Barnstormers Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Barnstormers Theatre is located in Tamworth, New Hampshire
, and is the oldest ongoing professional summer theatre in the country. It was founded in 1931 by Francis Cleveland, the son of twenty-second president Grover Cleveland
. It is one of the only professional theatres in the country that performs eight shows in eight consecutive weeks every summer.
After World War II
the acting company purchased Kimball's Store on Main Street, across from the Tamworth Inn, and transformed the building into a theatre. Since then the theatre's acting company has kept the rigorous schedule of rehearsing one play by day, and performing another by night, from the end of June to the beginning of September. Francis Cleveland acted as Artistic Director until his death in 1995.
Tamworth, New Hampshire
Tamworth is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,856 at the 2010 census. Tamworth includes the villages of Chocorua, South Tamworth, Wonalancet, and Whittier. The White Mountain National Forest is to the north...
, and is the oldest ongoing professional summer theatre in the country. It was founded in 1931 by Francis Cleveland, the son of twenty-second president Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
. It is one of the only professional theatres in the country that performs eight shows in eight consecutive weeks every summer.
History
In 1931 Francis and Alice Cleveland founded the theatre company, along with their friend, Ed Goodnow. During the summer they would lead a company of resident actors around the region, performing different plays each night. In some cases they would literally storm barns, arriving in the afternoon to set up their scenery and lights in time for an evening performance.After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the acting company purchased Kimball's Store on Main Street, across from the Tamworth Inn, and transformed the building into a theatre. Since then the theatre's acting company has kept the rigorous schedule of rehearsing one play by day, and performing another by night, from the end of June to the beginning of September. Francis Cleveland acted as Artistic Director until his death in 1995.