In 1981, Greg Wanless returned home from a number of successful seasons at Stratford with the dream of reestablishing a theatre in Gananoque. For a short time, from 1967-1968, Gananoque had been home to the St. Lawrence Summer Playhouse, located in a tent in the parking lot of the Blinkbonnie Hotel. The theatre was extremely popular with locals and tourists alike, featuring a mix of Broadway music
als and American and British comedies. But despite its success, it was soon moved to Kingston where it continued running until 1976. Greg’s desire to bring theatre back to Gananoque was met with considerable support from the community, which had deeply missed the activity and excitement generated by the previous Playhouse. Under Greg’s leadership, and with the help of the community and a close group of artists and actors, the Thousand Islands Playhouse presented its first show on June 25, 1982. The local Rotary Club sold the Gananoque Canoe Club to the Playhouse, community members donated money to renovate the building, and tradespeople generously gave of their time and expertise. That first season it was not unusual to come across a local businessman working alongside an actor building a deck, or a plumber teaching people how to install a toilet. Community members often dropped by after work to check on the progress of the building, and hosted dinners for hungry performers or production staff. After such passionate community involvement in the theatre’s beginnings, it seemed natural that the Playhouse’s mission statement include an acknowledgment of our commitment to community life. Thirty years later, the Playhouse remains an important part of life in Gananoque and our commitment to the community continues to guide our artistic vision.
