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PRESERVATION PROJECT >> OVERVIEW PENNSYLVANIA OHIO OTHER
WORK CONTACT >> |
For years, the Kenley Players billed themselves as
"America's most exciting summer theatre."
At their peak, when they played nightly to SRO
audiences in three Ohio cities, they were probably
right. From 1940 to 1995, in towns and cities across Pennsylvania and Ohio, the company presented over 500 productions, most of which were headlined by stars of stage and screen. Information provided here is generally organized by location and without a lot of bells and whistles. A season was rarely the same across the Kenley circuit, so, for example, ticket holders in Warren, Ohio, did not necessarily always have access to the same shows that Kenley produced in Columbus. The 1967 season was the only time in which all three Kenley cities presented the same headliners and shows. Consider this history of the Kenley Players a work in progress. With nearly 50 seasons of shows to research, there are still some mysteries to solve. For example: Where were the Kenley Players in 1954? Hopefully someone will have the answer!
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"There is a man who knows how to get people into the theatre - and in show business, that's Trick 1. After they are past the ticket takers, he knows how to entertain them. And that's the only other thing you need to know. The man is John Kenley." ~ Dorothy Kilgallen, 1964
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PHOTO:
Paul Lynde in The Impossible
Years (Akron, 1978). |
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