Antrim History

Uproarious, clever, charming, spell binding, moving, provocative, mesmerizing, delightful…

A pride and joy of Rockland County, our not-for-profit gem has been bringing acclaimed plays and musicals every year since 1936. We also put on special events, cabaret shows and original plays by local playwrights. We have on-site parking, are handicap accessible and offer reasonably priced tickets. Refreshments are served in our comfortable lounge. The box office opens 30 minutes before curtain. We have general seating so it is recommended that you arrive as close to box office opening time as possible to give you the widest selection of seats.

Our history goes back to 1936

The Antrim Players was founded in 1936 by a small group of college students home for the summer and unable to find jobs in those hard times. They followed the usual amateur group pattern – rehearsals in basements and parlors, performances given in school auditoriums. Plays continued to be produced even in the WW2 years. In the 1940’s, launching a new phase, the Players rented the Playhouse and it has been their home ever since, as the organization has grown and developed. In 1953, the owners decided to sell but offered first option to the Players before advertising the property.

Ambitious though it was for a small non-profit group, by dint of hard work and by selling long-term bonds, the large down payment was raised within three months. The Playhouse was secured and the present era of Antrim history began. Since then, the facilities have gradually improved under the prudent leadership. Comfortable seats and various physical assets have been installed for the convenience and pleasure of members and box office patrons, making it the attractive place it is today. In 1979, when the Playhouse was chosen by a TV company for filming scenes for an NBC movie, the producer (son of playwright Philip Barry) described it as “a little gem of a theater.”

We are thankful for our volunteers, some of whom have been quite famous

Our theater is completely run by dedicated volunteers who are serious about the arts. Through the years, Antrim has been the starting rung for many talented people who have gone on to professional theater, television and big screen success. Our stage has been graced by Helen Hayes, Fred Gwynne, Henny Youngman, Burl Ives, Tyne Daly, Hugh McPhillips, Christine Andreas, Rene Auberjonais, Milton Berle and many others. We invite people to join us as actors, producers, directors, lighting and sound technicians and performers. All our income comes from play receipts, donations and subscriptions for the season.

The Antrim Playhouse is perfect for fundraising

Are you looking for fundraising that is simple and profitable? Rent our theater for our Main Stage Productions and raise money for your organization. Rent our theater for a flat rate and you decide on the ticket price. Increase your profit by holding raffles, auctions, etc.