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Carriage House by Robert Wagner, oil on canvas
Huntington Barn from the SW, 1941
The Playhouse first began as John Huntington's carriage house, part of his summer estate in Dover Township.
In 1958, a few decades after the Metroparks acquired Huntington's estate, the building took on a new role: theater productions. His legacy lived on in the name of the Huntington Playhouse, and his own carriage stayed on the property.
Huntington Playhouse by Marsha Sweet, 1970, pencil on toned paper
Fire!
Fire!
In May 1970, the Playhouse was mysteriously destroyed by fire in the middle of the night. Arson was the top suspect, but samples were tested and found no trace of flammable substances. The true cause of the fire was never discovered.
A lone wheel from Huntington's carriage was spotted amidst the rubble
Playhouse posters that were saved from the fire
The Show Must Go On!
The Show Must Go On!
A year later, the Playhouse was rebuilt. Community theater returned to Bay Village, with multiple productions every year. After 57 seasons of plays and musicals, the Huntington Playhouse put on its final performance in December 2015. After multiple phases of ongoing renovations starting in 2017, the building has taken on yet another new identity and is now used for a variety of BAYarts art exhibitions, events, and concerts.
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