Weathervane Theatre - About Us

Weathervane Theatre -- About Us

THE WEATHERVANE THEATRE offers live, professional theatre experiences to countless audiences, introducing children -- and adults -- to a consistently high level of classic and contemporary live theatre productions.

Continuing a tradition established in 1934 with Whitefield's Chase Barn Playhouse, the Weathervane offered their first performance season in 1966.
Co-founded by Tom Haas and Gibbs Murray, the Weathervane Theatre Players, Inc. is now a not-for-profit  (501c-3) corporation served by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Located on Route 3 in Whitefield, New Hampshire, the Weathervane is perfectly poised in the scenic and recreational North Country where the Great North Woods meet the White Mountains.

 

In addition to the Theatre proper, the facilities include workshops, residence home, and office/rehearsal space all within a three-mile radius in Whitefield.  Nearby, the Mountain View Grand offers a destination resort, and the Village of Whitefield boasts a bed-and-breakfast, art gallery, restaurants and more . . . Five miles to the north is Lancaster, a busy retail district with a small-town flavor; and ten miles west is Littleton, one of America's Ten Best, and is a growing major retail and economic development community.  Links to area Chambers of Commerce may be found on our Community Page.

 

 

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MISSION STATEMENT

The Weathervane Theatre Players through imaginative productions
of contemporary and classical musicals and plays seeks to present live theatre
as a cultural resource to the North Country of New Hampshire.

Holding, as its animating principle, that it is through theatrical entertainment that audiences are moved to embrace material that will enrich their lives, the Weathervane seeks to provide an opportunity for local performers to work onstage with professional actors to serve as a training place and conduit to theatre art for the youth of the North Country

In addition, the Weathervane's specially designed subscription ticketing policies along with senior citizen and children's discounts provides access and exposure to theatre as a performing art for these divergent segments of society.

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Programming includes:

- Mainstage professional alternating repertory of seven major productions anchored by a resident AEA (Actors' Equity Association) performance company.

- Children's Theatre productions by the Patchwork Players, who offer hour-long renditions of family classics geared toward the 2 to 12 year old population.  Performances are held weekly at the Weathervane, and offsite at various locations throughout the summer.

- Accredited Intern Program, tuitioned, for college-age students.  Not only are the Interns responsible for the Patchwork Players, but they also appear in or work backstage in Mainstage productions, attending classes and apprenticing in all areas of theatrecraft.  College credit is available through their own institution, or in partnership with Lyndon State College in VT; they may also enroll in the AEA Member Candidacy Program and earn points toward their professional membership.

- Windsock Theatre Day Camp offers three weeks and three levels of experience for ages 8 through high school, staffed by professionals including some members of the performance company.

- opportunities for Community Players participation on and offstage

- a place for budding talents and experienced professional actors to 'stretch' in our signature - and unique - alternating repertory schedule that offers a different show almost each night, six nights a week.

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Weathervane's Mission is shepherded by a Board of Directors 
Officers
Dan Salomon, president
Wendy Joseffy, vice-president
Joan LeBaron, secretary
David Kenney, treasurer

Directors
Richard Alberini  -  Mell Brooks  -   George (Kit) Carter   -   Mary Jane Chase
Lore Moran Dodge   -   Mary Doherty  -  Vicki Gunderson  -  David LeBaron
 Sara Martineau   -    Ed Shanshala  -  John Wissler
Gibbs Murray, co-founder

Our fiscal year, like most NH not-for-profits, runs from September 30 through October 1.  Information sessions are held for prospective Board members.

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STAFFING includes a permanent staff who share many years experience at the Weathervane, as well as professional achievement in related fields.

GIBBS MURRAY, co-founder, continues to offer guidance as Producing Director and the artistic force behind all things Weathervane:  from graphic art renderings to set design and everything in between. 

RICHARD J. PORTNER, Managing Director, has been a working partner of Gibbs' since 1968; his vision and breadth of experience have offered direction onstage and off, and he continues to oversee all Theatre operations throughout the year. 

JACQUES STEWART, Artistic Director, came to the Weathervane in 1985 as an actor . . . adding choreography, direction, and casting skills to a long association that placed him as successor to the late Tom Haas.  

LYN O. WINTER, Marketing Director, began working with the Theatre in 1990 or so, bringing career experience in journalism, print and graphics production skills and business management to ongoing marketing and public relations responsibilities throughout the year.

Our SUMMER COMPANY numbers an average of 55 individuals:  actors, technicians, office and production staffers who come together for the summer Season.  Among them, at least a third call New Hampshire home, and more than half of them have been with the Theatre for 4 or more years, assuring ease of working relationships and solid grounding to welcome each summer's newcomers.

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A commemorative history of the Weathervane was published to celebrate the Fortieth Anniversary Season in 2005.  Nights of Northern Lights, the handsome, hardbound and thoroughly researched book was published by the Weathervane Theatre Alumni Association, a growing not-for-profit organization founded by and peopled by hundreds of professional and former performers and staffers of the Theatre.

Visit their site, learn more about their work and the book at www.wvalum.org