Winni Playhouse aims to become New England's premier theater destination

The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, started by four young theater professionals six years ago, has grown from an unknown entity to an award-winning, year-round source of culture and entertainment that often sells out its shows.

As significant as that growth has been, it is dwarfed by the next phase of growth for the non-profit organization, a phase which it has already begun and which, if plans are realized, will transform the playhouse from a regional gem to a theater destination unlike anything else in New England if not beyond.

However, to achieve that vision, the Winnipesaukee Playhouse will have to capture the imagination of local donors as they seek to raise the $2.5-million needed to transform the former Annalee Dolls campus into a home for a premier theater campus.

The 2009 summer season for the playhouse saw more than 4,000 people attend a production. However, they could have seated many more people, said founder and Executive Director Bryan Halperin, who estimated that more than 300 potential theatre goers were turned away in August alone last year.

"When you turn someone away, you don't know when they'll try again," Halperin said, wondering if some of those 300 would-be audience members could have turned into actors, season ticket subscribers or sponsors of the playhouse if they had gotten a ticket.

The small, intimate, 84-seat venue developed in the Aspen Rose mall, located at the Weirs, was an ideal place for a young theater company, one with the unique combination of professional productions as well as community and children's plays, to establish a relationship with its community and supporters. In six short years, though, it's clear the Winnipesaukee Playhouse has outgrown its nursery.

That's why the organization couldn't turn down the opportunity to purchase a cluster of buildings on Reservoir Road in Meredith. The site includes 13 acres of land, about half of which is wooded and wetlands. Sitting on the land is seven buildings representing far more space than the playhouse's first home and space allowing for a more expansive program than any other theater program that comes to mind.

The founding foursome behind the playhouse aims to create a theater campus that will attract lovers of the art from all ages, from locales near and far and to engage them in a number of ways.

"I don't think there's any place within the United States... that really takes a look at a campus kind of project," said Van McLeod, the state's Commissioner of Cultural Resources. McLeod yesterday said he's been impressed by the playhouse's founders — Neil and Lesley Pankhurst, Johanna and Bryan Halperin — and how they possessed the combination of traits needed to pull off such a successful arts enterprise.

"Vision, audacity, a why-not attitude," said McLeod, are what pushed the playhouse's plan forward even during a time of historic economic uncertainty.

And push forward they have. Plans for the development of the campus are divided into three phases and will cost a total of $4-million.

The funding for the first phase, $1-million, is already in place. That includes the installation of exterior lighting, the laying of water and sewer lines, grading and re-paving of driveways and parking areas, the conversion of some of the buildings on campus into staff housing and the construction of an outdoor amphitheater. Work is well underway and expected to be completed by the end of this summer.

Phase two of the project is the bulk of the deal. In this stage, which will cost $2.5-million, the former Annalee Gift Shop building will be converted into the "Mainstage Theatre" with a seating capacity of up to 250 seats. The building will also boast private dressing rooms, storage space and offices, a large lobby with a concessions area and an outdoor deck.

Although $2.5-million is a daunting figure for a non-profit organization, the playhouse has received a jump-start thanks to Paul and Sharon Steinwachs of Moultonborough, who have pledged $1-million in matching funds. Once the work for phase two is complete, the playhouse's performances will take place at the Meredith campus.

The third phase, with a price tag of $500,000, will convert the former Annalee Doll Museum into a "black box" style theatre with seating for about 80 audience members.

Once all the work is done, organizers hope to have a performing arts campus that enhances the rustic, summer camp-like atmosphere of the campus, with a picnic table added to the existing covered bridge and nature trails. The campus will host the existing professional and community productions as well as its summer camps and workshops for children and adults. They also would like to add programs, such as discussions with directors, and make the facility available to community groups which would like to host an event there.

Bryan Halperin said the campus will allow them to "be more creative in the way we bring people together through the performing arts." He also suspected that the new accommodations for professional actors, traveling to perform there during the summer, will enable them to attract a higher quality of talent than those who would settle for lesser lodging.

"It's just amazing what having more space can add to your programs," said Bryan.

Johanna Halperin said the transition will mean a new scale of operations for the organization. "It's a quantum leap. It's really the next logical step. We started in a storefront, we've outgrown that space," she said, adding, "We want to be a destination."

Their excitement was shared by Steve Richmond, a long-time supporter and frequent cast member. "I can't wait to be the first to buy a ticket for opening night," he said.