Licking County Offers Arts Entertainment for the Whole Family
Whether it's a showcase of elaborate glassware, an interactive history lesson or a good old-fashioned musical, in Licking County, there's always something to do that the whole family can enjoy.
<b>Let's Play</b>
Some of the more popular attractions are the county's two theater companies, the Licking County Players and the Weathervane Playhouse, both offering a variety of musicals, comedies and dramas.
Entertaining theatergoers for decades, these companies continue to add to their bands of followers. Born in a barn on July 8, 1969, Weathervane Playhouse is Ohio’s longest-running summer stock company. It offers musicals and straight plays and is housed in a 300-seat theater. A major part of the company's focus is theater education. In 1999, the company built a children's theater, which hosts summer workshops for kids and teenagers. <i>South Pacific</i>‚ <i>The Musical Comedy of Murders of 1940</i>‚ <i>Ragtime</i>‚ <i>Songs for a New World</i> and Disney’s <i>Beauty and the Beast</i> are just a few of the company's many productions.
Community theater group, the Licking County Players, presents an eight-show season of musical and straight plays. Opened in 1967, this all-volunteer, award-winning company began as the Welsh Hills Players, performing at the Plymouth United Church of Christ. Now the company owns its own 100-seat building on Newark's Main Street, which originally housed a funeral home and the Salvation Army. Running year round, the company offers Suitcase Theater, Dinner Theater and children's workshops. Past performances include <i>The Kitchen Witches</i>, <i>Pack of Lies</i>, <i>Hello Dolly</i>, Jekyll & Hyde</i>‚ <i>The Sound of Music</i> and <i>Hansel and Gretel</i>. The company also has several memorials on the property that honor past and present members. The Gold Stars in the lobby recognize individuals and companies that have made contributions to the theatre over the years.
<b>Preserving History</b>
The National Heisey Glass Museum, which features more than 4,500 pieces of glassware produced in Newark by the A. H. Heisey & Company from 1896-1957, is another popular attraction. Opening in 1974, the museum is run by the Heisey Collectors of America Inc. and is located downtown in Veterans Park. It showcases hundreds of patterns in all known colors, including pressed glass, brown, etched, cut and colored glass. The museum also consists of the historic Samuel D. King residence, an 1831 Greek Revival-style home that was saved from demolition and moved to Veterans Park in July 1973.
The Works: Ohio Center for History‚ Art & Technology gives visitors an interactive way to learn about the history, technology and artistic accomplishments of the surrounding communities. It's known for rotating its exhibits to keep the learning experience fresh throughout the year. The center also features warm-weather concerts in the courtyard, summer art camps for kids and various lecture series.
