On Saturday, Bucks County Playhouse will herald the arrival of spring with the unveiling of upgrades to its New Hope riverfront campus with a free “Boat Concert” at noon on the Delaware.
The community is invited to the festivities, which includes music by singer Andrew Polec, outdoor (and socially distanced) drinking and dining, and a chance to view the upgrades. These include a new seasonal menu at The Deck, tweaks to the Courtyard Bar and new landscape lighting.
“The Playhouse has the most beautiful outdoor setting in the heart of New Hope, and we have used the winter months to make enhancements to our outdoor spaces,” said producing director Alexander Fraser. “We want to create a welcoming atmosphere for guests that not only represents an aesthetic upgrade, but also provides better safety and visibility. We want to thank the community, especially our donors, for their extraordinary support over the past year making our reopening possible.”
Among the aesthetic upgrades are new up-lighting on the historic sycamore tree in the courtyard, additional pathway illumination in the flower beds along the Playhouse and enhanced directional path lighting heading from the parking lot toward the river promenade. Additional lights were added in the riverbed area below The Deck Restaurant, creating an illuminated canopy of trees at nighttime. Architectural lighting was also installed near the waterfall and the Aquetong Creek.
As part of the Boat Concert, the Playhouse will highlight upgrades to its outdoor speakers along the promenade and under the restaurant. This will provide for a better listening experience for the concert, as well as subtle ambient music during restaurant hours.
Bucks County native Polec, who starred in the national tour of the musical Bat Out of Hell and whose parents still reside in Doylestown, will christen the Playhouse’s new Boat Concerts. He will sing a free 45-minute set that patrons can view, socially distanced, on the river promenade and lawn.
“Andrew is a powerhouse singer, immensely talented who can sing anything,” said Fraser. “When he appeared in our Halloween concert last year he absolutely blew the roof off the Playhouse.”
Thanks to a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Playhouse will soon embark on upgrading its architectural lighting on the building. More details will be announced soon.
In addition to the lighting upgrades, the Playhouse has made subtle enhancements to its Courtyard Bar, installing a new draft system dedicated to regional craft beers (e.g. Troegs, Yards, Riverhorse, Brooklyn Brewing and Cape May Brewing). The Courtyard Bar will offer a full-service bar with beer, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic refreshments. It will accept walk-ins.
“As we begin to emerge, May 1 marks the start of a season where we can safely gather, be entertained and celebrate the beauty of our community,” said Fraser. “We look forward to welcoming patrons back to our campus and our theater. This is just the beginning.”
Visit BucksCountyPlayhouse.org or call 215-862-2121 for more information.
