In 1947, at the end of World War II, most people were finding their way back to old patterns and interests. For a group of 19, meeting under the leadership of Florence Weisel and Lenora Dunn, this meant bringing back local, community theater. When a second meeting swelled the group to 40, the first production was planned.
The first production, "The Late George Apley," debuted on February 27, 1948, at the old Doylestown Borough School at Broad and Court Streets, drawing an audience of 400. The group's 10 years on this stage were marked by a constant struggle with technical problems beyond those experienced in normal play production. Because the stage had no wings, just three solid walls and low ceilings, set changes were impossible. Thus, for 10 years, the play reading committee was limited to plays requiring only one set. Further, the permanent walls made the stage so shallow that free passage from one side to another was possible only by crossing the stage. Particularly in shows like "I Remember Mama," which had a cast of 22, this gave our directors challenges never dreamed of on Broadway.
Town and Country Players, in 1953, was asked to assist in a production designed to both raise money for Welcome House, and to broaden local recognition of its aims and methods. "The Happy Children," was written and directed by Philip Mathias, with four T&C members as assistant directors and stage managers, 16 others on backstage committees, and 14 on stage with Oscar Hammerstein II and Pearl S. Buck.
When a professional children's theater group scheduled to perform in 1956 at Philadelphia's Academy of Music was unable to appear, T&C was asked to step in and perform. Our first children's play, "Pinocchio," was thus produced at the Academy. For over 25 years, T&C's touring Children's Theater performed at schools, firehouses and grange halls throughout Bucks and Montgomery counties, introducing over 40,000 children to the delights of live theater.
In 1957, the many frustrations of producing plays in schools -- the rules, the physical limitations, the inability to rehearse on stage -- had led us to spend several years looking for a home of our own. At this time we found the barn, which dates back to 1767, and rented it. Although much time and work were required to convert what was a working barn into a theater, we finally had a place to call home.
Members enthusiastically went to work in 1958 clearing the stalls and hay and making necessary repairs on the barn. The remodeling took about one year, during which we moved out of the Borough School, into the relatively new Lenape Junior High School for three shows.
Although in 1959 renovations continued, it was finally made adequate for productions. We started with a small play, "The Staring Match," with no scenery, few props and a circle of folding chairs. Original plays called for a theater with a proscenium stage. However, money was not available for construction, and we were eager to start in our own place. Therefore, the first plays, "The Staring Match" and "Holiday for Lovers," were presented in the round out of necessity. As a group we found these logistics flexible and exciting, and our audiences enjoyed the novelty and realism derived from theater-in-the-round. A second change, required with the move to the barn, was the shift from a winter to a summer season.
Town and Country's good friends and landlords, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Nichols, put the barn and its property up for sale in 1962. To protect the investment of time and labor we placed into the building, the Nichols' offered to sell us the barn, separate from the sale of the rest of the property. We had to consider the task of taking on a long-term commitment, which would require a mortgage, bank loan for a new pump and well, taxes, and all of the unforeseen circumstances attributed with ownership. The entire group responded. Children's Theater increased their contribution, everyone worked to sell more benefits, and the schedule was increased from three to four shows a year. The direct result was a financial success -- bank loans were paid off ahead of time -- continuing investments in the new and expanded facility. Secondly, a new standard of excellence attracted new members and performers.
In 1980, Town and Country Players increased its season from four to five shows per year, and in 1985 our One-Act Fall Play Festival was started, with the original purpose to give production experience to members wishing to become qualified directors; it has since become a welcome showcase for original plays and little-known gems. T&C's 25th anniversary program of 1972 boasted new wiring, ramped seats for better visibility, an overhead lighting and ventilation system, and other improvements...with the hopes of one day installing air-conditioning! This dream came true in 1994-95, when our Renovation Fund committee, headed by Mickey Kolman, succeeded in raising the dollars needed to improve the barn's insulation and, voila, an air-conditioned theater became a reality.