OWP History

Community involvement: Over the years, OWP has worked with and for many community groups. We have offered historical presentations such as the 1989 Guilford UMC Pageant, Ruby Moon (1995), and “Voices from the Past: Civil War Letters” (1996). OWP has donated funds raised from performances to the Bainbridge Rotary Playground Project (2000), the performance shell in General Clinton Park, and the 9/11/2001 Disaster Relief Fund, and has performed benefits for local soup kitchens. OWP performed at General ‘Clinton Park in Story Book Theatre and has provided children's activities during the Regatta Row Streetfest.

OWP celebrated the 1995 Sidney Library expansion opening by performing literature excerpts and marked the Olde Jericho Tavern's 200th birthday with the musical melodrama In Pursuit of Patience. The group partnered with the Olde Jericho Tavern to offer dinner theatre featuring Pygmalion to benefit Catholic Charities. Supplies for cancer patients were collected in conjunction with the 2014 show Grace and Glorie.

Online projects have included the annual April Pageant of Poetry featuring classical as well as local poets, photographers, and artists. OWP's online “Twelve Days of Christmas Cheer” (2021) was well received.

Opportunities for young people have included more than 10 admission-free workshops titled Theatre Arts Smart, Playshop, Totally Stagestruck, and Easter Impromptu. In Dec. 1991, the Holly Follies featured G-MU students following choreography workshops done through their elementary school gym classes. Choreography and scene painting workshops were incorporated into OWP’s 1996 Free to Be You and Me musical production. The group has conducted workshops with drama clubs from Afton, B-G, G-MU, Sidney, and Unatego schools and hosted Stand Up Poetry competitions yearly from 2005 to 2007.

In 2008, marking their 20th anniversary season, OWP established an annual scholarship for graduating high school seniors who have worked with OWP and are continuing on in theatre arts. Thirteen scholarships have been awarded to date.

Over the years, OWP has donated to the Jericho Arts Council toward their stewardship of the historic Bainbridge Town Hall Theatre, the Out of the Woodwork Players’ home base. 

Now, in our 35th year, we look forward to sharing many more years of theatre with the community!