Restore the Rec

Restore the

REC

“ campaign to create a vibrant state-of-the-art performing arts space & community venue

“Players and the Rec fundamentally shaped me as a young person.” ~ Meghan Rogers ’03, Director, The Players

The Rec: A True Original

W

hen thinking of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy’s historic buildings, the first thing that comes to mind is the Wissahickon Inn, current home to SCH’s Upper School and central administration. But there is another 19th

century building on campus that has had even more incarnations than the inn, serving first as a stable, then an athletic facility, and finally a theater. This building is the “Rec.” Built at the same time as the Inn in 1884, the Rec originally served as the Inn’s stable, housing up to 90 horses and the grooms who tended them, as well as other period transport—carriages, sleighs, and the occasional gentleman’s roadster.

The building served this purely utilitarian role until 1902, when Chestnut Hill Academy, which had taken over the Inn a few years before, converted the stable to a gymnasium.

Over the ensuing 50 years, the Rec’s spacious interior served diverse athletic purposes, as a baseball field; basketball, squash, and tennis courts; wrestling room; and for many years, a badminton facility for the local Wissahickon Badminton Club.

In the early 1950s, part of the Rec’s aging structure (the former grooms residence) collapsed, weakened from years of erosion by an underground stream feeding into the Wissahickon. The remaining structure continued to be used for badminton until 1973 when it was restored and reclaimed for an entirely different purpose—as a performing arts facility.

One of the Rec’s prior incarnations was as an athletic facility for CHA students.

The original stable connected to the Inn showing the towered groom dormitory wing.

Drama Group in Search of a Performance Space

The 1950s through the 1970s saw a steady growth in the school’s drama program, with Springside School students bringing an authentic feminine presence to the productions

CHA’s student drama activity was on-and-off-again in its early starting in 1957. years depending on student and faculty interest. The first

Although the Players’ productions had steadily increased

production took place in 1905, when students performed a

in popularity, performance venues at the school were at a

musical spoof entitled Acis and Galatea. Because the school

premium. The demand for a dedicated performance space

did not have a performance space, this first play was held at

converged in 1973 with a recognition that it was time to

the Manheim Cricket Club (now Germantown Cricket Club).

renovate the old stable-turned-badminton facility. And in that

In 1908, after a two-year hiatus, students again rallied to form year, the Rec was converted to a performing arts center, to be used for Players productions, Boychoir musicals, graduations, the Sock and Buskin Club, named after the footwear ancient Greek actors wore to differentiate comedies (a thin-soled

and holiday assemblies.

shoe called a sock) and tragedies (a boot called a buskin.)

For nearly 50 years, the Rec has faithfully served its purpose.

Productions were mounted from 1908 until 1925 when

But this 135-year-old facility is showing its age and requires

interest again flagged. It was not until 1935, after two failed

substantive renovation and updating to ensure it can continue

efforts to bring a drama club back, that the Chestnut Hill

as a cherished part of the school’s history and theater

Academy Players was formed. And although the name was

program.

changed to the Dramatic Club the following year, the troupe continued to mount productions until 1943, when the start of WW II forced the closing of CHA’s Upper School due to the difficulty of staffing faculty during the war years.

Not to be discouraged, and demonstrating the resilience for which SCH students are known, the Players was revived in 1956, thanks to the enthusiasm and interest of a 5th grade teacher named George Lewis, who was also a drama instructor. The school’s first performance, after 12 years “dark,” was The Physician in Spite of Himself.

The performance was likely mounted in what is now the Commons as there was still no official performance space.

The productions eventually moved to the Woodward Gym, with the traditional “Green Room” (the performers’ waiting room and lounge) located in a cramped space adjoining the gym, later to become the CHA athletic director’s office.

An early Players’ production with Springside students.

Where the Magic Happens

emotion, or the power of a moment,” says Rogers. “No

Over the past 46 years, the Rec has been inextricably linked

that moment of transcendence is one that you, as an

with the Players. It has served as home away from home for

actor, will feel, and your audience will feel.”

hundreds of students rehearsing late into the night, its main room at various times filling the roles of hang-out spot, homework cubicle, fast-food restaurant, painting studio, and pre-production construction site. The graffiti-covered walls of its Green Room bear words of encouragement and inspiration from former Players.

matter what pieces come together to make that magic,

Multiply that feeling by hundreds and you’ll understand why the Rec holds a special place in the hearts of our alumni. The cavernous windowless space, while unprepossessing and rather bare when not dressed up for a production, resonates with the intense accumulated memories of generations of students,

“Players and the Rec fundamentally shaped me as a young

the ghostly echos of laughter and applause. “What I

person,” explains Meghan Rogers ’03, Springside alumna

consistently hear from alumni, adults, and students

and now, herself, director of the Players. “It helped me

is that they know that Players will always exist,” says

understand my value in a larger, collective group of

Rogers. “A home is always there for them in this space,

students, what my talent meant, and how to explore and

and amazing art will always be created in this space. It is

utilize that talent on and offstage through performance and

a constant that they know and can depend on.”

collaboration with others.”

Within Players, the Rec is known as the place where “the magic happens.” “You lose yourself in either your character,

Into the Future The ambitious renovation plan for the Rec, estimated to total $4 million, will transform this treasured space into a multipurpose, state-of-the-art performance venue, appropriate for a wide range of musical, theatrical, and community events.

A successful Restore the Rec campaign will ensure that our award-winning theater program, which is growing in stature and regional recognition, will have a performance space that appropriately showcases the talent, passion, and dedication of our students and the quality of their productions.

The cast and crew of the 2010 production of Brigadoon.

Project Scope The Rec renovation will substantially enhance both the performer and audience experience with expanded audience seating, a modular stage system, upgraded sound and lighting systems, expanded dressing rooms, increased storage space, additional bathrooms, and a dramatic glass-walled, wraparound lobby.

Giving Categories The following sponsorships will be listed in the SCH Annual Report and will receive donor signage in the renovated Rec. MY FAIR LADY $500,000

HARVEY $10,000

MAMMA MIA! $250,000

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS $5,000

OUR TOWN $100,000

WIND IN THE WILLOWS $2,500

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM $50,000

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST $1000

THE MIKADO $25,000

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL $500

sch.org/restoretherec If you would like to discuss additional named opportunities, please contact Jenny McHugh, Director of Development at jmchugh@sch.org