About
The Huntington Playhouse was established in 1958 and sits on the site of John Huntington's carriage house. It started as a small summer theater and grew into a place with a 240-seat auditorium. The Playhouse had its last season in 2015. In the summer of 2017 BAYarts began working to clean out the venue. The goal of BAYarts is to renovate the former Playhouse, so it can be used on the Arts campus for classrooms and events.
BAYarts classes sell out quicker than you can say “Hamilton tickets.” That’s why we’re adding more CLASSROOMS, MAKERS space, MUSIC rooms, a STAGE and SCREEN for YEAR-ROUND entertainment highlighting northeast Ohio’s diverse cultural offerings. YOU can PLAY A PART! Include BAYarts in your yearly giving by going to www.bayarts.net/donate/options to help us meet our goals.
Naming Rights & Donating
To achieve the vision of transforming the former Huntington Playhouse into the new Center for Arts & Culture, we are asking our closest friends to support this project, especially those who were pivotal in the 2005 renovation of BAYarts. Nearly 70 years since its inception, we have the opportunity now to complete the transformation of the BAYarts campus, bringing its fullest potential to the community.
To donate, please visit: www.bayarts.net/donate/options
-
Updates
Dec 17th, 2019 - Warm-up at BAYarts this Winter - Westlake/Bay Village Observer
March 5th, 2019 - Devon Gess and Father fund Music Rooms at BAYarts - Westlake/Bay Village Observer
Jan 8th, 2019 - The first class in the Playhouse Hearth Room is Spirit Dolls with Janet Wade. Classroom now open and used for ongoing classes.
Dec 19th, 2018 - BAYarts' Future: Why it will take a village - Westlake/Bay Village Observer
Dec 1st, 2018 - Phase One is near completion in one month. - Facebook update
Nov 2018 - Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond, The Middle) has been named the Playhouse Campaign Honorary Chair
Aug 21st, 2018 - Noted Cleveland architect to design BAYarts expansion in Bay Village - Sun News
Aug 13t, 2018h - Naming rights will help transform BAYarts' expansion of the old Huntington Playhouse - Sun News
July 28th, 2018 - Phase I begins.
May 2018 - BAYarts updates community on former Playhouse - Westlake-Bay Village Observer
May 2018 - BAYarts hosts a Playhouse progress meeting, open to the community.
April 2018 - Encore! event fundraiser
March 2018 - BAYarts granted $100k for Playhouse from state budget - Westlake-Bay Village Observer
February 2018 - Patricia Heaton and David Hunt donate $50,000 as seed money. Read about that here.
January 2018 - Bay Men's Club helps the final clean-up of materials, taken to Savers.
November 2017 - Donations made to City Mission.
August 2017 - Playhouse Liquidation Sale
August 2017 - Press: BAYarts Takes on the Playhouse - Westlake-Bay Village Observer
July 17, 2017 - Clean-up begins on interior prop pieces.
