The Vineyard Playhouse is the only year round professional theater on Martha's Vineyard. We are dedicated to the collaboration among professional and community theater artists, and produce classic, contemporary and original work. Our historic theater is located in the center of downtown Vineyard Haven. We also produce Shakespeare, children's shows and mythical adaptations outdoors in the Tisbury Amphitheater overlooking Lake Tashmoo.
History:
The Historic Vineyard Playhouse was built in 1833 on pasture land donated by Captain William Daggett. The building was originally constructed for $2,000 and was dedicated on July 11, 1833 as the Methodist Meeting House and used as such until 1854.
The town of Tisbury held town meetings here between the years of 1852-1854. In 1855,the building was bought by Captains Richard Luce and Charles Smith for use as a public meeting house named Capawock Hall. At this time, the structure was raised from one to two stories in order to accommodate a market on the first floor.
The first Episcopal church service on Martha's Vineyard was held there on December 24, 1862. The hall was also utilized for weddings and community suppers.
After losing their own building in Tisbury's great fire of 1893, the Masons bought Capawock Hall in 1895 at the request of Captains Daniel Worth and Gilbert Smith. The building was purchased for "a considerable sum" and the two captains were instrumental in having it remodeled. A quote from that time said, "The interior is finished throughout with southern yellow pine bead board and [it] is one of the best suburban lodges in the state."
The building was used as a Masonic Lodge until 1982, when Eileen Wilson and Isabella Blake founded the Vineyard Playhouse Company, Inc., a small professional non-profit theater which found it's home in the old lodge.
The company purchased it's home in March of 1993. Plans are being developed and fundraising continues to completely renovate this historic building and grounds so that The Vineyard Playhouse can continue its role as one of Tisbury's cultural and architectural gems for future generations.
