Fine Art: Playhouse in the Park

Acting, singing and dancing come together on stage at the Playhouse in the Park.

For over 50 years, the Playhouse in the Park has been entertaining Mobile with their performances. Danny Mollise is the director of Playhouse in the Park; he said the theatre has come a long way from when it began over 50 years ago. “In those 50 years, we’ve gone from very small, tiny theatre to the third largest community theatre in the state,” said Mollise.

According to the Playhouse in the Park’s charter, their mission is to “bring theatre and the creative arts to the community.” Through its charters mission it has reached thousands of children’s lives. And over its 50 year span, there have been many successful former students. Currently, one of their former students is on Broadway.

“We train kids from the ages of 5 to 25. We also have a dance program, music lessons, guitar and piano. And sometimes voice too,” said Mollise. However, the students learn more than just performance skills at the playhouse. “They learn to work together and a lot of responsibility,” said Mollise.

The Playhouse hosts four performances a year. Three of their performances are musicals with the other being a straight show. Many of Mobile’s best performances happen at the Playhouse in the Park, located right across from the Mobile Museum of Art.

Open auditions are held for the playhouse four times a year. According to Mollise, the auditions consist of singing, dancing and on occasion reading from the script. Rehearsals for each production begin between five and eight weeks prior to the first show. Rehearsals for each production occur up to three times a week from 6:00p.m. to 8:30p.m., with a dress rehearsal the day prior to the show's opening.

And over the past five years, the Playhouse team has been creating their own, original productions that are performed for half of the season for people to enjoy. There are numerous opportunities to be involved with the Playhouse in the Park; from lighting designers, costume designers and painting scenary.

Tickets for the Playhouse are available by calling the box office of the Playhouse or before each performance.

Playhouse in the Park

4851 Museum Drive

Mobile, Ala. 36608

Visit the link below for a schedule of the current season's schedule.

http://www.playhouseinthepark.org/current-season/current-season/current-season.html