Weathervane Theatre History
1934
In 1934, William Chase, arts critic at The New York Times, began operating the Chase Barn Playhouse, a theater in an old 225-seat barn (circa 1860s) that went on to serve generations of theatergoers in New Hampshire. His niece, Lucy Chase Sparks, took over operations of the theatre after William’s passing in 1948.
Open staging (no proscenium) and a raked, moveable pie section combined with the intimacy of the space made for creative staging and an immediacy the eager audiences were drawn to.
Each summer, New York actors, singers, and dancers were imported to the Playhouse to delight North Country residents and vacationers. For decades, the rafters rang at the Chase Barn with noted performers from Broadway, the Met, and beyond. Chase family members and local folks served as staff and audiences flocked there from grand hotels and country roads until 1962 when the Chase went dark.
1966
Enter two young men with vision, energy, talent, and enthusiasm for northern New Hampshire . . . and the Weathervane Theatre was born.
Lucy Chase Sparks introduced them to the property on Route 3 that offered two conjoined antique barns just begging to be transformed into a new stage space.
Founded in 1966 by Gibbs Murray and the late Tom Haas, the Weathervane continued the tradition of live, professional summer entertainment in Whitefield that began at the Chase Barn Theatre (shown in photos now and then).
1968
Weathervane performs its first musical: Stop the World, I Want to Get Off
1969
1974
Weathervane creates a Cabaret Company that runs through the 1988 season. Performing two shows a night in rep, these original productions were written by Tom Haas.
1985
1991
Weathervane creates its intern program.
A tuition-based program it offered unparalleled performance, networking, training and professional mentoring for college-aged early career artists. In 2005 the Intern Program merges with the Patchwork Players (part of the Weathervane off and on since the 60’s), presenting theatre for youth programming throughout the North Country.
1997
Windsock Theatre Camp is created by Ali Lister, Nate Gilbert and Jacques Stewart to provide the fun of theatre and summer day camp all in one!
2000
2001
2002
A flurry of activity, a massive amount of fundraising, and a 37th Season that began on the borrowed stage space at the White Mountains Regional all culminated in the opening of the “new” Weathervane in August 2002.
With seating expanded to 250, sightlines cleared of crossbeams, more aisle space and then state-of-the-art equipment, the new home managed to recreate the signature staging and creative possibilities for which the Weathervane was known.
The old space, shored up for workshop use, still housed dressing rooms, major storage and work space, and the necessary accumulated inventory of the past decades. The ‘old barn’ was a major asset and continual reminder of the history of the Weathervane.
2011
But in October 2011, a devastating fire took down the original Weathervane with its valuable contents and space. Quick, professional work by the Whitefield Fire Department and departments from nine other towns limited the destruction to the public wing and stage right area of the directly adjacent ‘new’ Theatre.
All told, when the smoke cleared, the loss and damages would amount to over $1 million . . . only about a third covered by insurance.
2013
Once again, the Board and staff began to make replacement, repair, and rebuilding plans. While the insurance claims would begin to replace the “stuff” and fix the public/restroom wing, it was the value of that space that provided the greatest challenge.
In all the fire took literally thousands of square feet of work space, dressing room space, and production storage both for inventory and working our alternating schedule. All that, as well as repairs to the extant Theatre, had to be addressed if the Mainstage was to open for Season 47. And it did, with much fanfare, and with some additional work (the removal of scenic/costume outbuilding Birch Hill, for one thing; and the building of an entirely new workshop space) all completed by 2013.
Where We Are Now
After surviving a pandemic and garnering national attention in The New York Times, the Weathervane enters its diamond jubilee 60th season (June 25 – October 12).
Recent developments include outdoor programming (Picnic with Patchwork), free Shakespeare in the Park (North Country Shakes), livestream programming, holiday programming, and paying interns as opposed to a tuition based program.
Historic Production Photography at the Weathervane Theatre by Larry Presby, Paul Lister, and Mark Winter
Production History
1966
Mary, Mary • Never Too Late • The Glass Menagerie • Sunday in New York • Under Milkwood • The Knack • Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? • The Voice of the Turtle
1967
Any Wednesday • Luv • Barefoot in the Park • U.S.A. • The Private Ear and the Public Eye • A Thousand Clowns • The Miracle Worker • Ah, Wilderness! • The Subject Was Roses
1968
The Odd Couple • A Thurber Carnival • Black Comedy • Stop the World, I Want to Get Off • The Drunkard • A Delicate Balance • A Long Day’s Journey Into Night • The Star Spangled Girl
1969
The Beauty Part • The Fantasticks Camelot • Harvey • The Killing of Sister George • The Sound of Music • You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running
1970
Once Upon a Mattress • Guys and Dolls • Cactus Flower • Paint Your Wagon • Barefoot in the Park • The Skin of Our Teeth
1971
Love Games of the Gods • Plaza Suite • The Matchmaker • South Pacific • My Fair Lady • A Midsummer Night’s Dream • Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead • How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
1972
Cyrano de Bergerac • A Doll’s House • Man of La Mancha • Marat/Sade • Fiddler on the Roof • You Can’t Take It With You • The King and I • The Last of the Red Hot Lovers
1973
You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown • Our Town • The Most Happy Fella • The Threepenny Opera • Funny Girl • The Odd Couple • A Streetcar Named Desire • Cabaret • Forty Carats
1974
Godspell • Heartbreak House • Play It Again, Sam • Hello, Dolly! • Kiss Me, Kate • Romeo and Juliet • Dial M for Murder • Fiddler on the Roof • No, No, Nanette
1975
The Man Who Came to Dinner • The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes • Mame • Company • Brigadoon • Much Ado About Nothing • The Music Man • Private Lives
1976
Camelot • Bus Stop • Finian’s Rainbow • Sleuth • Oklahoma! • The Three Sisters • Twelfth Night • Promises, Promises
1977
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum • Dracula, Prince of Darkness • The Miracle Worker • My Fair Lady • A Shot in the Dark • Two for the Seesaw • Sweet Charity • Absurd Person Singular
1978
Charley’s Aunt • Blithe Spirit • A Midsummer Night’s Dream • Vanities • The Mouse Trap • Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead
1979
Man of La Mancha • Peter Pan • Guys and Dolls • A Thurber Carnival • South Pacific • Operetta, My Dear Watson
1980
Showboat • Deathtrap • Cabaret • Annie Get Your Gun • Brigadoon • Fiddler on the Roof
1981
Gypsy • Diamond Studs • Stop the World, I Want to Get Off • The Pajama Game • Ten Little Indians • The Sound of Music
1982
The King and I • Godspell • Murder on the Nile • Oliver! • Harvey • Cinderella
1983
Carousel • Annie • West Side Story • Murder Most Foul • My Fair Lady • Billy Bishop Goes to War • You Can’t Take It With You
1984
Camelot • Mass Appeal • Children of a Lesser God • The Mikado • Candide • Oklahoma! • They’re Playing Our Song • Tartuffe
1985
H.M.S. Pinafore • Greater Tuna • Crimes of the Heart • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat • Brigadoon • The Music Man • Candida • Guys and Dolls
1986
Finian’s Rainbow • Dracula • Painting Churches • On the Town • The School for Wives Beyond Therapy • Kiss Me, Kate
1987
Fiddler on the Roof • Amadeus • Anything Goes • Gigi • The Dining Room • Bye Bye Birdie • The Importance of Being Earnest
1988
The Mystery of Edwin Drood • Quilters • Evita • The Marriage of Bette and Boo • The Foreigner • The Boys from Syracuse • The Sound of Music
1989
A Chorus Line • Educating Rita • Wonderful Town • 42nd Street • Hair • The King and I • Biloxi Blues
1990
Man of La Mancha • Annie • Harvey • Billy Bishop Goes to War • Oklahoma! • Kismet • The Pirates of Penzance
1991
Can-Can • The Odd Couple • Nunsense • Peter Pan • Hello, Dolly! • Brigadoon • The 1940’s Radio Hour
1992
Annie Get Your Gun • Lend Me A Tenor • Our Town • Moose Capades • Cabaret • The Three Musketeers • South Pacific • Me and My Girl • Pump Boys and Dinettes
1993
Love Letters • The Boy Friend • Nunsense II • Corpse! • Guys and Dolls • The Music Man • The Miser • She Loves Me
1994
Classic Tales Songbook • Cabaret • Damn Yankees • It Runs In the Family • Hans Christian Andersen • Kiss Me, Kate • The Secret Garden • Ah, Wilderness! • West Side Story
1995
Once on This Island • Forever Plaid • You Can’t Take It With You • The Will Rogers Follies • Carousel • Out of Order • Phantom • Love Letters
1996
Greater Tuna • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat • The Fantasticks • Crazy for You • Camelot • Run for Your Wife • Jekyll and Hyde
1997
Children of Eden • Grease • Ain’t Misbehavin’ • Don’t Dress for Dinner • Twelfth Night/High Moon • Nunsense • Into the Woods
1998
1776 • Five Guys Named Moe • Sister Amnesia’s Country & Western Nunsense Jamboree • Move Over, Mrs. Markham • Little Shop of Horrors • The Crucible • La Cage aux Folles
1999
State Fair • I Do! I Do! • Perfect Wedding • Peter Pan • Sophisticated Ladies • Cold Storage • Evita
2000
Chicago • Swingtime Canteen • The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [abridged] • One for the Pot • Once on This Island • Fiddler on the Roof • The King and I
2001
The Music Man • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat • The Complete History of America [abridged] • I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change • Rumors • Cabaret • Floyd Collins
2002
Titanic • Smokey Joe’s Cafe • Baby Art • Parade • Not Now, Darling • Jesus Christ Superstar
2003
Footloose • The Sound of Music • The Bible: The Complete Word of God [abridged] • Side Show • Noises Off • Ragtime • It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues
2004
Gypsy • Caught in the Net • Rock, Rhythm ’n’ Soul • Big River • Bat Boy • Proof • The Wiz
2005
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast • Why Not Stay for Breakfast? • Aida • All That Jazz! • Hit the Road, Jack! • Cash on Delivery • West Side Story
2006
Annie • Harvey • Jump ’n’ Jive! • My Fair Lady • Tom, Dick & Harry • A Man of No Importance • Miss Saigon
2007
Peter Pan • Country Cookin’ • The Woman in Black • Guys and Dolls • The Full Monty • The Philadelphia Story • Evita
2008
Babes in Arms • Motor City • Revue • Picasso at the Lapin Agile • All the Great Books [abridged] • Oklahoma! • Violet • Rent
2009
Hairspray • Ain’t Misbehavin’ • Doubt, A Parable • The Producers • Curtains • Blithe Spirit • Sweeney Todd
2010
Bye Bye Birdie • Table Manners • Twist & Shout: A Beatles Songbook • South Pacific • Hair • The Three Musketeer • Ragtime
2011
Legally Blonde • Race • Swing Set: A WWII Musical Scrapbook • The Music Man • Boeing-Boeing • The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee • La Cage aux Folles
2012
9 to 5 • Sylvia • Moose Capades • Kiss Me, Kate • Moon Over Buffalo Avenue Q • Young Frankenstein
2013
Annie Get Your Gun • Les Miserables • Funny Money • Circle Mirror Transformation • Sing a Song of Sondheim • Shrek • Once on This Island
2014
Annie • The 39 Steps • Cotton Club • Mary Poppins • God of Carnage • Next to Normal • Memphis
2015
Fiddler on the Roof • Smokey Joe’s Cafe • Oleanna • Into the Woods • Lend Me a Tenor • The Full Monty • Floyd Collins
2016
Mamma Mia! • Driving Miss Daisy • Meet the Beatles • The King and I • The Wiz • To Kill a Mockingbird • Peter and the Starcatcher
2017
Hairspray • The Dining Room • The Last Five Years • Gypsy • Seussical™ • Inherit the Wind • West Side Story
2018
Disney’s The Little Mermaid • The Foreigner • Always…Patsy Cline • Chicago • OurTown • Monty Python’s Spamalot • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2019
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas • Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks • Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill • Spring Awakening in Concert • The Drowsy Chaperone • Bright Star • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time • Sister Act
2020
Nice Work If You Can Get It • Speech and Debate • Heathers: The Musical • Broadway Road Trip • Brush Up Your Shakespeare • Top of the Charts • Little Shop of Horrors • The World Goes ‘Round • Miracle on South Division Street
2021
Buyer & Cellar • Green Day’s American Idiot • Hello, Dolly! • Disaster! • Kinky Boots • Amadeus • The Addams Family • Pippin • The Mountaintop • Always…Patsy Cline • She Loves Me
2022
Million Dollar Quartet • Eurydice • The Marvelous Wonderettes • A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder • Jesus Christ Superstar • A Class Act • Blood Brothers • Intimate Apparel • A Chorus Line
2023
Jersey Boys • Stones in His Pockets • Honky Tonk Laundry • Meteor Shower • Dirty Rotten Scoundrels • A Midsummer Night’s Dream • Mamma Mia! • Guys and Dolls • Primary • Who’s Holiday! • Winter Wonderettes
2024
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical • The Wedding Singer • What the Constitution Means to Me • Skeleton Crew • The Story Goes On: The Songs of Maltby & Shire • Everybody’s Talking About Jamie • The Full Monty • Clue • Romeo & Juliet • Cabaret • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe • Who’s Holiday! • A North Country Christmas