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Theater in-the-round |
Richmond Hill Players started as a dream of a half dozen people in 1968 when they staged a single production, Molière’s "The Miser." The group converted the top floor of an old dairy barn to fit their needs and has never looked back. The recently renovated Barn now seats 165 per performance in a rare and unique in-the-round environment beneath the original, rustic timbers.
Approximately 150 active members are involved on and off-stage each year. Actors, directors, backstage personnel, support staffs, and audience are drawn from a 60-mile radius that includes cities in Illinois and Iowa.
Currently, the Players stage all six productions at the Barn in a season running from February through October. RHP prides itself in presenting a wide variety of comedies, dramas, and thrillers that local audiences might not otherwise have the opportunity to see. The group strives to stretch both audiences and participants, seldom hesitating to schedule productions that present casting or technical challenges.
* indicates Dinner Theater performances which you can read more about at right.
past productions |
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2007
Arsenic & Old LaceDeath Takes a HolidayKing 'O The MoonA Few Good MenArcadiaCalifornia SuiteThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever | 2006
The Sunshine BoysCliffhangerPerfect WeddingProofBad Year for TomatoesCat on a Hot Tin Roof | 2005
Romance In DThe Good DoctorYou Can't Take It with YouAnother Part of the ForestOver the TavernBad Seed | 2004
Driving Miss DaisyBreaking LegsThe Desk SetInvitation to a MarchPack of LiesSteel Magnolias | 2003
The Odd Couple (female)ShadowlandsOn Golden PondBertha, The Beautiful Typewriter GirlGetting & SpendingMoon Over Buffalo | 2002
RumorsThe Unexpected GuestScapinFatal AttractionAll Because of AgathaPicasso at the Lapin Agile | 2001
*The Hand That Cradles the RockDearly DepartedBloody JackDancing at LughnasaThe Cemetary ClubPlay It Again, Sam | 2000
*Don't Drink The WaterOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestAll in the TimingTo Kill a MockingbirdThe Man with the Plastic Sandwich*Sylvia | 1999
*It's a ScreamMoon Over the BreweryOrdinary PeopleDon't Mention My NameClose Ties*Beau Jest | 1998
*CahootsDeathtrapDream LoverLost in YonkersTake a Number, Darling*Under Papa's Picture | 1997
*Lunch HourA Month of SundaysRainbow Bar & GrillBrighton Beach MemoirsThe Foreigner*Lie, Cheat & Genuflect | 1996
*Do Not DisturbI'll Be Back Before MidnightHarveyThe Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon MarigoldsSecond Time Around*1940's Radio Hour | 1995
*Lend Me A TenorAllocating AnneDiary of Anne FrankSquabblesRavenscroft*The Farnsdale Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's | 1994
*Lily, the Felon's DaughterToo Soon for DaisiesAlone TogetherLet It RainCrimes of the Heart*Who's On First | 1993
*Natalie Needs A NightieLuxury CruiseBulldog and the BearDone to DeathBlythe Spirit*Vice as in Versa | 1992
*Big Bad MouseArsenic & Old LaceCheaper by the DozenMr. RobertsThe Odd Couple*Last of the Red Hot Lovers | 1991
*Captains OutrageousThe Whales of AugustA Gentleman & A ScoundrelTwigsWitness for the Prosecution*Love, Sex and the IRS | 1990
*Lovers LeapThe Mind with the Dirty ManThe Murder RoomThe RainmakerMiddle of the Night*Don't Tell Mother | 1989
*1940's Radio HourI'm Not RappaportPlay OnOur TownPar for the Corpse*The Nerd | 1988
*The Creature Creeps*The Hand That Rocks the CradleThe Prisoner of Second AvenueThe Savage DilemnaBus StopDominique*Saving Grace | 1987
Horowitz & Mrs. WashingtonTwelve Angry MenMerton of the MoviesMurder Once RemovedThe Sunshine Boys*Natalie Needs a Nightie*More Than Meets the Eye*Last of the Red Hot Lovers | 1986
If A Man AnswersHonestly! NowRebeccaAh! Wilderness | 1985
Under Papa's PictureDeath Of A SalesmanCharley's AuntTribute | 1984
*Star-Spangled Girl*Egad - The Woman In White*The FantasticksA Wind Between The HousesThe Butler Did ItI Was Dancing | 1983
*Lily, the Felon's Daughter*A Roarin' 20's ReviewCheaper by the DozenThe Burning ManThe Absence of a Cello*A Bad Year for Tomatoes*A Bowl Full of Jelly | 1982
Gramercy GhostThe Odd CoupleThe Little Foxes | 1981
TartuffleMr. RobertsOn Golden Pond | 1980
Play It Again, SamMy Three AngelsCatch Me If You Can | 1979
I Never Sang For My FatherThe Curious SavageLadies In Retirement | 1978
Up A TreeSend Me No FlowersPicnic | 1977
Separate TablesCome Blow Your HornSolid Gold Cadillac | 1976
Plaza SuiteHere Lies Jeremy TroyAh! Wilderness | 1975
Barefoot In The ParkBlack Comedy & The Public EyeRock-A-Bye Daddy | 1974
Arsenic & Old LaceButterflies Are FreeThe Impossible Years | 1973
The MousetrapDon't Drink The WaterPool's Paradise | 1972
Life With FatherWait Until DarkThe Odd Couple | 1971
See How They RunYou Can't Take It With YouNever Too Late | 1970
SurpriseBell, Book & CandleJenny Kissed Me | 1969
Everybody Loves OpalSpiral StaircaseThe Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker | 1968
The Miser | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In 1982 Richmond Hill Players began augmenting the regular season at the Barn with dinner theater productions at The King's Table Restaurant in Geneseo. This successful collaboration provided a venue for the production of numerous comedies, melodramas and mysteries.
When The King's Table was destroyed by fire in 1988, dinner theater went looking for a new home. A handful of shows were produced in varied locations, including the Geneseo Country Club, Moose Lodge and Legion Hall, as well as the Moline Holiday Inn. Ultimately, dinner theater settled into twice yearly performances in the conference rooms at The Deck Restaurant and Motel in Geneseo.
In 2001, owners of the The Deck announced their decision to sell it and several other commercial properties. With the long-term future of the restaurant in question, RHP extended the season at the Barn from May to October as a temporary measure and forged ahead with long-planned renovations to make the Barn a year-round facility. "The Hand That Cradles the Rock" was the group's final dinner theater presentation in spring 2001.
Richmond Hill Players |