Have you ever wondered what it meant when actors tell each other to "break a leg"? What about the rumors of haunted theaters? Did you know it was once considered unlucky for costumes to feature any blue fabric? Click here to find out about these and more "Theatrical Superstitions!"
Read MoreYou have an opportunity to be part of this thrillingly entertaining show, auditions to be held Aug. 7th-9th!
Read MoreWonder what it's like to be in a show at the Yorkshire? Get an Inside Look at "The Importance of Being Earnest" from cast member, Cheryl Ratliff, as she reminisces about rehearsals, characters, and the family bond of this close knit cast.
Read MoreA brief introduction the the show, it's author, and what you can expect when you join the cast on this comedic adventure.
Read MoreThe Yorkshire Playhouse is proud to introduce the cast of our summer show, "The Importance of Being Earnest." Thank you to everyone who auditioned! Congratulations to the Cast!!
Read MoreThe Yorkshire Playhouse is proud to announce the Cast of our Summer Children's Theatre Production of "Alice in Wonderland." Thank you to everyone who auditioned! Congratulations to the Cast!
Read MoreSpring is here, and it’s time for our Yorkshire Playhouse Annual Meeting. Join us at 7PM on Tuesday, May 9th as we review and celebrate a year of creating community and art through live theatre, and begin looking forward to and making plans for another great year at the Yorkshire Playhouse.
Read MoreAt our annual meeting on May 9th at 7PM, we will be electing new Members to our Board of Directors. This year we have received nominations for four individuals: John I Baker, III, Kathy Epp, Theresa Christiansen, and Danielle Berry-Massey. Read a little about their lives and why they want to serve on the Board.
Read MoreAs Children's Theatre enters its 17th year, we are once again chasing the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole. Read more about the director, the history behind the show, and find out how to audition for our summer Children's Theatre production of Alice in Wonderland!
Read MoreHave questions about Children's Theatre? We have answers! Check out this post to learn all about this year's production.
Read MoreIntroducing the Cast of the Yorkshire Playhouse's 2017 Spring Production of Annie Baker's award winning Circle Mirror Transformation. Congratulations to these talented actors!
Read MoreThe last show in our 2017 Season is, of course, our annual Christmas Show. This year we have a show that will tug at your heartstrings with a story that is both nostalgic and new! You won't want to miss A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas at the Yorkshire Playhouse this December.
Read MoreUp next in our 2017 Season--it's a mystery! This fall at the Yorkshire Playhouse, watch a noisy, cleaning lady solve the case....if she can find the body! Ready more about the show, in this delightful post written by Mitch Roush.
Read MoreThe weather outside might be frightful now, but summer will be here before you know it. And what would summer be without a little romantic comedy? In 2017, the Yorkshire Playhouse is bringing you the classic romantic comedy that started the genre and still holds its own today! Intrigued? Read Mitch's blog post and join us for the Yorkshire Playhouse's production of The Importance of Being Earnest.
Read MoreCongratulations to the Cast of The Madwoman of Chaillot! Let the madness begin!
Read More"Circle Mirror Transformation"--the second show in our 2017 Season is a fascinating and fun play about the relationships within a small group of actors as they explore who they are and what they mean to each other. You won't want to miss this poignant comedy!
Click here to get your 2017 Membership today!
Read MoreThe Yorkshire Playhouse is excited about our 2017 Season, and we think you will be, too! This year we've put together a series of blog posts to introduce each of the magnificent shows in our season. We hope, as you read a little about each show, you'll begin to be as excited as we are!
Don't forget Memberships for the 2017 Season are available!
Read MoreIt started in high school when “A Christmas Story” Director Matt Spencer and his wife, Holly, met and shared a love for the theater and each other. They will be married 20 years next May. About this time three years ago, Matt’s job as an Environmental Engineer moved their family of seven to York. Both Matt and Holly got involved with Yorkshire Playhouse when Holly was cast in “Nunsense II.” It rekindled their love of working with theater productions, helping out in the community, and they made lots of new friends in a new town.
“God Spell” back in high school was Matt’s first time at directing. Since coming to York he played a duel role in “Leaving Iowa” as Joe Hosfinger, the crazy farmer, and a motel clerk. He assistant directed and played a soldier in the production of “The Mouse That Roared.”
Earlier this year, Matt submitted Philip Grecian’s “A Christmas Story” as the holiday play. The movie came out in 1983 when Matt was seven or eight years old. He says he remembers the feeling of wanting a certain gift so badly, as Ralphie does in the movie. Rather than a gun, Matt was wishing for GI Joe action figures like his older brother had. Matt feels like most people have seen the movie and relate to the classic story. “Everyone loves this movie.” He watched the movie with his cast, he wanted them to get a feel for their character but not imitate the characters. Matt feels his cast members will bring their own talent and expression to the role they play.
When selecting his cast, of course Ralphie was critical. Matt found Ralphie in nine-year old Brody Booth, who not only looked a little like Ralphie, he brought the enthusiasm and talent the director was looking for. Brody has done some summer children’s theater, as well as being cast in last year’s “Miracle on 34th Street.”
The adult Ralphie, played by Jameson Trauger, narrates the play and explains a lot of young Ralphie’s feelings and emotions to the audience. Matt says he loves working with both children and adults. He explained that “with an adult, if they need to be sad, you just say, act sad. With children you often have to take them to a memory or scenario that will bring them the feeling." Matt says rehearsals have been great--lots of laughter and fun every time.
Matt explained that the play and the movie have the same classic scenes and flow. However, in the play, Ralphie has a love interest that eventually leads him to feel girls aren’t so bad.
“I am excited for everyone to see the show, everyone will leave with a smile on their face, it’s been great.” We are excited for Matt, as he makes his debut as a director of “A Christmas Story” at the Yorkshire Playhouse.
Written by: Mary Alley
In the picture on the left is Matt Spencer and son Jett Spencer in "The Mouse that Roared" and to the right Jameson Trauger and Brody Booth (grown and young Ralphie).
When you become a member of the Yorkshire Playhouse you save on regular season shows and choose your seats BEFORE the general public! Season memberships are an awesome value and your ticket admissions are flexible and can be used in any combination throughout the season.
Our members also save on any additional tickets purchased all year. Family or friends visiting in town during a show night? No problem! Additional tickets for ANY show are only $12.50 each, a locked-in savings of $2.50 on EVERY additional seat you purchase when you have a season membership.
Want to save EVEN more money? Purchase your Yorkshire Playhouse membership before December 31, 2016, and your final ticket cost is only $10 each!
Memberships make wonderful gifts, that continue giving all year long! A gift of live theater can’t be beat! Give your friends and family a night out five times in a year with a gift membership in their name.
Our Yorkshire Playhouse is 100% staffed and run by volunteers. Seasonal Memberships and Box Office tickets sales only partially support the Yorkshire Playhouse. Please consider giving an additional tax deductible donation to our Theater. Playhouse supporters receive special recognition in our programs each season.
Corporate sponsorships are also available for the 2017 season. Your business will receive 20 Playhouse tickets, and an ongoing ad in all our programs. For more information about corporate giving, please contact us at yorktheater@gmail.com for details.
We are a volunteer organization. Volunteers are the heart of the Yorkshire Playhouse, and we welcome the creative energy that makes our theater thrive. Join us and become a volunteer! Box office workers, ushers, performers, costumers, carpenters, painters and stage crews are all critical volunteer activities. Sign up to volunteer at www.yorkshireplayhouse.com/volunteer.
President: C. Danielle Deal
Dear Yorkshire Playhouse Members:
The year is coming to a close, and so is another season at the Yorkshire Playhouse. In 2016, our community of actors, directors, and volunteers strove to bring to life five stories on our stage. And what a season it’s been! It started with a comedy about a little nation with a big problem and is about to end with a story of a little boy with a big dream. (Don’t miss the last show of the 2016 season, A Christmas Story performing December 6-11!) As this season comes to an end, we are preparing to begin another.
The Yorkshire Playhouse is proud to announce our 2017 season. This year we will continue to bring to life stories that we believe will touch your heart and tickle your funny bone. Once again we are producing five shows, including our ever popular Christmas show in the season. We are excited to get started, and we hope you’ll join us on our journey.
We’ll begin the season with a classic, The Madwoman of Chaillot. Tired of all the political rhetoric after this election? Come watch a rather strange woman and her crazy bunch of friends put on trial the devious, greedy businessmen and politicians, making the world a better place with a little love and kindness—and a whole heaping scoop of madness.
Next, meet Marty, a woman who just wants to bring a little art to her community in the form of an Acting Class. Meet her husband, a recent divorced carpenter, a former actress, and the awkward high school student who join the class expecting to have a little fun and learn about acting. Watch as the silly games they play reveal truths about themselves and their relationships with each other. You won’t want to miss the award winning show with a funny name—Circle, Mirror, Transformation.
It’s one of the most famous comedies of all time for a reason. This summer Yorkshire Playhouse will be performing The Importance of Being Earnest! Never has mistaken identity been more humorous (or intentional) as two men battle for love and a name, than in this comedy of errors. Ah, the wit—the eloquence—the charm—the confusion? And which one is Earnest?
She’s a very good cleaning lady; she’s an even better detective. If only the dead body would stay where she left it, she might actually be able to convince the police. Will The Busybody stumble onto the evidence and solve the case before the killer gets away? Join us next fall to find out.
Who hasn’t curled up on a cold winter night with a story about Laura Ingalls Wilder? The Yorkshire Playhouse is proud to bring you a story of a Christmas with the Ingalls family that you may never have heard before. Join Laura as she learns the importance of family and how love endures even when life is difficult. Curl up with us at Christmas time and enjoy A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas!
We are thrilled about our new season, and we believe you will be too! Join us in 2017, as we strive to create art through live theatre! Purchase a membership to the Yorkshire Playhouse! Also, please, considering donating to the Yorkshire Playhouse. Donations help us keep the lights on, and without lights, it’s not much of a show!
Thank you!
C. Danielle Deal
President
Yorkshire Playhouse Board of Directors
