At Theatre by the Sea in South Kingstown John Houseman, future Academy Award winner, then young volunteer, slapped stain on the walls. Marlon Brando parked his motorcycle in a shack out back. Oscar winner Art Carney trod the boards inside.
They performed ages ago but Theatre by the Sea is a renewed giant of summer theater in the state (364 Cards Pond Road, 401-782-8587, www.theatrebythesea.com, tickets start at $35). Four years ago it was bought by Bill Hanney, who owns the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly. It is a classic barn theater begun in 1933 and it is experiencing a resurgence. It was shut from 2003-07 and when it reopened for one show, a 3 1/2-hour queue formed to buy tickets.
The season runs through Aug. 29 with “A Chorus Line,’’ “Hello Dolly,’’ “Little Shop of Horrors,’’ and “The Full Monty.’’
Another great old barn venue is at Roger Williams University( 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, 401-254-3666, http://departments.rwu.edu/theatre/, tickets $10) where they’ve been doing summer theater “forever, I’ve been here 22 years and it was going on before that,’’ said Dorisa Boggs, chair of performing arts at the university.
The original barn was built in 1890 for horses at a farm in Glocester. It was moved to the university in 1984 and renovated by historic preservation majors and faculty, and now houses a state-of-the-art theater. This summer’s shows are “Other People’s Money’’ through June 26, and “The Play About the Baby,’’ July 9-17.
The Granite Theatre( 1 Granite St., Westerly, 401-596-2341, www.granitetheatre.com, tickets $18) is housed in a restored Greek Revival church. This season’s summer run starts with “The Perfect Wedding’’ July 1 and ends with “No Sex Please, We’re British’’ Aug. 6-Sept. 5.
