“Summer Stock” was for many years the universal term defining all American theater preformed during the summer – and up until the 1960s, most summer theater fell into the same formula. The commercially operated theater was located in a rural setting usually in a converted barn (or under a tent), the fare was primarily well-worn comedies and musicals featuring a well-known Broadway, television or movie star surrounded by lots of young hopefuls (or even local residents). Shows usually ran one or two weeks – and quality varied tremendously.
Most of the for-profit theaters of the “Straw Hat Circuit” folded in the 1970s replaced by non-profit “festivals” stressing quality productions, a greater use of equity actors plus the opportunity of seeing at least two shows in a short weekend visit (as well as many additional talkbacks and tours also offered). Star casting is underplayed with no one actor billed above the title and productions values are first-rate.
While some may mourn the loss of seeing their favorite TV western beefcake star do Neil Simon, Summer Theater in America is the best it has ever been.
