Mission Statement

History of TriArts

It all began with two inspiring stories of community dedication and passionate commitment, part of which goes back nearly seventy years. It involves two generations of what you might call 'stage parents.' In the late 1920's and 1930's, a group of stage-struck Sharon dreamers formed a play-reading group--at first for their own pleasure and then as they hoped, for their friends' and neighbors' entertainment.

It worked; people in the area appreciated the idea of a local place where they could hear the words of famous playwrights interpreted by talented readers. After a few years, and with a growing audience, the original group was taken over by the well-known mystery writer Judson Phillips, who created a small regional Equity theater in the red barn that stands today as The Sharon Playhouse. At that time, the fare was mostly popular plays from Broadway--a different one presented almost every week. Then, following Mr. Phillips, a new managing director, Bill Landis, aided by Walter Fairservis, a prominent academic and playwright, continued the tradition of mounting a smash hit Broadway play at least twice a month. Shortly after, Gordon Heyworth, an actor and director at the Playhouse, started to bring in a regular summer program of big Broadway musicals such as CABARET, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and THE KING AND I. The shows turned out to be standing-room-only successes, and yet they were true to the original concept: thoroughly involving community actors, dancers and singers.

During the 1980s and 1990s, however, management and directorial guidance at The Sharon Playhouse lost continuity, a vital factor for any theater's survival. Season after season outside companies came and went. The Sharon Playhouse was too often dark. But something theatrically dynamic and exciting was beginning to happen right in the tri-state area.

Sixteen years ago, another group of passionately dedicated young people--like a generation before them--joined together to create their own tri-state regional theater. Their artistic director was the inspired director, Ray Roderick, an original member of the Broadway cast of CATS and a community-minded resident of Pine Plains, New York. Ray had long donated his directorial talents to local high school and amateur theatrical productions. In the summer of 1989, Ray directed THE MUSIC MAN at The Sharon Playhouse. Meeting with tremendous enthusiasm and community support, Ray and a group of dedicated volunteers decided to form a new theatre company that would be based in Pine Plains, New York. This new regional theater was named the TRI-STATE CENTER FOR THE ARTS -- popularly known today as TriArts.

The following summer, TriArts was born. In Pine Plains -- under a big tent for two years and later, in the Carvel warehouse for seven -- TriArts produced some of its greatest shows, including ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, BARNUM, OKLAHOMA! and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. By then the company had built an enviable tri-state reputation, and in 1999, TriArts was able to move to Sharon where an idea had started ten years ago -- with Michael Berkeley, TriArts' Musical Director for eight years, returning, now as Artistic Director, and Bill Landis and Gordon Heyworth once again as House Managers. The first season in The Sharon Playhouse was a resounding success, with productions of GREASE, GUYS AND DOLLS (starring Barry Williams of "The Brady Bunch"), and an original Michael Berkeley youth musical, IMAGINE THAT! (In fact, in March 2000, a troupe of Tri-Arts' youth performers went to Nashville, Tennessee to record the CD soundtrack and to film the commercial video version of Imagine That!) The TriArts Board made the decision to purchase The Sharon Playhouse and launched a capital campaign to make it possible.

The 2000 Season saw successful productions of DAMN YANKEES, MAME, DIRTY DOINGS IN DEADWOOD, and the original children's musical OFF THE WALL. In 2001, TriArts reached its largest audiences ever with productions of MY FAIR LADY, STEEL MAGNOLIAS (first drama), and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT.

In February of 2003, TriArts completed the purchase of the Sharon Playhouse complex, ensuring a long-term, permanent home. The Bok Gallery was completed in September, 2003, providing year-round performance space, offices, workshop space, and on-site rehearsal space. Bill Suter, Board member, Broadway producer and Tony award voter says, "Based on my experience, we have succeeded in creating this professional quality theater at TriArts and are committed to maintaining or exceeding it at The Sharon Playhouse."