bloomington campus, where the company was comprised of drama students and provided the workshop where scenery was built. In the early days, company players jumped into the open back of a truck and traveled the 16 miles on Route 46 to Nashville where their enthusiastic audiences awaited. In time, red and white vans provided transportation for the company.

The first Playhouse was a barn structure with a proscenium opening 26 feet wide. The stage was 39 feet wide, 32 feet deep and was overtop the dressing rooms. It remained unchanged for 28 years. When summer cloudbursts caused damp floors in the dressing rooms, costumes were hung on the walls to prevent water damage. A tent sheltered seating for an audience of 300. It was replaced with a tin roof when the tent kept falling victim to sparks from a nearby potter’s kiln resulting in charred holes.

Restroom facilities were available at the Nashville House across the street until 1965, when a new restroom and roof extensions for 200 more seats were built.

Executive Director Amanda Webb.

photo by Cindy Steele

Don Marquis’s Prohibition comedy, The Old Soak, was the first production. Opening night was July 15, 1949 and it ran for five weekends. The title role of Clem Hawley was played by Joe Vurpillat. General admission was 90 cents.

After this success, more dramas were scheduled. Matinees ended when Indiana’s summer heat parboiled those on stage. Due to its enthusiastic reception by the public, four plays were produced in 1950.

But conditions disintegrated in the original barn theater. Rain beating on the tin roof or the racing of motorcycles in a nearby alley were distracting during poignant scenes.

Jack Rogers’s son, Andy Rogers, provided a new site, with financial support from various individuals and the Indiana University Foundation. Indiana University Chancellor Herman B Wells personally contributed to the endeavor by donating proceeds from a sale of Brown County property. For a total cost of $300,000, the modern theater had heat and air conditioning, a three-quarter thrust stage, and comfortable seating with ample leg room for 400. Maintaining the flavor and tradition of the first building, wood siding from the original barn theater was used on the street front and lobby. The performance season was five months long.

Citing increasing costs and declining audiences, Indiana University and the IU Foundation announced that the summer of 2010 was its last. After entertaining audiences of locals and visitors for over 60 years, the Playhouse was an essential part of the community. It was agreed by all: The show must go on! It is now a 501(c)3 organization managed and operated by an all-volunteer board, the Brown County Playhouse Management, Inc. To be a Performing Arts Center, the Brown County Playhouse provides diverse year-round entertainment: live theater, concerts, movies, dance, variety acts, and special events.

Scene from The Old Soak, the Playhouse’s first production in 1949.

In the midst of the pandemic, Amanda Webb took the helm as the Executive Director in August of 2021 when Hannah Estabrook stepped down from that role. It’s a match made in Hoosier heaven.

Brown County has been home to Amanda since marrying Brian Webb after graduating from the IU School of Music (Voice and French). Amanda has taught private voice and piano lessons for 20 years, has led worship in many local churches, as well as being the office manager at the family business, Webb and Sons Auto Restoration. She is also a bandleader, singer, and songwriter.

Amanda’s creative talents, business expertise, and insights into the community enhance her leadership for the Playhouse. It’s bolstered by conversations around the family dinner table. Her oldest son, Billy, works for the Water and Sewer of the town of Nashville; Henry, 18 years old, is a junior at Brown County High School and is active in tech theater, especially set design and construction; Charlie, 16 years old, runs cross-country and has his Eagle Scout in sight; Robert, 12 years old, is active in theater and choir; George, 10 years old, is interested in all the world offers—basketball, guitar, and samplings of his older brothers’ activities.

Amanda speaks of an intangible magic of the Brown County Playhouse that is felt by everyone. The schedule of programs will coincide with interests of multi-generation audiences. Watch community calendars and public media for upcoming offerings. Their website is <browncountyplayhouse.org> and you can find them on Facebook. •