Recognizing the Society Hill Playhouse on the occasion of celebrating their 50th Anniversary Season.

WHEREAS, The Society Hill Playhouse was founded by Jay and Deen Kogan in 1960 as Philadelphia's “off-Broadway” theatre for contemporary American and European playwrights; and

WHEREAS, Gradually, the Society Hill Playhouse developed a niche in populist comedies and has presented the very best, such as Nunsense, Menopause the Musical, and Lafferty's Wake, both on the original “Main Stage” and in the intimate “Red Room Cabaret Theatre”; and

WHEREAS, Society Hill Playhouse is located in the heart of the Society Hill District and is housed in the historic David Garrick Hall (circa 1901) with Victorian pressed tin walls and ceilings; and

WHEREAS, As the first professionally operated theatre in Philadelphia to weave modern theatre repertoire with dynamic community outreach, the Society Hill Playhouse has influenced the design and programming of emerging theatres; and

WHEREAS, The Playhouse branched out over the years and in the 1960s toured city neighborhoods on a flatbed truck performing original 30-minute skits. In 1970, the Kogans founded the Philadelphia Youth Theatre, which worked with the Philadelphia School District for 25 years; and

WHEREAS, Plays from around the world premiered in Philadelphia at the Playhouse including Genet's

The Blacks

, Weiss'

Marat/Sade

, Storey's

The Changing Room

, Behan's

The Borstal Boy

, and Brecht's

Mother Courage

; and

WHEREAS, In 1970, the Kogans compromised with Hollywood so that Richard Roundtree could play the lead in

The Great White Hope

before beginning to shoot

Shaft

; and

WHEREAS, In August 2009, Deen was honored by the Philadelphia Theatre Alliance with her late husband for their pioneering achievement. The Society Hill Playhouse continues to be one of Philadelphia's cultural gems with vibrant theatrical fare year round; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby recognize the Society Hill Playhouse on the occasion of celebrating their 50th Anniversary Season.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Deen Kogan, as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End