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The Barn Theatre

42°19′31″N 85°22′22″W / 42.32535°N 85.37275°W / 42.32535; -85.37275 The Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, Kalamazoo County, United States is one of the oldest summer stock theatres in the United States[1] and the oldest one in Michigan.[2][3] It also houses The Barn Theatre School.

The barn theatre is just off the State Highway 96 by Augusta.[2]


The theatre originated in 1946 when Jack Ragotzy, Betty Ebert and others formed the Village Players troupe. After playing several seasons in a community hall in a former Methodist church (in Richland[2]), in 1949 Jack and Betty moved a dairy barn, which was converted into a theatre and was purchased by them in 1954.[4] It was incorporated as "The Barn Theatre" in 1949.[2][3] In 1951 it became an Equity theatre.[2]


Its first show was the Finian's Rainbow musical.[5]

[6]

Dana Delany

[6] was an apprentice in The Barn[7]

Marin Mazzie

began his professional career at The Barn; he premiered his musical Revelation there in 1976[8]

Michael Reno

[6]

Tom Wopat

was a performer, choreographer and a producer at The Barn since 1955 for over 23 years.[9][10]

Wayne Lamb

A number of notable performers made appearances at The Barn, including:


The Barn Theatre School lists the following persons, in addition to the above ones, in their "Wall of Fame": John Newton, Adrienne Barbeau, Becky Ann Baker, Lauren Graham, Jonathan Larson, Robert Newman, and Jennifer Garner.[11]