History
The history of the Peterborough Players is a rich one. It was founded in 1933 by Edith Bond Stearns, (EBS, as she was known to friends), a woman of imagination, vision, and a love of the arts. To quote from Our Playhouse (available through Peterborough Players):
“At the time EBS decided to purchase the Hadley Farm, it was abandoned and had no electricity or running water.”
From those humble beginnings grew a professional theater of excellence. The barn, which has seen several major renovations, has been converted to a state-of-the-art theatre with stage, rehearsal, office, restroom, dressing room, and lobby spaces newly created and/or modernized. Seating has been expanded, and the theatre has air conditioning as well as heating.
There have been many unforgettable moments at the theater--the most famous being a production of Our Town, shortly after it was written. It was performed with the author, Thornton Wilder, in the audience. Audiences have been entertained with classic drama and farce, enlightened by modern works, and enthralled by one-man shows like Will Rogers with James Whitmore, and Paul Robeson with Avery Brooks.
Perhaps the most memorable times have occurred watching young actors improve their craft under the tutelage of veteran actors like James Whitmore or David Howard. Following those young actors’ careers as they attain film and stage work is always a thrill. The beloved late James Whitmore summed it all up: “I’ve toured and played many theaters but I keep coming back to Peterborough! What a rich and wonderful tradition it is to have a place where old guys like me can rub elbows with a fresh crop of talented young artists.”
As queried in Our Playhouse: “What compelled this mother of three children, with few financial resources and no steady income, during the deepest grips of the Depression, to establish a theatre in the backwoods of southwest New Hampshire?”
We may never know the full answer to that, but we’re sure glad Edith Bond Stearns gave birth to her vision of the Peterborough Players. For in the deepest, darkest woods, perhaps it is art that shines the brightest light.
To see an in-depth interview with Johnny Stearns - Edith Bond Stearns's son - and his wife Mary Kay, go here.
