Above: The Shandaken Theatrical Society's sign on its historic building in Phoenicia. Photo by Julia Reischel.
The day that Hurricane Irene hit the Catskills last year, the Shandaken Theater Society was holding a small flea market in front of its playhouse on Church Street to benefit its “Raise the Roof” fundraising effort. Around the corner at the Phoenicia Parish Field, the annual Shandaken Day Festival was in full swing. Few forsaw the hardships and disruptions that lay in store for Phoenicia after Irene began her arrival late that afternoon.
STS was not spared. The main structure of the playhouse escaped serious damage, but flooding in the basement forced the non-profit theater society to replace the oil tank for the building – a costly, unexpected expense coming when it still needed money to replace an aging roof.
The problems STS faced in the wake of Irene pale compared to some of the human dramas members of the community were forced to deal with after that tropical storm. But the storm's human cost took a toll on the theater company as well.
STS had to cancel its scheduled fall and winter shows entirely because its volunteer staffers had pressing flood-related work elsewhere. The resumption of full STS productions now – like the soon-to-be-completed restoration of the main bridge into Phoenicia’s business district – is a clear indication of brighter days just ahead for the hamlet.
And what better way to celebrate than with live theater? "The Spitfire Grill,” a musical about a stranger in a small town, opens for a three-week run this Memorial Day weekend, with performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm and Sunday matinees at 4:00pm.
“I love this play,” says Linda Burkhardt, the president of the STS board. “The story is very moving. It’s a musical, but I wouldn’t describe it as a musical comedy. It’s funny, but it deals with some heavy issues – but there’s redemption, and redemption is always good.”
“The Spitfire Grill” is based on the movie of the same name, and revolves around the arrival of a mysterious stranger into a small town. The New York Times described it as a “soul-satisfying musical with all-American inflections of country and folk.” It was originally scheduled to play on Broadway in 2001, but was cancelled after the attacks on the World Trade Center during 9/11. Still, The Spitfire Grill has been performed throughout the nation, including in Off Broadway venues as well.
For those who might remember the original film, Burkardt describes the play as being different in tone. “The movie was very dark,” she says. “The play is not. You fall in love with a lot of the characters, but there are some you don’t like, and that’s all right, too.” She adds that the show is family-friendly.
STS has ambitious plans for the coming year, with full theater productions slated for the fall and winter, along with other special events and fundraisers throughout the year. The organization is also renting the building out to other creative entities.
But, according to Burkhardt, an awful lot is riding on this current show. “Right now, things are kind of tight,” she says. “We need an infusion of cash.”
She explained that most of the group's operating budget comes from revenues received from attendance at their three annual major theater productions. It has been a full year now since the last one, “Into the Woods,” was staged.
The playhouse’s main roof has been patched, but it remains in need of replacement.
“It’s still holding up,” Burkhardt says. “You won’t get wet if you come see a show on a rainy day.”
Even with some delayed maintenance, STS is still quite proud of its playhouse, a late 19th-century Odd Fellows hall which was in use as a movie theater back in the 1930s.
STS, which was founded in 1976, initially worked out of churches and school auditoriums before purchasing the hall in the 1990s. The building had been neglected for years, and great effort went into restoring the hall into a functioning theater with seating for over 140.
“It’s a great creative space,” Burkhardt says. “You walk in and you immediately feel theater. The seats that are in there now came from the old Saint James Theater on Broadway. You feel that artistic vibe. The acoustics are wonderful. It’s what old time theater should be.”
With obvious pride, Linda proclaims that the STS Playhouse is “the jewel in the crown of Phoenicia.” She adds that she might be a bit biased.
This STS production of “The Spitfire Grill” is directed by Glenn Laszlo Weiss. The musical director is Andrew Goodsight. The show stars Jax Denise, Ann Davies, Sean Connelly, Deb Warren, Karen Forray, Rich Quinn, and Shawn Jensen. Tickets are $15 and $13 for members and seniors over 65. Friday nights are date nights when two tickets are available for $20. All ticket proceeds to the non-profit theater will help repair and refurbish the 125-year-old STS Playhouse.
Reservations and information are available at STSPlayhouse.com and at 845-688-2279 and 845-688-2279. Drinks and homemade refreshments will be available and everyone will have a chance to win door prizes.
