THE HISTORY OF SUMMER STOCK
Originating back in the 19th century in New England, American summer stock theater, also called "straw-hat theater," began when a Maine entrepreneur began staging plays in a former skating rink during the off-season for professional theaters (the summer months).* The idea was to provide young unknown actors the opportunity to perform with experienced professional actors, in plays that were Broadway hits in past seasons or new plays being tested for the Broadway stage.
These productions were called "summer stock" because they reused "stock" costumes, props and scenery from resident theater companies.
Summer stock shows provided good, inexpensive entertainment for vacationing city dwellers staying in the New England resort towns. Today, there are more than 300 summer theaters in the United States, including tents, outdoor stages, permanent indoor stages, and showboats.**
Performers such as Ginger Rogers, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Angela Lansbury, Bob Hope, Bernadette Peters, Zero Mostel, Ann Miller, Tommy Tune, Ethel Barrymore, and Debbie Reynolds all performed in summer stock theater. Even William Shatner performed in summer stock in 1969 after the cancellation of Star Trek.
*Information from the New England Historical Society, "The New England Summer Theater — Six of the Oldest."
**Information from Encyclopedia Britannica, "Summer theatre."
Our 2020-2021 season is sponsored by Alan and Susan Becker
First Folio's programs are sponsored in part by grants from the Illinois Arts Council (a State agency) and the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation.
First Folio Theatre is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
All performances take place on the grounds of the Mayslake Peabody Estate, which is owned and operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. Indoor shows are presented in Mayslake Hall, a 30-room Tudor Revival style mansion originally built by coal baron Francis S. Peabody. Completed in 1922, the mansion is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
First Folio Theatre is fully accessible with reserved ADA seating available and assisted listening devices available for all indoor performances. To request ADA seating, please contact the Box Office at 630-986-8067.