In 1960, Playcrafters Theatre Company was founded with a mission to promote theatrical arts and the productions of plays by non-professionals in the community. Today we are one of the oldest not-for-profit community theatre groups on Long Island. Since our inception, we have strived to present the very best amateur theatre and have encouraged interest and participation in the performing arts. Year after year, we provide an outlet for local talent as well as reasonably priced productions to ours and neighboring communities.
Playcrafters has served the immediate communities of Long Island's mid-South Shore (e.g., Bellport, North Bellport, Brookhaven, East Patchogue, Patchogue, Yaphank, Mastic, Shirley, Moriches) for over 55 years. Due to the quality of our productions, we have enjoyed continued support from our local communities, as well as the greater Long Island area.
Playcrafters is the only community theatre group in our area, providing a unique opportunity for non-professional participants both on and off the stage. We utilize people from within and outside our group as performers, directors, backstage and technical help. We receive a great deal of support from our community by way of advertising, and use of various community facilities etc. In 2012, Playcrafters Theatre Company received a proposal from the Boys & Girls Club of the Bellport Area, offering to partner with them in a joint effort. In exchange for granting Playcrafters access to their multi-purpose room, the Boys & Girls Club of the Bellport Area would receive our expertise and resources in converting the space into a viable theatre for the performing arts. In accepting this proposal, we addressed some of our most urgent needs, as well as providing something we have longed for during much of our history - a proper home to call our own.
We provide entertainment and education to a broad spectrum of demographics. Our audiences, as well as our volunteers working on various productions, come from diverse backgrounds, including individuals of various ages, gender, and economic and educational levels. The communities we serve are multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-generational in makeup. We offer discounted admission to students, senior citizens and special interest groups.
In 1965, in honor of one of our founding members and to further promote theatre arts in our community, the Margaret W. Smith Memorial Scholarship was established to provide awards to graduating seniors of the Bellport High School who demonstrate an interest in the performing arts. To date, we have awarded over $53,000.
Over the past few years, Playcrafters Theatre Company expanded its yearly scheduled programming to three main stage productions in addition to our Reader's theatre, Cabaret performances and fundraisers.
