The Ogunquit Playhouse: 75 Years is, first, a history of the dedication and success of two major personages on the American theatre scene. For more than a half century, Walter Hartwig and John Lane created professional summer theatre, made the village of Ogunquit famous for it, and kept their theatres alive and thriving in spite of the general decline of the medium itself. They did it with unparalleled vision, adapting to every change in the theatrical climate, never losing sight of their dream. On her husband’s death, Maude Hartwig played her part by passing the dream to its second visionary, the young John Lane.
Maude and Walter Hartwig, and the famous and less famous actors and actresses who surrounded them, won a national prominence for the Ogunquit Playhouse practically from its inception.
John Lane carried on that tradition and expanded on it, developing package shows that toured with stars and casts to Ogunquit and other theatres working together in the Council of Summer Theatres for many successful years.
The third act for this phenomenal theatre property is its exciting development as a regional and children’s theatre under the direction of a non-profit Foundation and the theatre’s current Executive Artistic Director, Bradford Kenney. Whatever comes next, it has been a grand long run for the Ogunquit Playhouse in its 75th year this year.
