The Little Theatre Guild (1933-1955)

---

 Findlay’s community theatre story began in 1934 with a production of The Mad Hopes, directed by John Hoppenberg and presented by the newly formed Little Theatre Guild. Backed by the Women's Federation of Clubs, this first performance was held at Findlay Senior High School and featured several individuals who would go on to shape the group’s legacy. From 1935 to 1937, the Guild staged two shows a year and quickly grew to over 100 members, marking its peak as a creative force in the community.

Though the Guild's momentum slowed by the late 1930s, it remained active thanks largely to the leadership of Richard Purdy, its founding president, frequent director, and star performer. Under his guidance, the Guild achieved statewide recognition with a winning production of Moonset in a 1941 drama competition. But by 1942, with Purdy leaving for New York and World War II underway, the Guild gave its final performance. While short-lived, the Little Theatre Guild laid the foundation for local theatre in Findlay, an influence that carried forward into the creation of the Fort Findlay Playhouse and continues to shape the arts in the community today.

Fort Findlay Playhouse (FFP) was founded in 1955 by former members of the Little Theatre Guild, officially becoming a non-profit organization in Ohio on April 22 of that year. Their first production, Mr. Barry’s Etchings, debuted on May 5, 1955, with tickets priced at just 25 cents. The show raised $100 for the Blanchard Valley Hospital Building Fund and marked the beginning of a new era of community theatre in Findlay. Over the next 13 years, FFP produced 36 more shows in various local venues before finally establishing a permanent home.

In 1968, FFP acquired and transformed the former Grace Evangelical United Brethren Church at 

300 W. Sandusky Street into an intimate 120-seat theatre. Since then, the Playhouse has become a cornerstone of the arts in Findlay, producing 5 to 7 shows each season, ranging from comedies and dramas to full-scale musicals, thanks to the passion and dedication of its all-volunteer team. With more than 360 productions and over 3,400 participants since its founding, FFP continues to thrive through the support of generous donors, active volunteers, and loyal audiences who keep the spirit of local theatre alive.