{{Short description|Theater in North Carolina, United States}} thumb|Flat Rock Playhouse is the state theatre of North Carolina '''Flat Rock Playhouse '''is a professional, non-profit theatre located in the village of Flat Rock, NC known for quality productions of popular musicals, comedies, and dramas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitnc.com/listing/flat-rock-playhouse-the-state-theatre-of-north-carolina |title=Flat Rock Playhouse, The State Theatre of North Carolina |publisher=North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development |work=Visitnc.com |date= |access-date=2013-08-15 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> In 1961, the theatre was named the State Theatre of North Carolina by the North Carolina General Assembly.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=February 6, 2011 |title=Flat Rock Playhouse: A History |url=http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20110206/articles/102061002?p=2&tc=pg |access-date=2013-08-15 |work=BlueRidgeNow.com |publisher=The Times-News |location=Hendersonville, NC}}</ref>
== History == In 1937, under the direction of Robroy Farquhar, a group of actors in New York City organized themselves as the Vagabond Players and read plays for performance. In 1939, the troupe performed in Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania, for the summer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Staff reports |first= |title=Flat Rock Playhouse: A History |url=https://www.blueridgenow.com/story/news/2011/02/06/flat-rock-playhouse-a-history/28261373007/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=Hendersonville Times-News |language=en-US}}</ref>
Farquhar came to Hendersonville, N.C., in 1940 and discovered a 150-year-old grist mill at Highland Lake Camp. He opened a playhouse inside the former mill for the summer.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> After the group's 1941 season, Farquhar was drafted into the U.S. Army for World War II<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Hove |first=Scott |date=2017-01-09 |title=How Flat Rock Playhouse Came to Be |url=https://thelaurelofasheville.com/arts/performing-arts/flat-rock-playhouse-came/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=The Laurel of Asheville |language=en-US}}</ref> and the theatre business was put on hold.<ref name=":1" />
Following the war, in 1946, the troupe took up residence in nearby Tuxedo and opened a playhouse at Lake Summit for a series of 10 plays in 10 weeks over the summer.<ref name=":1" /> In 1952, the group moved to an 8-acre area of land in Flat Rock, where the theatre is currently located.<ref name=":0" /> A big-top tent was rented for use as a venue; the property was purchased in 1956 and a theatre was built that year.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Times-News |first=Bill Moss and Licia Gaut-Correll, (Hendersonville, N.C.) |title=Flat Rock turns 50 The famed playhouse has come a long way since 1952, when actors once performed under a tent Flat Rock Playhouse highly regarded nationwide |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2002/06/09/turns-famed-playhouse-since-actors-performed-under-flat-rock-playhouse-highly-regarded-nationwide/29644476007/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=Spartanburg Herald Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 1962, "The World of Carl Sandburg" premiered at Flat Rock Playhouse before moving to Broadway.<ref name=":1" /> Farquhar's son Robin took his father's place managing the theatre in 1983, three years before his dad's death. Robin died in 2008.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
As of 2002, the 500-seat Flat Rock Playhouse had an annual budget of $2.2 million and 17 full-time employees.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage - Flat Rock NC {{!}} AAA.com |url=https://www.aaa.com/travelinfo/north-carolina/flat-rock/attractions/flat-rock-playhouse-mainstage-561304.html |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=www.aaa.com}}</ref> In 2011, the theatre opened a 250-seat theatre-in-the-round satellite venue in downtown Hendersonville.<ref name=":4" /> As of 2024, the Flat Rock Playhouse has a nine-month-long season and hosts more than 100,000 visitors each year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.flatrockplayhouse.org/about |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=Flat Rock Playhouse |language=en}}</ref>
== Notable performers == *Rosemary Prinz<ref name=":1" /> *Burt Reynolds<ref name=":1" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.flatrockplayhouse.org}}
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Category:Theatres in North Carolina Category:Tourist attractions in Henderson County, North Carolina
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