This marvelous old historical building, previously named "The Hollywood", was first opened in 1941 with the movie "When Ladies Meet" with Joan Crawford and Robert Taylor. Many of these wonderful old movie houses have disappeared from the American scene.

The Number “1” Plays & Players was originally chartered in 1980 as a non-profit theatre group that did not have its own home, but still enjoyed performing annually at Galveston’s Dickens On The Strand, and for NASA employees at the Gilruth Center.  After 38 years of teaching in the public school system, Mrs. Bennie Nipper retired and made her dream come true.  Bennie and Oscar Nipper and the Board of Directors of Number “1” Plays and Players, began restoring and remodeling “The Hollywood” in 1990.  Re-opened in 1991 as the Harbour Playhouse, it became well-known as a center of fine arts for the community with live productions and classes in performing arts for children, teens, and adults.

Your moral and financial support in our continued efforts is greatly appreciated.  Your active participation is requested by purchasing season tickets, becoming a contributing “Anchor” for the Arts or a Corporate Sponsor, placing an ad in our programs, attending performances, donating time and supplies, enrolling in classes, auditioning for productions, or volunteering in many other ways.  As a non-profit organization, we rely on generous contributions and support from businesses, corporations, and private donors.  All donations are always tax deductible and may also be deductible as a charitable contribution business expense.  We thank you for supporting the arts in the Bay Area, and helping Bay Area Harbour Playhouse in its mission to provide quality arts education and entertainment to the surrounding communities.

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We are now celebrating our 25th Anniversary as a Community Theatre and Fine Arts Academy.   We offer outstanding classes for Children, Teens, & Adults in Theatre Arts/Acting, Musical Theatre, Dance, Piano, and Voice year-round.  Scholarships are given to students each semester for our Academy.
The facility houses two comfortable and well-equipped theatres:

Main Deck (seats 140)

Top Side (seats 64)

The theatre building has been renovated and restored from the original 1941 “Hollywood” movie house, with brand new interior painting in the historical art deco style of the past.  It features new spacious dressing rooms, props shop, costume shop/storage, a dance and rehearsal studio and new sound and lighting equipment.  This is a very affordable theatre with no sales tax and free parking.

We have been honored by the City of Dickinson with the 2001 Mayor’s Quality of Life Award and boast a 3000 + patron mailing list.  Our "Fine Arts Academy" is the pride of the City of Dickinson and the surrounding cities of the Bay Area.

Each year we present an exciting season with a variety of plays, musicals, and special events.  Our season includes: 11 season productions, an annual Gala Fundraiser, numerous Children’s Theatre Festivals and topping off the year with a New Year’s Cabaret Show and Party.  The season also includes civic events to cultivate and aid in the education and enrichment of the community with the arts in mind. We proudly offer a friendly atmosphere where talents can be developed and appreciated.

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Oscar and Bennie NipperBennie & Oscar Nipper and the Board of Directors of Number "1" Plays and Players have restored and remodeled "The Hollywood" into The Bay Area Harbour Playhouse  The playhouse is the drama center of community activity with live productions and classes in Theatre Arts for children, teens and adults.

 

 

 

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Oscar and Bennie NipperNumber "1" Plays and Players', Bay Area Harbour Playhouse, was formed August 8, 1980 and immediately named Bennie Nipper as its Artistic Director. Under her leadership it has grown from a company performing for NASA employees at the Gilruth Center to it’s present Community Theatre and Fine Arts Academy with a full schedule of classes, community theatre activities and productions.

Bennie received an Associate in Arts (AA) degree from Lon Morris College, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Masters in Education (M.Ed.) in Theatre Arts from The University of Texas at Austin.  She has performed and directed at the Austin Civic Theatre (now the Zachary Scot Theatre) in Austin, The Circle Players in Indianapolis, the original Alley Theatre on Berry Street in Houston, The Pasadena Little Theatre, The Clear Creek Country Theatre, The College of the Mainland Arena theatre and The San Jacinto College-South Theatre.

Bennie composes music and has had her works recorded by Rainbow Records.  She also writes plays and poetry.  In 1995, to help celebrate Friendswood Centennial, she wrote, produced and directed The Promise Land, a musical based on the history of that community. Some of her poetry has been published by the World of Poetry and the American Poetry Association.  In 1989, Bennie was named "Poet Laureate" of the World of Poetry and received its highest cash award of $15,000.

A Distinguished Alumnus of Lon Morris College, Bennie recently retired from teaching theatre arts in public high schools, where her students and University Interscholastic League productions won many awards.  She has recently served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Non-Profit Theatres and is a member of the American Association of Community Theatres.  Bennie is pursuing her lifetime dream in community theatre with the establishment of The Bay Area Harbour Playhouse.

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Board of Directors
 
Geoffrey Clark
President
 
Oscar Nipper
Treasurer
 
Bennie Nipper
Artistic Director
 
Kay Jones
Secretary

 

Board Members
 

David James Nolder

Connie Folwell
 
Patrick Bowen
John Mitchiner
 
Mike Fabian
Melvyn Phaup
 
Cis Browning
Geneva Boreck
 
Whitney Grace Wyatt

 

Theatre Staff
 
Bennie Nipper - Artistic Director, Acting & Theatre Arts Instructor

 

Lifetime Honorary Board Member

Katherine "Tiny" Oder

Bay Area Harbour Playhouse are proud members of:

Texas Non-Profit Theatres, Inc.

American Association of Community Theatres

League City Chamber of Commerce

North Galveston County Chamber of Commerce

Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

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“Lifetime Thespian assumes best role: running playhouse”

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

“Dickinson’s Old Hollywood Movie House Opened In 1941 and Re-Opens 50 Years Later As Harbour Playhouse Community Theatre”

THE CITIZEN

“Theatre buffs don’t need to go to New York or even Houston for a good show, the first-rate productions of Harbour Playhouse are right here in Galveston County”

THE GALVESTON COUNTY DAILY NEWS

“Nippers make their dream come true with countless hours of effort  and the help of theatre and social friends.”  

THE CITIZEN

“You can go to Houston or Galveston theatres but you’ll not find one that is as creative as the team at our Harbour Playhouse in Dickinson!”

THE GALVESTON COUNTY WEEKLY

"Life long dream comes true for the theater director.  38 years after she began teaching theatre arts in the public school system, Bennie Nipper is fulfilling a lifelong dream. She is now the owner of her own playhouse”.

THE TIMES

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There are many ways that you can support the arts in your area by helping the Bay Area Harbour Playhouse.  The following is a brief description of these options.   Your financial support of this effort would be appreciated. Your active participation is requested by:

  • purchasing season tickets

  • attending performances

  • donating time and supplies

  • signing up yourself, spouse, or children for daily classes

  • volunteering at the box office

  • joining the social committee

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Corporate Sponsors Assist with the financial obligation of production costs by making a charitable donation, which will underwrite an entire theatre season, and give your company wonderful advertisements as a supporter of the arts in your community.  A Corporate Sponsor underwrites an entire season with a donation of $12,000 for the Top Side Season (4 productions) and $40,000 for the Main Deck Season (7 productions).  Benefits that Corporate Sponsors receive include: Full color/Full-page Back Cover Ad in ALL of the programs for the entire season.  Credit on ALL flyers, posters, mailers, press releases, and promotional materials for the current season.  Special VIP Passes to ALL season productions and special events, and invitations to the opening night receptions.

 

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 Production Underwriters: Assist with the financial obligation of production costs by making a charitable donation, which will underwrite one or more of our productions and give your company wonderful advertisements as a supporter of the arts in your community.  Production Underwriters can make a donation for $3,000 for a Top Side production, $5,000 for a Main Deck production, or $10,000 for a musical.  Benefits that Production Underwriters receive include: Full Color/Full Page Ad in the production’s programs.  Credit on all of the productions promotional materials such as flyers, mailers, posters, etc.  Special VIP Passes to the performances and invitations to the opening night reception.

 

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Contributing “Anchors” For The Arts: Make a personal, business, or private charitable donation of '$50--$1,000' and become a Bay Area Harbour Playhouse “Anchor” For The Arts.  You will receive special recognition in each production’s program for the entire season.

 

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Posteriors For Posterity: “Name That Chair”.  For a $150 charitable donation, you can receive an engraved name plate mounted on a choice theatre seat for all time. A wonderful gift to someone special or in memory of a loved one.

 

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Season Ticket Subscription:   Purchase a Season Ticket to either the Main Deck, Top Side, or both seasons for a discounted rate and enjoy all of the wonderful productions here at a very reasonable ticket price. Season Ticket packages range from $40--$130

 

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Kroger’s Share Card:  Take a Kroger’s Share Card from our box office with you today, and keep it in your wallet.  Each time you shop at a Kroger’s Grocery Store, present the card to be scanned at check out, and we will receive a small percentage of your purchase from Kroger.

 

We are a nonprofit, 501(c) (3) organization. All donations are tax eductible.


Thank you for your interest, subscription and support.

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Click Here to get Directions

The theatre is located at 3803 Highway #3, in Dickinson, TX, three block north of Highway #517. 
Call 281.337.SHOW (7469) for reservations.

2005 - 2006
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
Singin' in the Rain
An Inspector Calls
 
Ladies of the jury
Lie, cheat & genuflect
 
The Desperate Hours
Butterflies Are Free
  Disney's Beauty and the Beast
The Mistery of Irma Vep
  The Curious Savage  
  Hamlet  
  Life with Father  

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2004 - 2005
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
My Fair Lady
Bell, Book & Candle
 
Auntie Mame
Same Time, Next Year
 
Outward Bound
A Shot in the Dark
  You're a Good Man Charlie Brown
Come Blow your Horn
  The Rainmaker
Cliff's Edge (Contest Quad)
  Measure for Measure  
  Meet Me in St. Louis  

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2003 - 2004
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
Guys and Dolls
Barefoot in the Park
 
Moon over Buffalo
Mary, Mary
 
Ten Little Indians
Flowering Peach
  Cinderella
The Cemetery Club
  On Borrowed Time  
  As You Like It  
  The Man who Came to Dinner  

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2002 - 2003
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Star Spangled Girl
 
The Trip to Bountiful (Contest State)
The Four Poster
 
Night Must Fall
Bad Habits
  Oliver
The Company of Wayward Saints
  I hate Hamlet  
  The Tempest  
  Father of the Bride  

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2001 - 2002
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
Lil Abner
Extremities
 

On Golden Pond

Prisoner of Second Avenue
 
Arsenic and Old Lace
The Dining Room
  The Nutcracker
My Three Angels
  Crimes of the Heart  
  Romeo and Juliet  
  Blithe Spirit  

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2000 - 2001
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
Once Upon a Mattress
Visiting Mr. Green (contest state)
 
Don't Dress for Dinner
How i Learned to Drive
 
Pippin
Marvin's Room
  The King and I
Parallel Lives (Kathy & Mo)
  The Wake of Jayme Foster  
  Comedy of Errors  
  Steel Magnolias  

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1999 - 2000
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
West Side Story
Twilight of the Golds
 
Rumors
Baby With the Bathwater
 
Musical Comedy Murders of 1940
The Compleat works of wm shpr
  The Wizard of Oz
Sylvia
  Bus Stop  
  Lend me a Tenor  
  Twelfth Night  

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1998 - 1999
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
Pirates of Penzance
Love! Valor! Compassion!
 
Importance of Being Ernest
Asleep on the Wind/Graceland
 
Wait Until Dark
Human Nature
  Babes in Toyland
A Piece of my Heart (contest quad)
  Brighton Beach Memoirs
Laundry & Bourbon / Lonestar
  Daddy's Dyin' Whose Got the Will
Love Letters
  Midsummer Nights Dream  

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1997 - 1998
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
The Sound of Music
 
Our Town
 
Dark of the Moon
  The Secret Garden
  The Boys Next Door  
  Macbeth  
  Harvey  

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1996 - 1997
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
Much Ado About Nothing
 
Fox Fire
 
Annie
  Streetcar Named Desire
  Dearly Departed (contest state)  
  The Nerd  

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1995 - 1996
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
Camelot
 
The Foreigner
 
Catch Me if You Can
  Alice in Wonderland
  Lettice and Lovage  
  The Miracle Worker  
  Plaza/California Suite  

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1994 - 1995
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
Brigadoon
 
The Diary of Anne Frank
 
The Passion of Dracula
  Curley McDimple / A Christmas Carol
  I Do! I Do! (contest state)  
  The Taming of the Shrew  
  The Happy Time  

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1993 - 1994
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
Finian's Rainbow
 
I Remember Mama
 
Blithe Spirit
  Babes in Toyland / A Christmas Carol
  The Odd Couple (male)  
  The Odd couple (female)  
  You Can't Take it With You  

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1992 - 1993
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
George M
 
Steel Magnolias
 
The Mousetrap
  Babes in Toyland / A Christmas Carol
  Working  
  The Silver Whistle  
  Tropical Depression (contest state)  

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1991 - 1992
 
MAIN DECK
TOP SIDE
 
The Dining Room
 
Cheaper by the Dozen
 
God's Favourite
  A Christmas Carol
  Once Upon a Mattress  
  Arsenic and the Old Lace  

Thank you for your interest, subscription and support.

 
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©2007 Bay Area Harbour Playhouse All Rights Reserved ~ website by Dario Failla