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Antrim Playhouse has moved from Wesley Hills to Tappan. Photo by Jim Guarasci
After an eight-decade run in Wesley Hills, Antrim Playhouse is raising the curtain on its next chapter in Tappan.
Antrim, which bills itself as Rockland County’s oldest community theater group, has a new home in the historic Manse Barn. The company's opening night on Sept. 12 features the premiere of Hang On, by local playwright Rick Apicella.
The inaugural season includes favorites like Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park and the comedy-drama Steel Magnolias, newer shows like the musical Billy Elliot, the sardonic British comedy Blue/Orange.
The March 2022 production of the musical Falsettos was Antrim’s finale in the Spook Rock Road theater in Wesley Hills the company had called home since 1940.
By then the antiquated playhouse needed sound, electrical and lighting upgrades and had lost its steady income due to the COVID pandemic. The nonprofit company was approached to sell, and it made sense to relocate, said Jim Guarasci, Antrim’s president.
The Wesley Hills property was purchased by Rockland Gospel in July 2022 for $735,000, according to records. Guarasci said the new owners are with Foster Church in Chestnut Ridge.
The sale allowed Antrim to sign a long-term lease at the Manse Barn and invest in a yearlong renovation to add new lighting, sound, electrical and decorative upgrades, Guarasci said. The property is owned by the Reformed Church of Tappan.
“I’m ecstatic that we’re keeping community theater alive in Rockland County,” said Guarasci, who’s been with Antrim for two decades. "We're moving from one side of the county to the other, and they're both historic locations. We're merging the histories and we’re bringing theater for the new era."
The Manse Barn theater can accommodate 100 theatergoers with staggered floor seating that preserves sightlines, Guarasci said. Moveable seats allow Antrim to vary its productions, such as theater-in-the-round (as is the case for Blue/Orange) and a warming kitchen for off-site caterers to use for possible dinner theater.
Beyond theater, Antrim expects to present a varied slate of entertainment, including comedy nights, children’s events, live music, seasonal shows, and potentially Shakespeare on the lawn.
The playhouse’s location in the heart of Tappan is close to historic attractions and restaurants, offering theatergoers walkable options before or after productions.
The Manse Barn’s return to the spotlight is fitting: It housed the Tappan USO hall during World War II, with visiting celebrities entertaining troops stationed at nearby Camp Shanks.
Antrim's new seating and stage in the Manse Barn in Tappan. Photo by Jim GuarasciThe theater company was formed in 1936 by college students as the Antrim Players, named for Lake Antrim. Plays were presented at the Airmont School. In 1940, the group moved into the Wesley Hills building and adopted the name Antrim Playhouse.
Antrim has not left its history behind, Guarasci said, but rather in storage for the time being. A trove of memorabilia will someday come out from under wraps and be displayed.
In 1957, Antrim launched the career of Tyne Daly, who went on to co-star in the 1980s TV show Cagney & Lacey. Fred Gwynne (star of The Munsters in the 1960s), had a walk-on role in a 1947 production.
Visit antrimplayhouse.com for tickets and information.
Antrim's seating and stage at its former home in Wesley Hills. Photo by Jim GuarasciRobert Brum is a freelance journalist who writes about the Hudson Valley. Contact him and read his work at robertbrum.com.
