READY TO LAUNCH 50TH SEASON — From left, Crystal Sharma, Kelsey Ohler and Connie Wendel are all smiles after receiving their scripts from Director Diana Mendel, right, for “Four Old Broads,” which the Brooke Hills Playhouse will present May 28-30 and June 4-6 during what is the kickoff of its celebratory 50th anniversary year. Brooke Hills Playhouse is located in Brooke Hills Park, about 5 miles east of Wellsburg. On Fridays and Saturdays the show starts at 8 p.m. Box office opens at 7 p.m. On Sundays the show starts at 2 p.m., and the box office opens at 1 p.m. Ticket prices are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors (55 years and older) and students; and $8 for children. Season ticket holders from 2020 may use their remaining tickets for the 2021 season. Season tickets for the four shows of 2021 will be $36 for adults; $30 for seniors and students; and $24 for children. Checks should be made out to BCAC and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and mailed to P.O. Box 186, Wellsburg, WV 26070. Season tickets for 2021 also may be purchased at the box office. Reservations must be made in advance for all performances by calling or texting the playhouse at (304) 737-3344. -- Contributed

WELLSBURG — It’s a special year for the Brooke Hills Playhouse, and that’s cause for applause.

The playhouse is marking its 50th year and looks to observe that golden anniversary milestone with an underlying theme of celebration as the season’s four shows put the focus on laughter, ensuring “a good time for playhouse audiences.”

“We are so fortunate to be able to celebrate all season long,” commented Julia Barnhart, president of the Brooke County Arts Council, the playhouse’s nonprofit parent organization. “In addition to our four shows this season, we are hoping to provide a musical evening with some local bands on July 9. Then, on July 10, we hope to have as many alumni back as possible to enjoy an afternoon remembering the good times, followed by a slide show presentation and musical revue open to the public with mandatory reservations,” Barnhart explained.

Specifics about that will be publicized in the months to come, but first things first.

The season kicks off with “Four Old Broads” by Leslie Kimbell and will be presented May 28-30 and June 4-6.

Auditions were held April 10 for the play about four senior women — Beatrice, Eaddy, Imogene and Maude — who need a break from bingo and macrame and want to take a Sassy Senior Caribbean cruise. Unfortunately, things haven’t been very pleasant at Magnolia Place Assisted Living since nurse Pat Jones began working there. A mystery unfolds with laughter as the women attempt to outsmart her. Throw in a senior citizen beauty pageant, an old Elvis impersonator, a trashy makeover and a bizarre thigh exerciser incident, and such is the makings for a laugh-a-minute evening of theater.

Next up is “Murder at the Howard Johnson’s” by Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick. It runs June 18-20 and 25-27.

Is all fair in love? Even murder? That’s the question posed by this light and funny suspense comedy about a love triangle in a Howard Johnson Motor Inn. The play presents a love triangle involving a woman, her lover and her husband in three scenes. In the first scene, the wife and her lover plot to murder the husband. In the second scene, the wife and her husband are plotting to murder the lover. The third scene, meanwhile, has the husband and the lover plotting to murder the wife, but this attempt, like the others, fails.

The children’s show will be presented July 23-25 and 30-31, and Aug. 1.

“Tinker Bell” by Patrick Flynn is Tinker Bell’s side of the story. When all the fairies in Neverland start dying, Tinker Bell comes to London to find a friend. There she meets a young boy named Peter Pan who has just run away from his family so he can be a little boy forever and have fun. When Tink takes Peter to Neverland, all sorts of wonderful and amazing things happen — flowers grow, animals appear and pirates arrive. But as Peter brings more Lost Boys and the Darling children back to her island, Tink finds she doesn’t like sharing her friend with anyone else, especially that Wendy girl.

“This fresh and intensely theatrical adaptation of the classic story,” promotional material notes, “emphasizes play and fun as well as the complicated nature of friendship. A new, twinkling light shines on all the characters audiences love as J.M. Barrie’s story is reborn from this feisty fairy’s point of view.”

The final show, “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” by John Bishop, rounds out the season, running from Aug. 20-22 and 27-29.

The creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop, in which three chorus girls were murdered by the mysterious “Stage Door Slasher,” assemble for a backer’s audition of their new show at the Westchester estate of a wealthy producer, according to promotional material. The house is replete with sliding panels, secret passageways and a German maid, all of which figure diabolically in the comic mayhem that ensues when the infamous “Slasher” makes his reappearance and strikes again … and again.

On Fridays and Saturdays the shows start at 8 p.m. The box office opens at 7 p.m. On Sundays, the shows start at 2 p.m. with the box office opening at 1 p.m.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors (55 years and older) and students; and $8 for children. Season ticket holders from 2020 may use their remaining tickets for the 2021 season. Season tickets for the four shows of 2021 will be $36 for adults; $30 for seniors and students; and $24 for children. Checks should be made out to BCAC and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and mailed to P.O. Box 186, Wellsburg, WV 26070. Season tickets for 2021 also may be purchased at the box office. Reservations must be made in advance for all performances by calling or texting the Playhouse at (304) 737-3344.

Municipal Mutual Insurance Corp. is the 2021 season sponsor.

Brooke Hills Playhouse, located in Brooke Hills Park, about 5 miles east of Wellsburg, was founded by three West Liberty College students who had a passion for theater. The trio of original investors and incorporators were Shari Murphy, Bill Harper and John Hennen. There also was a founding company which included Bill and Shari Murphy Harper, John and Judy Porter Hennen, Al and Tommie Martin, Bill Nelson, Norma Stone, Rich Ferguson, Tom “T.C.” Cervone, Tom Pasinetti, Tom Aston and Rachel Dwaley, Mariana Hubbard, Mary K. Hervey DeGarmo, Heather Otto, Marlene Marston Bringardner, Larry Crofford, Janie Miller and Tom Ott in addition to numerous local actors and friends who helped to perform in and run the shows.

“There was a great deal of work to be accomplished since the location of the venue, a pre-Civil War apple barn, had to be transformed into a theater with a stage, seating for an audience, a workable kitchen, steps leading to a second floor, public restrooms and overall shaping up of the exterior as well as the interior,” explained Diana Mendel, treasurer of the Brooke County Arts Council who also has assumed the duties of public relations for the playhouse following the March 25 death of longtime supporter Charles Calabrese. Calabrese had served as vice president as well.

Aside from Barnhart and Mendel, the other Brooke County Arts Council officer is Walt Warren, secretary.

“So many people were involved in getting the playhouse started — we can never thank them enough,” Mendel noted. “Two of the original founders have since passed away, but we are looking forward to having Shari Murphy Coote, who now resides in Arkansas, return for the July celebration of the 50th season.”

The Brooke Hills Playhouse normally does five shows a season — two comedies, a musical, a children’s show (with children as the actors) and a farce or mystery.

“We have probably produced close to or slightly more than 300 shows,” Mendel estimated. “For many years, we also offered interactive mystery shows in which the audience guessed the murderer through the course of an evening and presented numerous programs for social clubs,” she noted.

The roster of productions through the years includes “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” the first show in 1971, “Barefoot in the Park,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Bus Stop,” “The Fantastics,” “Dial M for Murder,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “The Sound of Music,” “Sgt. Fenshaw of the Mounties,” “Godspell,” “The Music Man,” “Blithe Spirit,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” “The Rainmaker,” “On Golden Pond,” “They’re Playing Our Song,” “Annie,” “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “The Nerd,” “My Fair Lady,” “Cemetery Club,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Oklahoma!,” “Crimes of the Heart,” “The Haunting of Hill House,” “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” “Zombie Prom,” “The Mousetrap,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Outsiders,” “Chicago,” “Mamma Mia,” “The Full Monty” and “Charlotte’s Web.”

Anyone can participate in Brooke Hills Playhouse — on stage or behind the scenes.

“We are always in need of volunteers who are willing to clean, paint, run tech, act, choreograph, play piano, direct, help with concessions, stage manage and so on. You name it, and we can fit you in somewhere,” she said, adding that, “Our survival really depends on our volunteer participation.”

Interested parties can call or text the playhouse phone at (304) 737-3344 or contact Barnhart at (304) 670-1093 or Mendel at (304) 374-0711.

“We also have pages on Facebook under Brooke Hills Playhouse or Brooke County Arts Council,” she pointed out.

Mendel’s involvement in the playhouse dates back to 1983 when she landed the lead role in “Solid Gold Cadillac.”

“I just went to an audition, read from the script and got the part,” she said. “I was teaching language arts at that time at Beech Bottom Middle School and had written a play with dance numbers for my middle school students every year for the past several years. I suppose that small bit of theater at my middle school propelled me,” Mendel commented.

“I enjoy story telling; in fact, I am working on some memoirs and hope to get the courage to complete them and publish them at some point. I believe that theater and its themes reveal universal human truths that should be shared. These days, my joy doesn’t come from my own personal performances but rather from the smiles on the faces of our patrons. When they are happy, I am happy,” Mendel said.

Mendel has worn many hats in her years at the Playhouse.

“I started with acting, then I directed, became a member of the board, entertained in murder mysteries, choreographed musicals I directed, wrote a children’s show, ‘bf F?,’which was produced at the Playhouse, and I have written several murder mysteries performed by the Brooke Mystery Players,” she explained.

“Last year during COVID-19, I knew we had to have a 49th season or we couldn’t have a 50th season to celebrate this year, so I directed ‘The Red Velvet Cake War.’ We followed the guidelines provided by the Brooke County Health Department, ensured social distancing in our audience with mandatory masks, and voila. We had a season,” she continued.

“This year I am directing the first and last show of the season,” she said, noting most of her family is involved in the playhouse. “My daughter, Julie, is president, and she directs the children’s shows. My son, Chris, also has acted in shows I have directed, as have my grandchildren, Chelsey and Mason. Chelsey also is head of tech. You can often find her at the light and sound boards or as the director. And Mason helps build sets,” she said.

“Something must be ingrained in all of us to pursue this treasure we share and keep it going. Our tagline is: Brooke Hills Playhouse. Where the Magic continues. That’s our goal. I also am at the box office greeting patrons and selling tickets.”

The Save the Barn 2 campaign is an ongoing effort to pay utility bills and maintain the pre-Civil War apple barn that has been its home since 1972.

“Our goal is still to generate funds to have our electric system upgraded,” Mendel explained. “With estimates ranging from $25,000 and up, that goal remains a necessary one. We also have to maintain our barn structurally. Because of a loss of revenue from last year with only one show performed, our Save the Barn funds helped to pay our bills for utilities, insurance and our rehearsal and storage building. The Save the Barn project must continue if the playhouse is to survive. No donation is too small,” she said.

Anyone can make a contribution in any amount to “Save the Barn 2,” P.O. Box 186, Wellsburg WV 26070, writing “Save the Barn” on the memo line of a check or money order. Checks should be made out to the Brooke County Arts Council or BCAC.

“For many years, Brooke Hills Playhouse performed at the Brooke County Museum during our off seasons,” she said. “Close to a thousand or more people have been involved in some capacity. There is an alumni group on Facebook for anyone having anything to do at the Playhouse since its inception in 1972. To join the group at BCAC-Brooke Hills Playhouse Alumni, contact one of our officers to receive an invitation. Our intention here is to keep everyone updated on our celebration plans,” she said.

Those plans are incomplete but ongoing.

“We plan on celebrating with every show that is performed. We will be selling T-shirts and mementos, offering quizzes and prizes about Playhouse history and selling drawing tickets with gift baskets,” Mendel noted.

“Our major focus for alumni will be in July when we will hold an open mic night on July 9 for anyone who wants to perform, whether by song or instrument, comedy routine, improv group, whatever,” she said. Those interested can contact Barnhart at (304) 670-1093. “Love donations will get you a seat that evening,” she said.

There will be an alumni Meet and Greet at the Playhouse from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on July 10.

“Come on out and share your Playhouse memories with friends,” Mendel encouraged. Refreshments will be available.

“Later that evening, open to the public will be a historical revue of the playhouse with a slide show and commentary about prior shows and a musical revue of songs from musicals we have presented,” Mendel said. “We are hoping to offer a meal plus show ticket for that event and are contacting local restaurants to finalize that plan.”