The Cumberland County Playhouse will be a bit more comfortable in its 60th year with updated seating.
CEO Bryce McDonald said seats in the main stage theater have seen new backs, springs, and cushioning, but the bases have been there since its opening in 1965. McDonald said the newer Black Box Theater, which opened in 1993, has never had a seating update. McDonald said the changes are meant to enhance the guest experience.
“We just wanted to switch some things up,” McDonald said. “And there’s a new management team that’s been in operation for about nine seasons. We took over right after the 50th anniversary. And so this has been a long term goal for us to raise enough money to create this new experience for our patrons.”
McDonald said the new seats are larger and more cushioned than the old seats. McDonald said all 225 seats in the Black Box theater were replaced top to bottom on Wednesday, with the new seats in the main stage theater to be ready for an audience by the June 20 performance of ‘Hairspray.’
McDonald said capacity in the main stage theater will decrease by four seats. McDonald said three of those seats were lost in an effort to create more space around the sound board, and another was cut due to poor positioning.
McDonald said the seat project has been on the wish list for at least six years, and the project has been underway for the last two years. McDonald said the lengthy process required the seats to be specially built in Europe.
“It took a year to make them, and then they’re shipped back to us,” McDonald said. “Then, we have to find time in our calendar, around our shows, to demo both spaces because one space, our main space, had 488 seats that we had to remove. The other space, like I said, had 225 [seats], and we’ve been doing that since Monday. It’s been quite an undertaking.”
McDonald said the seats are part of the Playhouse’s capital campaign, launched in February, which is designed to improve facilities. McDonald said memorial seats are available for purchase, and proceeds will go to more projects at the theater.
“We’ve got work on the front entrance we’re going to do,” McDonald said. “We’re going to work on the parking lot. So just some overall improvements to celebrate the 60 years, and for patrons to come in and feel a new elevated experience.”
McDonald said on average, the Playhouse Theater sees some 76,000 patrons every year, and there have been some 900 shows performed in its 60 year history.
