The Pioneer Playhouse was built by Col. Eben C. Henson, who established the outdoor theater in 1950. Notable alumni actors include John Travolta, Lee Majors, then known as Harvey Yeary, and Jim Varney.[1] In 1962, Pioneer Playhouse became the first theater in the nation to be accorded the legal status of State Theater by act of Legislation.
Since Henson's death in 2004, the theater had been run by Henson's widow, Charlotte, as producer, and her daughter, Holly, who served as artistic director until her death in 2012. Robby Henson, Charlotte's son, directs at least one play at the theater every summer.
After Holly's death, her siblings, Robby and Heather, returned to the Playhouse full-time to help their mother run the business. Robby took on the role of artistic director, and Heather assumed the duties of managing director. Charlotte, who always selected the plays for each season, died in February 2024, just a few months prior to the start of the Playhouse's 75th Anniversary season.[2]
Productions
2020 (season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic)
Maybe Baby, It's You by Charlie Shanian and Shari Simpson
2019
Kong's Night Out by Jack Neary
Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders by Jeffrey Hatcher, based on the novel by Larry Millett
Breaking Up With Elvis by Robby Henson
Not Now Darling by Ray Cooney and John Chapman
Red, White and Tuna by Ed Howard, Joe Sears, and Jason Williams
2018
The Return of Tinker Doyle (sequel to 2013's Search for Tinker Doyle) by Elizabeth Orndorff
Drinking Habits 2: Caught in the Act by Tom Smith
Granted (sequel to Grounded and Guarded) by Holly Hepp-Galván and Robby Henson (adapted from the novel by Angela Correll)
Unnecessary Farce by Paul Slade Smith
Living on Love by Joe DiPietro
2017
Death by Darkness by Elizabeth Orndorff. The production was directed by Anthony Haigh.
Drinking Habits by Tom Smith
Guarded (sequel to 2015's Grounded) by Holly Hepp-Galván and Robby Henson (adapted from the novel by Angela Correll)
Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery by Ken Ludwig
Elvis Has Left the Building by V. Cate and Duke Ernsberger
2016
One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean
Mom's Gift by Phil Olson
Good Blues Tonight by Robby Henson
The Tell-Tale Farce by Don Zolidis
The Murder Room by Jack Sharkey
2015
One Slight Hitch by Lewis Black
La Bete (The Beast) by David Herson
Grounded by Chelsea Marcantel (adapted from the novel by Angela Correll)
Sherlock's Secret Life by Will Severin, Ed Lange
Boeing, Boeing! by Marc Camoletti, Beverley Cross, Francis Evans
