LEDGE'S PLAYHOUSE
Spiritualists came to Grand Ledge in 1895 to hold summer camp meetings in the woods by
Sandstone Creek and the Grand River. About that year local carpenter John Rosenberger
built a large pavilion to hold lectures and séances. The large open structure was much like
the casino built on Third Island at about this time. The spiritualists used this camp for about
fifteen years. After 1910, the camp and pavilion were home to Free Methodists summer
meetings.
In 1919 the City bought the property and created Riverside Park. The pavilion saw many
uses, as a skating rink, dance hall, and general community meeting place. In 1943 it briefly
served as the site of a factory. In 1955 the Grand Ledge Improvement Association was
formed to find a new use for the building. A summer theater seemed the answer, and Dr
Gordon Horrod led the effort to convert the building into a summer theater. A new floor and
stage were built, and seating from the old Capital Theater in downtown Lansing was
installed.
In 1956 Ledge's Playhouse was born. Bill Slout from Vermontville, formed the
Slout Players when he came here to open the playhouse. The Slouts
left in 1961, and then the
theater was used by Harold Hanson and Lael Woodbury, from Utah,
for a few seasons.
In 1966 John Peakes and Richard Thomsen came to Grand Ledge and
formed Boarshead Theater. Boarshead used the summer theater until
1975 when they found a
permanent year-round home in Lansing. After sitting empty for several
years, Len Kluge and Bob Robinson formed the Spotlight Actors Workshop
in 1983. Spotlight provided local
summer theater to Grand Ledge until 2003. In 2006 the City leased
the theatre to Kevin Burnham and Tanya Canady-Burnham who formed
the Capital Theaterworks.
In 2000 Spotlight theatre became worried about the condition of the old pavilion
and turned to the community for help. The organization Spotlight
on the Spotlight was formed (now the Ledge's Playhouse Restoration Committee)
in partnership with the City, The Chamber of Commerce, Eaton Cty
Parks Department, and the Historical Society.
A fund raising campaign is underway to fund the structural, electrical, painting
and other
repairs needed for this historic building. Donations are gratefully
accepted. For more
information contact us or call Marilyn Smith at 517-627-5170.
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