In its early years, the venerable 72-year-old Bucks County Playhouse was the theater where many shows played before heading to Broadway. Last year, it made headlines when management announced that it would close. Massive community efforts were unable to find funding to properly retrofit the aging playhouse.
Now, the Playhouse can say its theatrical angels have arrived. Broadway producer Jed Bernstein, the head of Playhouse Productions, says the theater, under new ownership, will present two professional productions this summer, as well as a Christmas show. The rest of the year the theater will offer community productions and special presentations.
The “angels” are Kevin and Sherri Daughterty of Doylestown, whose Bridge Street Foundation acquired the playhouse for about $2 million. They will also pay for the repairs and renovations needed to bring the venue up to code.
Annual memberships are now available at www.bcptheater.org. Annual memberships are $80 for individuals, $160 for families, and $500 for businesses. Members will get first chance at tickets for performances, plus discounts on tickets, parking, and concessions, and at area businesses.
Those of you who have enjoyed happy hours, live rock, dance parties, and the weekly acoustic showcase at KatMandu, the bar, restaurant, and club at 50 Riverview Plaza in Trenton, should definitely make a point to drop in on Thursday, January 26. “Last Party as KatManDu” marks the end of the club’s current concept. At midnight the club will screen a video teaser about its new concept and new restaurant, bar, nightclub, and banquet facility.
Joe Surdo, general manager, reached by phone on Monday, January 23, would not reveal one detail of the transformation, emphasizing they are doing this on purpose to create buzz, but he strongly encourages people to come to the January 26 party to learn more and to follow the club on Facebook.
“Shortly after the party, details will be revealed and built through marketing,” says Surdo. The campaign will include billboards, newspapers, and radio. Starting Thursday, visitors to the current website, www.katmandutrenton.com, will be redirected to the new website. “I think people are going to be really happy,” says Surdo.
