Our Theatre
The Players and the Plays
Since our founding in April of 1947, The Village Players of Hatboro has sought to present dramatic and similar creative works to the world in order to engage and develop interest in drama as a vehicle of education as well as entertainment.
We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization made up entirely of volunteers from the surrounding communities.
Our members, actors, directors, and staff are a diverse group with varied ages, occupations, and skills, all directed toward one thing: making good theatre, and having fun while doing it.
More Information
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1918: Christian and Sarah Tanner build two cow barns, one of which will later be renovated and become the building which the Players now call home.
April 1947: After the success of a play put on as a fundraiser for the Junior Neighbors, a local women’s club, a member of the club, Helen Cornell, suggests they start a theatre group. Thus, The Village Players was born.
May 1947: With the backing of the local American Legion, VPH officially debuts with the production “The Late Christopher Bean" by Emlyn Williams and Sidney Howard.
August 1950: Hatboro High School merges with Horsham High School, resulting in crowded conditions that mean the Players are denied use of the high school auditorium. The theatre troupe moves to a town hall building owned by the Ivyland Fire Company.
November 1953: The Village Players of Hatboro is officially incorporated.
September 1957: The Players purchase the old Tanner family dairy farm from the Union Club of Philadelphia.
June 1959: VPH ratifies its first By-Laws and Stated Policy documents.
1996: The Village Players of Hatboro celebrate their 50th Season!
Summer 2015: With the help of generous donors and supporters, VPH is able to upgrade their seats, adding an additional 10 spots in the front row for patrons with wheelchairs and their companions.
July 2018: Again with the kindness of many benefactors, VPH is able to replace their aging roof, adding solar-powered exhaust fans to help keep the theatre cooler and reduce their carbon footprint.
March 2020: For the first time in VPH history, an entire show is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming season is also cancelled, and VPH remains closed until October 2021.
2022: The Village Players of Hatboro celebrate their 75th season and unveil their redesigned logo.
2023: VPH unveils its revamped website.
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As a theatre, we recognize the critical role that diversity serves in helping our theatre and community thrive and we accept our responsibility to make a positive impact through our work, our practices, and our policies. We are committed to sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable space where everyone who walks through our doors feels valued and respected. We pledge to continuously work with our board members, artists, staff and audiences, both on stage and in our community, to address any barriers to diversity and to foster and ensure an inclusive, welcoming space for all.
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The Village Players of Hatboro honors the following individuals who contributed so much to our theatre:
Carl “Coz” Baldwin. (1980-2022) On July 25, 2022, the Village Players lost a longtime member. Coz was a dedicated volunteer of the theatre over the past decade and appeared in several productions upon the VPH stage, including Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grille, I Didn’t Do It, and 12 Angry Jurors. In addition to his acting, Coz previously served on the Board of Governors as Production Chair and Business Manager, and was the VPH Webmaster for over 10 years. Rest easy, friend.
Joseph “Jay” Owens. (1943-2015) A lifelong member of the Village Players in the truest sense, Jay was our last remaining link to the founding days of our theatre troupe and his memory will live on for another lifetime. Jay’s face was always the first one you’d see upon entering the theatre. Have a happy-face day!
Richard “Dick” Devine. (1922-2005) It is with a heavy heart, we announce the passing of our friend and fellow actor, Dick Devine. He will be missed. Since 1998, Dick has been an audience favorite and good friend of the theatre. Over the past few years, he appeared in ten shows at The Village Players of Hatboro. No matter how large or small the role, Dick always made a memorable appearance. In “Barefoot in The Park”, he was on stage for about three minutes and had no dialogue. He played an out of breath messenger. He got the biggest laughs of the show. On stage, Dick was that rarest of actors: a gifted comic. He always got laughs. Big laughs. He managed to put his own stamp of each character he played. Off stage he was that rarest of people: a gentle, decent, sweet man. Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Dick’s story is that he auditioned for the first time in his life at the age of 72! He got the part.
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