All The World's On Stage in Amish Country by Clinton Martin
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ith reference after reference as to how Amish Country shows up on stage and screen in these pages, it is certainly appropriate that we point out how the world shows up in our own theatres. Act 1 may have been uncovering how Hollywood loves to portray our Amish community, but Act 2 follows with a rousing chorus of the exceptional theatre fare found here. The oldest continuously operating theater in America is Lancaster City's very own Fulton Theatre, a National Historic Landmark. More than 150 years have passed since the first performance took the stage at the ornate Fulton “Opera House,” with those that followed having drawn such American icons as George M. Cohan and Mark Twain. Broadway-quality shows like Les Miz and world premiere productions have given the theatre national recognition.
Long before the Fulton opened, our next performance venue had been welcoming illustrious guests of the day. Of course, nobody knew it would eventually end up a theatre. The grand Mount Hope Estate was built as a private residence between 1800-1805 and passed through many generations of the Grubbs, an early American iron master family that amassed
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a considerable fortune from their Lancaster furnaces. In 1979, the property was purchased and slowly returned to its former glory, not as a residential mansion, but as an historic winery estate featuring live theater and outdoor festivals. Today, visitors roam the rooms of the mansion for intimate performances, including the popular Poe Evermore in November and Dickens of a Christmas in December. The estate grounds now host one of PA's most famous outdoor events, the rollicking late summer Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire featuring hundreds of costumed performers, 90 exciting shows daily, and, yes of course, knights clashing on the spectacular jousting field. In fact, Amish Country News owes its most memorable moment in our 23 year history to this very event, when one of our covers sporting an image of a ferocious knight atop a colorfully decorated horse was spoofed by Jay Leno on the Tonight Show. The joke, of course, was the
notion that the Amish had taken up lance, armor, and shield to settle disputes! For an emotional, yet accurate look at our Amish neighbors, the Amish Experience Theater's fivescreen, special effects production of Jacob’s Choice is a must-see. The show’s Hollywood connection is very real, as the costumes seen in the filming were those used by Universal Studios in the movie WITNESS, including Harrison Ford's Amish coat with the initials “HF” sewn on the inside pocket. No mention of our theatre scene is complete without reference to Sight and Sound's Millennium Theatre, the largest Christian theater in the world. In fact, in recent years millions of theater-goers have come to associate Sight and Sound with Amish Country. Born of humble beginnings, founders Glenn Eshelman and his wife Shirley began with a traveling show of slide projectors Continued on Page 52
Once a Movie House, Now a Delightful Dining Experience... The Ritz on Main The Ritz's menu centers mostly on succulent by Clinton Martin
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ew Holland's Ritz on Main was once a theatre, and while some of the oldtimers from the neighborhood might argue they miss the “moving pictures,” both visitors and locals freely proclaim their joy that the Ritz is now a great place to grab a tasty bite and sip a pint. A real bonus is in store when you take a look at the Ritz's event schedule, featuring live bands, stand-up comedians, and other fun happenings to enjoy along with a satisfying meal.
sandwiches, crispy fries, and familiar fare prepared exceptionally well. As one die-hard fan noted on the Ritz’s Facebook site, “Good food at reasonable prices, relaxed and friendly atmosphere, great staff that are very friendly & accommodating and always a good time. We'll be adding the Ritz on Main to our list of regular spots!”
Look for the Ritz’s art deco marquee along Route 23 Main Street) in the unique and interesting little town of New Holland near the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Avenue. Call 717.351.7489 for hours and current entertainments.
AmishNews.com • July 2012 • Amish Country News • 49