Apple Hill Playhouse Blog: Community Theatre Guides
Guides and stories for audiences, performers, parents and volunteers, drawing on the history of Apple Hill Playhouse and the wider world of community theatre.
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The History of Apple Hill Playhouse: From Farm Barn to 'Best Little Theatre'
How a pre-Civil War barn in Delmont, PA became Apple Hill Playhouse: its founders, the Pat Beyer years, OPAC, children's theatre and the 2020 closure.
Read the guideJohnny Appleseed Children's Theatre: Morning Plays for Young Audiences
How Apple Hill Playhouse's Johnny Appleseed Children's Theatre worked: weekday-morning shows, participation plays, young casts, prices and tips for families.
Read the guideHow to Prepare for a Community Theatre Audition
Practical community theatre audition tips: choosing and cutting a song, cold readings, headshots, conflicts, callbacks and what directors look for.
Read the guideHow to Choose a Summer Theatre Camp for Kids
A parent's guide to choosing a summer theatre camp for kids: age groups, schedules, staff, the final show, costs and questions to ask, with real camp examples.
Read the guideBarn Theatres and the American Summer Stock Tradition
Why so many American summer theatres started in barns and mills, how summer stock and the 'straw hat circuit' worked, and where Apple Hill Playhouse fits in.
Read the guideHow to Volunteer at a Community Theatre: Roles, Time and Skills
A practical guide to volunteering at a community theatre: ushering, box office, backstage crew, costumes, boards and fundraising, and how to get started.
Read the guideTheatre Apprenticeships for Teens: What You Learn and How to Apply
What a summer theatre apprenticeship for teens involves: set building, props, costumes, stage crew and stage management, hours, stipends and how to apply.
Read the guideDinner Theatre Explained: How a Dinner-and-a-Show Evening Works
What dinner theatre is, the two main formats, how vouchers and timing work, typical menus and prices, and tips for groups, based on Apple Hill's packages.
Read the guideTheatre Etiquette: A First-Timer's Guide to Enjoying a Live Show
Theatre etiquette made simple: when to arrive, seating, phones, food, applause, bringing children and what to wear, so first-timers can enjoy the show.
Read the guideWhat Does a Stage Manager Do in Community Theatre?
The stage manager's job in community theatre explained: the prompt book, rehearsals, reports, calling cues, running the show and how to get started.
Read the guidePlanning a School Field Trip to the Theatre: A Teacher's Guide
How to plan a theatre field trip for students: choosing a show, booking, deposits, chaperones, preparing the class and follow-up activities, with real examples.
Read the guideTheatre Scholarships for High School Seniors: Where to Look and How to Apply
How high school seniors can find theatre scholarships: local community theatre awards, college talent awards and national programmes, plus tips for applying.
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