Howmet Playhouse's revival is a grass-roots effort

April 22, 2007
By Eric Gaertner
Chronicle Staff Writer

man in the audience on reopening night of the historic Howmet Playhouse under new ownership stood up, got the band's attention and requested that the volume be increased on the flutist's microphone because the audience couldn't hear her during the previous song.

It seemed to tie in with the theme of the night: White Lake-area residents don't sit idly by when they believe something isn't quite right. They get involved.

That type of community involvement, in essence, saved the 91-year-old downtown theater. Whitehall city officials, who own the building and are operating it for the first time, point to the community's support from both sides of the White River -- Whitehall and Montague -- as being the real reason another summer season of plays is scheduled.

When Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp board members announced last year they were looking to get rid of the playhouse at 304 S. Mears after opening a new facility on their campus, residents voiced concerns and community leaders met to discuss the issue. Responding to the public outcry, the Whitehall City Council accepted the donation from the camp.

"The community response has been outstanding," said Tom Harryman, playhouse manager. "I know this is being done by the city of Whitehall, but the community of White Lake has been very responsive to the saving of the playhouse."

Harryman is a Muskegon native and longtime professional actor who for about 15 years ran the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Muskegon.

Whitehall Mayor Mac Hatch also has been impressed by the community's support, calling it the most enthusiasm he has witnessed for a project in his 35 years in the area. He is proud that residents stepped forward immediately rather than wait for traditional nonprofit groups and private businesses to take the lead.

"This has been grassroots," Hatch said of the support and fundraising efforts to save the playhouse. "It's everybody. Now the biggies are showing up, too."

Community fundraising efforts are ongoing. Donations are being accepted by the city for playhouse operations, and the Community Foundation for Muskegon County has set up two funds -- the Blomdahl/Howmet Playhouse Fund and the Playhouse Capital Fund -- to improve the playhouse.

An off-site concert and last weekend's performance by the Celtic-rock band Fonn Mor also raised money for the playhouse. City officials were pleasantly surprised at the turnout for both events -- another example of the community's support.

"Not everybody is into Celtic music, but that was a darn good turnout," Hatch said of the more than 240 people who attend the Fonn Mor concert at the playhouse.

The arts and business communities have always understood the benefits of having the playhouse, recognizing it as a draw for residents and tourists. During its nine decades, the playhouse, under a variety of names, has housed professional and community theater productions, a resident stage company, amateur theater troupes, musical acts and movie showings.

Since the drive to save the playhouse began, the community also has shown its appreciation.

"It's historic," said Terry Wildfong of Whitehall. "For a community on the lake, you need places like this. People have rallied behind it."

Jeanne Yakes, who has attended shows at the playhouse for the last three years, called the playhouse a "cultural center" for the area.

"I was very pleased with the community's support," Yakes said. "I would hope it continues. It looks like a pretty good playbill for this summer."

A White Lake-area outsider who attended last weekend's concert said the cozy atmosphere of the Howmet Playhouse complements the rest of White Lake.

"It just adds to the ambiance of the area," said Bill Loxterman of North Muskegon.

The ambiance inside the walls of the playhouse has withstood the test of time.

The 400-seat theater was built in 1916 to be a performance venue for the White Lake area.

"It was originally built to perform plays and that's what we're using it for today," said Harryman, who's being paid $25,833 annually to run the playhouse. "It's really interesting that it's being used for what it originally was built for."

The playhouse features a large stage, a small orchestra pit, two aisles serving most of the seats in the main area, some seats in two balconies and a lobby. Some out-of-the-ordinary elements include a plaster cyclorama at the rear of the stage, which can be used to create scenes, various background colors and acoustic elements, and many small changing rooms for the actors.

The size is part of the playhouse's draw.

"The beauty of the playhouse is its 400 seats, small and intimate," said Harryman, who, as an actor, has performed in many theaters. "That's what performers and audiences love."

The Howmet Playhouse was built during the little theater movement, a national push to build intimate settings for audiences to watch small performances outside New York City.

"It is a magic, little theater," Harryman said. "As someone who has worked in many theaters and playhouses, it's great to see a place when they get it right."

The playhouse and its operations also have their drawbacks.

The building is 91 years old, and maintenance is needed. Harryman said the playhouse is basically in "good shape," but the ceiling over the lobby has water damage, fresh paint is needed in the box office and some caulk is required in specific areas.

Stage lighting and a sound system are two of the major capital improvements Harryman is expecting the fundraising drive to pay for.

"We have very few stage lighting instruments," Harryman said. "We have just enough to get us by, along with borrowing from other local theaters."

The expense of running the playhouse is another concern. Camp officials, who operated the playhouse only in the summer, said they lost an average of $30,000 each year since they bought the playhouse in 1973.

When community leaders met to discuss the playhouse after the camp's announcement last year, many said the expense of operating the theater was too great.

Despite those concerns, city officials decided it was worth the risk.

In the playhouse's immediate future is the 2007 summer season, a series of six productions running from July 5 through Aug. 25.

City officials intend to eventually have the playhouse operating throughout the year, though specifics on year-round operation have yet to be determined. They hope to have the continual financial support of the community.

The early response has been positive. Residents have made donations, attended fundraising events and, most importantly, spurred community leaders to keep the playhouse open.

"Pretty good for a shut-down, old place," Harryman said when addressing the audience before the Fonn Mor concert. "Welcome back to the Howmet."

Without the community's support, the "old place" would have likely remained shut down.