Scenes from theatrical productions at Oyster Mill Playhouse

In 1976, a group of theater lovers joined together to combine talents, passion and drive to found the Metropolitan Repertory Company, Inc. The cadre of ambitious performers knew it would take a tremendous amount of work, but they and their supporters were up to the task.

The group performed anywhere they could find both space and an audience before renting the Fellowship Hall in the Faith United Church of Christ in New Cumberland. That, however, was not without its challenges.

“We could only rehearse on nights when the church didn’t have something going, and, when they rehearsed on Sundays, they had to strip the entire seating area to turn it back into a church setting,” said Stephen Jahn, former board member and season subscriber.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and the little cadre of actors, yearning for a space to call their own, launched a capital campaign.

“We tried raising money any way we could, including holding bake sales and organizing flea markets,” Jahn said. “We did it, and our ticketholders were very generous.”

By 1988, the wheels were set in motion to purchase the Oyster Mill in Camp Hill, which, at the time, was being used to store plumbing supplies. Originally a grist mill (Eyster Mill), the building had also served as a general store and dance hall. After renovations, the theater, which seats 91, opened to the public, and audiences were soon enjoying a production of “Barefoot in the Park.”

Unfortunately, work on what became a beloved community theater is never really done. Flooding wreaked havoc in 1996 and, more recently, the HVAC system was replaced.

“Once again, people responded, and we managed to come up with the $85,000 to replace it, thanks to some very generous donations,” said Matt Golden, board member.

Then came COVID, which shuttered the doors from March 2020 to November 2021. Once again, the theater bounced back.

“People really missed us,” Golden said. “So, we had a robust return and have sold out every show over the past year.”

Magical

Those not familiar with what goes on behind the scenes aren’t always aware of the amount of work it takes to keep a little theater going—from selecting six shows a year (with a cast of 10 or fewer due to limited space), to running social media, putting together a newsletter named “Encore,” designing the set, attracting performers, holding auditions and so much more. Considering that none of these tasks are paid, it’s a wonder that the theater runs as well as it does.

Anne Marino said that professionalism is what initially attracted her as a performer and has kept her coming back for about a decade now.

“There’s an expectation on the part of the actors that we will do our top-level best,” she said.

Golden said that he keeps returning because of the people.

“You get pulled in,” he said. “Three years ago, I came here once, and they tapped me to play a part. Two years later, I’m in 10 shows.”

Marino agreed.

“The relationships are magical,” she said.

Board president Michael Hosler performs on stage, and, as director, is also responsible for envisioning the set.

“It’s a great place to perform, and there’s a high level of dedication from all who participate,” he said.

The organization, he said, truly values its volunteers.

“They’re especially important when you’re building a set, which is a big undertaking,” he said.

According to Hosler, the most popular plays include comedies, musicals and dramas.

“We tend to lean heavily into comedy and mystery, which sells the best for us,” he said.

Jahn said that it’s easy to understand why people continue to come back and give so graciously of their time.

“In my opinion, Oyster Mill is a family,” he said. “When you grow up in a theater, you get new aunts, moms, secondary and even tertiary father figures. You make a lot of friends.”

With such dedicated volunteers, the theater is certain to last another 48 years, continuing to entertain the residents of the region.

“Our goal is to continue our hard work and level of professionalism to put on great productions for many years to come,” Hosler said.

Oyster Mill Playhouse is located at 1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill. For more information and tickets, visit www.oystermillplayhouse.com.

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