Priscilla Beach Theatre Restoration, Priscilla Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

With the barn restoration structural work completed, the focus shifts to overall project general contractor Kelleher Fine Builders, Inc. of Kingston, Massachusetts, who is moving ahead with all the other work to complete Priscilla Beach Theatre's (PBT) restoration. The main entrance and box office has been framed in since last week's update.

Now in their 78th year, PBT is the oldest barn theatre still in operation in the United States. The restoration will be completed in time for next summer's performance season - "Fiddler on the Roof," and "Chicago" are already scheduled. My most recent blog post on the restoration is at this link, or, you can type "Priscilla Beach" in the search box in the right column of this blog.

Just three short months ago in late June, it looked like this.

And in late May just before the major work began, it looked like this. (Note the yellow lamppost has survived all this time and is still standing).

The new restroom complex has been closed in, the final trim applied, and the roof readied for shingling.

The site has been cleaned up, dirt piles leveled, dumpsters emptied and much debris removed.

View from upstage right. Normally, I can hide from bright light sources but this miniature sun now hanging from the ceiling has me stymied.  It's bright like a mercury-vapor street lamp - great for lighting the workspace, no cords lying on the floor to trip over, but not so great for making pictures.

View from upstage center.

In case you're looking for a contractor.

The plumbing work is being performed by TDM Plumbing and Heating, Middleboro, Massachusetts, and is underway in the new restroom complex.

Inside the restroom area.

The theatre's structural steel bracing discussed in a previous blog post will eventually be enclosed in the internal walls within the restrooms.

Elsewhere on the campus, the first hints of fall leaves are visible. Inside the Geronimo Black Box Theatre (at left), rehearsals are underway for the upcoming production of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," directed by Conni DiLego, with performances on October 24, 25, 26, and November 1, and 2. Call 508-224-4888 for tickets.

And lastly, this old organ prop has been inside the theatre during the entire restoration so far. It's like an inanimate mascot.  It appears in different places but hasn't left yet. Perhaps it's hearkening ahead to the day when the boards will echo with the footfalls of performers and the sounds of their voices raised in chorus as the Priscilla Beach Theatre reopens next summer's performance season with the classic "Fiddler on the Roof." 

By the way, Wikipedia says this about Fiddler, "The original Broadway production of the show, which opened in 1964, had the first musical theatre run in history to surpass 3,000 performances. Fiddler held the record for the longest-running Broadway musical for almost 10 years until Grease surpassed its run. It remains Broadway's sixteenth longest-running show in history. The production was extraordinarily profitable and highly acclaimed. It was nominated for ten Tony Awards, winning nine, including Best Musical, score, book, direction and choreography. It spawned four Broadway revivals, a highly successful 1971 film adaptation, and the show has enjoyed enduring international popularity. It is also a very popular choice for school and community productions.[1]"