Old barn in New Hope will be new space for performing arts at Bucks County Playhouse
One of the oldest barns in New Hope got a new name and a renewed purpose this month at Bucks County Playhouse.
Bucks County Playhouse Producing Director Alexander Fraser said the old Parry Barn will help expand the arts center's campus as an intimate venue for cabaret performances, setting the stage for a fusion of history and artistic revival.
The space will now be known as the Bill Harris and Jay Manas Playhouse Barn in honor of their donation, one of the Playhouse's largest individual gifts to date. The funding will support the the barn's renovation as well as programming from cabaret to classical music, officials said.
The Playhouse celebrated the rededication Oct. 19 with a cabaret performance by Broadway's Ashley Blanchet accompanied by Bob Egan, who is known for his years at Odette’s in New Hope. Blanchet will star in 'Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,' this holiday season at the Playhouse.
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What is the Parry Barn at Bucks County Playhouse
The Bucks County Playhouse Parry Barn is a historic stone building in New Hope.
Built around 1790, it was once part of the Parry family property, situated between the Parry Mansion and the Bucks County Playhouse. Over time, it served various purposes, including housing horses and supporting the New Hope Historical Society.
Recently, the barn underwent a significant transformation, reopening as the Bill Harris and Jay Manas Playhouse Barn. This rededication symbolizes a commitment to preserving history and creating a space for cultural and artistic events, including cabaret, spoken word, classical music, and education programs, enriching the local community's cultural life, officials said.
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How the Bucks County Playhouse envisions the barn's future
The gift from the Manas Trust is one of the largest individual donations received by Bucks County Playhouse. It will support the renovation of the barn and pave the way for future programming and initiatives.
The renovated barn will house an intimate performance space that will host cabaret series, spoken word and poetry events, classical music performances, and more, featuring established and emerging artists, officials said.
Additionally, the space will offer flexible-use areas for educational programs, a patron lounge, and exhibits from the Playhouse and New Hope Historical Society archives, according to a news release. The barn also will be available for business meetings, private dinners, weddings, and rehearsal dinners.
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Coming to the Bucks County Playhouse this holiday season
The rededication ceremony featured Blanchet, a Broadway star known for her roles in "Frozen," "Beautiful," "Annie," and "Memphis." She will soon grace the Bucks County Playhouse stage as Betty in "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" that runs from Nov. 17 to Dec. 31. Accompanied by Egan, the creator of the Cabaret of Odette's, a famed New Hope nightclub, the performance added a personal touch to the historic occasion, officials said.
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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Historic Parry Barn rededicated at Bucks County Playhouse
