Playhouse Square invites guests to take a walk back in time and experience the performing arts center’s distinctive story from the 1920s through present day with a new exhibit made possible by a gift from Joyce and Bill Litzler to Advancing the Legacy, the Campaign for Playhouse Square.
The exhibit tells the story from the construction of five theaters in the early 1920s, decline and abandonment in the 1960s, rescue and rebirth in the 1970s and ‘80s, to the Playhouse Square of today, with 10 performance spaces, hundreds of events, educational programs, real estate services and a million guests each year. The exhibit is in the KeyBank Corridor connecting the Playhouse Square parking garage to the theaters.
Design by Karen Skunta & Company, 10 full-color, backlit panels make up the exhibit. “We designed this contemporary and engaging exhibit to be experienced quickly on the way to a performance. Viewers taking a closer look will be rewarded with a variety of memorabilia – from a vintage map, programs and tickets to short stories and fun facts that tell the fascinating history. Our goal was to capture Playhouse Square’s rich legacy and communicate the pride of the District today, while sharing the vision for the future as the centennial approaches,” explained Skunta.
The exhibit is accessible without a performance ticket during normal business hours and when there are performances in the theaters. Visit playhousesquare.org for a performance schedule.
“Advancing the Legacy, the Campaign for Playhouse Square,” led by chairs Thomas Adler, K.K. Sullivan and Daniel Walsh, is the largest philanthropic effort ever pursued by the organization. $90 million dollars has been raised toward the campaign goal of $100 million to date and its objectives are: capital improvements, endowment growth, neighborhood transformation, education programming and new productions.
More information about Advancing the Legacy, The Campaign for Playhouse Square is available at playhousesquare.org/legacy.