Published June 02, 2007 07:38 am - Rabbit Run Theater Enough colorful history and artistic excellence to fill a barn By ELLEN KOLMAN ekolman@lagpublications.com As "Juliet" said in Shakespeare's timeless play, "What's in a name?" Rabbit Run Theater located in a Madison Township barn, ...
Rabbit Run Theater Enough colorful history and artistic excellence to fill a barn
Star Beacon
By ELLEN KOLMAN
ekolman@lagpublications.com
As "Juliet" said in Shakespeare's timeless play, "What's in a name?"
Rabbit Run Theater located in a Madison Township barn, is named after - - well - - rabbits.
"The original farm grew broccoli and it attracted so many rabbits they actually beat down paths throughout the farm. Years after the broccoli farm was gone and the barn was converted into a theater, rabbits still roamed the property. So, the theater was dubbed Rabbit Run," says Karen Ziegler, publicist for Rabbit Run Community Arts Association.
A rustic 19th Century barn on the outside, Rabbit Run is a 300-seat theater with an orchestra pit and new light board and sound equipment. It's close proximity to Lake Erie adds to the charm and ambiance; lake breezes flow through the open barn doors, keeping Rabbit Run patrons comfortable sans air conditioning.
Ice houses from the original farm have been transformed into a green room and box office. Other amenities include restrooms, concession stand, gift shop and picnic area.
"We treasure our audiences and are constantly working on renovation and restoration to make sure our patrons are comfortable," says Brint Learned, executive director of the Rabbit Run Community Arts Association.
In 1946, a newly returned World War II veteran, Will Klump, along with his sister, Rooney, converted the family barn into a theater. Rabbit Run officially opened July 3, 1946.
"The theater was a big hit right away, it was packed out every week," Ziegler says. "In the 1940s and '50s summer stock barn theaters were very popular. There were about 300 of them across the country."
During that time, Madison reveled in it's peak as a summer resort town.
As the summer tourist population's thirst for shows increased, Rabbit Run miraculously kept up with the demand by completing a new show every week, nine shows in it's first sell-out season.
"It was a common occurrence for shows on their way to Broadway to test out their appeal at summer stock theaters," says Ziegler.
One such show, "The Fourposter," featuring the real-life married couple, Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, was a huge hit at Rabbit Run in 1952, which led to it's successful run on Broadway.
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