Give today to preserve our theater!

Plays & Players remains one of the few venues in Philadelphia where rising actors, musicians, and comedians can perform for live audiences in an intimate, welcoming space. With your support, we continue our longstanding commitment to early-stage theater artists while offering affordable rentals to acclaimed companies such as 1812 Productions, Irish Heritage Theater, Don’t Tell Comedy, Crossroads, Fever Dream Repertory, Smokus Pocus, Pig Iron Theatre Company, and many more.

Looking ahead to 2026, we are planning exciting restoration and programming projects to strengthen our theater for the future. We cannot do this without you. Please consider making a donation today to help us preserve this vital space and keep creativity thriving in Philadelphia.

The past year's Completed Preservation & Restoration Projects

Dec 2024 - Installed 3 Phase power for the mainstage

Jan/Feb 2025 - Replaced old sinks and refinished drywall plasterwork in Mainstage Dressing Rooms. Repaired sprinkler and alarm systems.

March 2025 - Replaced ancient sewer pumps with modern equipment.

July 2025 - Staff patched and repainted our 3rd Floor piano room and library

November 2025 - Board members repaired 3rd Floor toilets, deep cleaned and re-caulked our cast and crew bathroom in our mainstage dressing rooms.

Upcoming Spring 2026

Patch & Paint Marquee

Embarking on a project to replace the mainstage deck.

This year, we’ve brought new energy to our stages and community:

Two staged readings — The Workhouse Ward by Lady Gregory and Love Letters by A.R. Gurney

The return of our beloved Spookeasy, featuring local performers

Added monthly craft nights and informal play readings for members

Three weekly ongoing live performance programs:

Your Sunday Best – open mic for emerging comics

Caked Up Comedy – testing ground for seasoned comedians

Going Acoustic – open mic for musicians

We can't do it without you! Please consider donating today!

Mission

As a coalition of theatre artists and enthusiasts, Plays & Players strives to provide intelligent, inclusive, and diverse plays that engage and entertain audiences, invest in local talent, and preserve its historic landmark home.

History of The Theater and Our Organization

Plays & Players Theatre is one of the oldest theaters in continuous use in the United States. It was designed and constructed in 1912 by famed Philadelphia architect Amos W. Barnes. Beginning as The Little Theatre, it has also been known as the Delancey Street Theatre and The Philadelphia Theatre before being known as Plays & Players Theatre.

Plays & Players began in 1911 as a social club devoted to expanding and developing new theater experiences for and by its membership. The first President, Maud Durbin Skinner, was the wife of the famed American actor Otis Skinner. The Plays & Players Theatre then called the “Little Theatre of Philadelphia,” opened its doors in 1913. The theatre was founded by Beulah E. Jay and her husband Edward G. Jay, Jr., with acquaintance F.H. Shelton in an effort to produce “American plays of ideas,” an underrepresented genre at the time. During its 112 years of performing, Plays & Players theater company has produced innumerable notable performances — some of the most noteworthy being the world premiere of the acclaimed Broadway play “Stalag 17” in 1949, and a childhood performance by actor Kevin Bacon in Member of the Wedding in 1974. The first season of Plays & Players included An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde and The Learned Ladies by Moliere, both still popular plays today.

In the 1960′s Plays & Players decided to grow from being a members-only club to an all-inclusive one and opened its productions to the entire community. In the 70′s, the Plays and Players Children’s Theater was added to its busy schedule. On March 14, 1973, Plays & Players Theatre was entered in the National Register of Historic Places. Over the twentieth century, Plays & Players expanded its repertoire beyond community theater to include workshops, classes and more. In 2011-2012, Plays & Players celebrated its 100th season of performances by local artists in Philadelphia.

Once an exclusive club, Plays & Players has grown into a professional theatre devoted to supporting established and emerging local artists in practicing and performing their craft. A historic company existing in a vibrant modern art scene, Plays & Players continues to change and grow while always keeping an eye on its rich and powerful past.

Plays and Players is registered with the PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations and is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID (EIN) 23-0979581.