Our Door is Always Open: Welcome to
Church Hill Theatre
Let’s peek behind the door of a truly local, iconic entertainment venue right here in our backyard. Church Hill Theatre is a mecca for the performing arts and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For over 30 years, the all-volunteer organization has been providing the mid-shore area with year-round quality performances, educational opportunities and a summer drama camp for children.
The theatre building is designed in the art deco style with a 75-year history of providing a meeting and entertainment venue for the public. What began as a community meeting place, the building also housed the Town Office, a barbershop and dentist office. In 1935, the theatre entered its 45-year history as a movie house with the installation of movie house equipment.
Then the 1970’s saw the rise of multi-screen cinemas and the threat of destroying the theater and its importance to the community. A group of concerned and historically minded citizens began a quest to acquire the theatre from the Town of Church Hill. We spoke with Sarah Wright, a board member overseeing marketing for the theatre, to learn more about planned improvements to the theatre, scheduled events and the importance of volunteers in keeping the theatre alive.
The website indicates plans to further refurbish Church Hill Theatre… what are those plans and estimated timetables to complete? At the start of 2026 we gave our lobby a facelift with new carpet, new paint, restored handrails, and new light fixtures. It now fits the art deco feel of our theatre space. We also repainted our concession space, but this is just the start. We have plans to rework this space and then we are moving to the bathrooms! Our two restroom spaces are in desperate need of a face lift so once we have the funds, these are the next stops!
The theatre is run by about 225 volunteers… what types of activities do the volunteers perform? How do you recruit and retain volunteers? We have lots of roles for our volunteers. In fact, we only have 1.5 paid staff; everything else our volunteers do because of their love of theatre and community. Our volunteers do everything from being actors on stage, to helping an event run smoothly by working the doors or concessions, to painting sets and staffing community events where they find more people to get involved. They help us do our marketing, our fundraising and even selecting which shows we produce each year.
Those interested in volunteering can fill out a form on our website, call the office, talk to the house manager at a show, or stop us at an event. Once we have their email, they will be added to the list to be informed of every chance to get involved. And of course, audition for our next show!
How do you choose productions for the theatre? We have a programming committee that reads scripts, makes suggestions and selects our main productions for the year. We announced our 2027 season at our annual membership. It is going to be a great one!
How do you attract new audiences while keeping loyal patrons? The programming we select is huge! We try to do productions and other small events that are appealing to our long-time patrons and also try to bring in new community members. We try to mix in the classics with the modern pieces. We also focus on youth to help bring up our next generation that will keep the arts alive.
What challenges does the theatre face considering today’s changing lifestyles and online access to entertainment? People’s schedules are crazy and there is more to do than can ever be done. We are very lucky that we are still having sellout crowds and people are willing to give us their time to enjoy live theatre and events.
What role does Church Hill Theatre play in the cultural life of our community? Church Hill Theatre has been part of the fabric of our community for decades. We are more than just a place to see a show… we are a gathering place where people of all ages come together to create, learn, volunteer, and experience the arts. In a small town, community theatre helps connect people in a very personal way. Audiences are watching their neighbors, teachers, students, business owners, and friends on stage, and that creates a very special sense of pride and connection.
If you had to describe Church Hill Theatre to someone, what would you tell them? Church Hill Theatre is one of those special places where community and creativity truly come together. We have a space for everyone.
Our community is so fortunate to such a wonderful community theatre organization within in our midst. If you are interested in making a donation, volunteering your time, showing your acting expertise, visit www.churchhilltheatre.org. Information about upcoming performances, auditions and show times also are available on the website.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE FOR REMAINDER OF 2026
Aug 8 – IMPROV WORKSHOP lead by John Windmueller. 10am-3pm, includes lunch. $75. Church Hill Theatre. To register: www.churchhilltheatre.org/tickets.
Aug 23 – BEATLES TRIBUTE BAND, Magic Mystery.
Sept 11-27- ALICE BY HEART, set during the 1941 London Blitz in World War II. Teenager Alice Spencer and her best friend Alfred hide in an underground tube station during the bombings. Alfred is sick with tuberculosis and placed in quarantine, and Alice struggles to accept she may lose him. To escape the fear and grief, she begins retelling Alice in Wonderland from memory — “by heart.” The people in the shelter gradually transform into Wonderland characters as the story unfolds.
Nov 6-22 – THE TRANSYLVANIAN CLOCKWORKS, set in 1888 London and Transylvania during the era of Jack the Ripper. Jonathan Harker has returned from Castle Dracula deeply traumatized and mentally unstable. He is confined to Dr. Seward’s asylum while Van Helsing attempts to uncover what actually happened. As the story unfolds, Dracula begins infiltrating the lives of Mina, Lucy, and the men around them, blurring the line between seduction, madness, and supernatural evil.
Dec 18-20 – A Christmas Carol, a radio style show done in person with some twists.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE FOR 2027
Feb 5-21 – RUMORS by Neil Simon
Apr 2-18 – THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Simon Stephens
June 4-20 – COME FROM AWAY by David Hein and Irene Sankoff. NOTE: Church Hill Theatre is only one of a handful of community theatres to have the rights to this hit show.
Sept 10-26 – THE OUTSIDERS by Christopher Sergei
Dec 10-19 – THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER by Barbara Robinson