Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, recently launched new outdoor Courtyard Cabarets, which feature a variety of young, talented artists who have previously appeared at the Playhouse. The 30-minute shows, which are free of charge, are held every Saturday and Sunday through the summer, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Different shows will be presented each weekend, and will include a mix of traditional and contemporary musical theater and popular classics.
Guests can sit at the tables in the Courtyard and enjoy food from the takeout menu from The Deck Restaurant and Bar at Bucks County Playhouse, or the brand-new, full-service Gazebo Bar that offers a menu of mixed cocktails, wine and beer.
“We’re excited about these shows taking place all summer long,” said Patrice Soriero, director of Courtyard Cabarets. “Each week we will have a new show to keep it interesting and fun for our guests.”
“Safety is our number one concern, and our guests love this new way to connect without making direct contact,” added Jeremy Ehlinger, associate producer for the Playhouse. “Each performer is completely socially distanced from each other, as well as from the audience.”
Sisters Sierra Safran, 17, and Anna Shea Safran, 15, have performed in several productions at the Playhouse and have been featured in the inaugural Courtyard Cabarets.
“It’s pretty awesome to have this experience. Everyone’s been stuck indoors. It feels normal for us to perform and we’re so glad to have the chance to do it at a place we love,” said Sierra.
“It’s great to perform in daylight,” added Anna Shea. “We can actually see everyone’s faces and connect with them. The audiences get very involved.”
There are several options for enjoying the entertainment by adding food and drink to the experience, either before or after a meal at The Deck Restaurant and Bar, which has resumed dining-in restaurant operations, or with drinks from the Courtyard Bar. The Deck, which has garage-sized windows that roll up, has been approved by the county to host a limited number of socially distanced diners in-doors. There’s additional seating in the Playhouse’s Courtyard and river deck.
Although the Playhouse has not been open since March, it has been active in creating digital content. Word of Mouth Live and the Playhouse Virtual Variety Show play alternating Sundays, at 7 p.m., on the Bucks County Playhouse website, YouTube channel and Facebook page. Recent special guests have included NPR’s Ophira Eisenberg, Broadway stars Julie Halston, Marilu Henner, John Tartaglia, Ben Fankhauser and others. The Playhouse is currently working on returning to live performances on its stage and details will be announced shortly.
Visit buckscountyplayhouse.org and playhousedeck.com for more information.
