The Footlight Club, Americas oldest continuously running community theatre and a beloved gem in Boson’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, is gearing up to celebrate its 150th anniversary season with a series of special events, in addition to another stellar roster of plays and musicals.
Founded by a group of families in Jamaica Plain in 1877, just three years after the wealthy town merged with the city of Boston, the club in its early years provided "pleasant and useful entertainment by the aid of the drama” and was the prototype for countless other Victorian-era theatrical societies.
In 1889, the members purchased Eliot Hall, to provide a home for performances and save the historic building from demolition. It remains the home of the Footlight Club, and still serves the wider JP neighborhood as a community space for art exhibitions, private receptions and other arts performances. To this day, the Footlight Club works to present the best in non-professional theater to a broad-based audience, and to preseve and maintain Eliot Hall as a community resource.
The Footlight Club’s season will kick off in September with Tracy Letts’ fast-paced comedy of small town politics, The Minutes. Save Saturday October 3rd on your calendar for Footlight’s Anniversary Gala fundraiser, which will feature food and drink, a silent auction, and special performances throughout the night.
Annie will be the featured autumn musical in November, and Footlight’s legendary Carol Gallagher will return once again for the holiday highlight that is A Carol Christmas. The club will welcome in the new year with an Open House Birthday Tea on January 3rd, marking the eve before the actual creation date of the Footlight Club.
Lorraine Hansberry’s ground-breaking and moving play, A Raisin In The Sun opens in February, and Footlight’s main stage season comes to a close in May with the raucous and joyous Pirates! A Penzance Musical, the vibrant reimagining of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic comic operetta. The 150th celebration will wind down on Sunday June 27 with a family reunion style BBQ and picnic for Footlight members, alumni and friends.
Dates To Remember:
Special 150th Anniversary Events
• Saturday October 3 – Footlight Anniversary Gala fundraiser
• Sunday January 3 – Footlight Open House Birthday Tea
• Sunday June 27 – Footlight Reunion BBQ
150th Season Slate
The Minutes – September
Annie – November
A Carol Christmas – December
A Raisin In The Sun – February
Pirates! A Penzance Musical – May
To stay connected and up to date on all these events and more to come, please sign up at our website, www.footlight.org, to be on our mailing list, and follow Footlight Club on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.