The Historic Shawnee Playhouse

The historic Shawnee Playhouse is nestled within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, in Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1904 by C.C. Worthington and was originally called Worthington Hall. The Hall was used as a performance space for The Shawnee Players, mainly local actors and actresses, until World War II. Beginning in 1943, Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians used the Hall to broadcast their famous radio programs. Unfortunately, the Hall fell into disuse shortly after.

The Hall was purchased by the Kirkwood family in 1978. They began to restore the building, helped by neighbors and members of the Shawnee Volunteer Fire Company, and the Hall was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The Society of American Travel Writers also awarded it the prestigious Phoenix Award, presented to organizations that have contributed to a quality travel experience through conservation, preservation, beautification or environmental efforts.

After being destroyed by an arson fire in 1985, The Shawnee Playhouse was rebuilt with help from the citizens of Shawnee on Delaware, the Seabees, the Hughes Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, The National Trust, a Community Development Block Grant, and generous donations from many friends.

The Shawnee Playhouse now brings professional talent to the Poconos every year in their “Broadway in the Poconos” series. Cherished musicals, hilarious comedies, and gripping dramas are presented in high-quality productions, offering the thrill and excitement of live theater in an affordable and accessible format. The Shawnee Playhouse presents a free Community Concert series in the fireside lobby of The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort. The Shawnee also houses the S.T.A.R.S. program, The Shawnee Theatrical Arts Resource School. The program helps students ages 4-13 learn about acting and musical theatre through music, creative role-play, improvisation, theatre games and script memorization, culminating in a performance for their friends and family at the end of the six-week session. There is something for everyone at The Shawnee Playhouse!