MNP Welcomes Volunteers

Whether you want to learn about theater, or return to the
theater after some years away, or you would just like to
make new friends and have fun, the Marple Newtown
Players welcomes you. Whether it is on stage, back
stage, or no where near the stage, MNP can use your
talents and abilities. No theater experience is necessary;
we can show you everything you need to know. Young
or not so young any time you can give will be helpful and
appreciated, even one or two hours a month is useful.
So, join us to make new friends, to learn as much about
theater as you want, and to help a community
organization, all while you are having fun.

Whether you interest is acting, directing, hospitality,
publicity, costumes, set construction, scene painting,
lighting, sound, or something else, please click the link
and complete the form. Someone will be in touch soon.
Where to find us

We are located in the
Gauntlett Community Center
on West Chester Pike at
Media Line Rd in Newtown
Square, Delaware County,
PA. We are 5 traffic lights
east of Rt 252 or 7 traffic
lights west of I476, the Blue
Route. This will be the
parking lot entrance located
at Radnor Drive. Click the
link below for a yahoo map
and driving directions

Because Mrs. Nellie Saylor, a Westgate Hills housewife, became bored with suburban
domesticity, she called a few neighbors and close friends to her home on January
20,1941 to initiate the idea of a Little Theater Group in the community. The ten men and
women present that night were so in favor of the idea they immediately formed the
Westgate Players, and elected Mrs. Saylor as the first President.

The Westgate Players became a reality on April 1,1941 when the curtain rose on the first
show A Full House presented in the Llanerch Fire Hall.

The fire hall was adopted as the Players regular meeting place. In 1948, with a
membership of 74, new ideas came to the group. A work shop for the benefit of all was
instituted, and selling benefit tickets was put into action. As time moved along, Llanerch
Fire Hafl proved too small for the constantly growing audience; and, for the 1952-53
season, Westgate Players moved to the Lynnwood School.

By 1961 an extensive mailing list was developed of earnest supporters of Little Theater
and, active membership had risen to 85. However, due to such entertaining shows as
Born Yesterday, Solid Gold Cadillac, Seven Year Itch, Once More with Feeling, even
Lynnwood School's capacity was strained.

Thus, at the opening of the 1963-64 season, with the majority of members being from
Marple Township, the group arrived at St. Anastasia's Church Hall with the comedy Send
Me No Flowers. Unfortunately, as the curtain closed with the last show of the season, so
did the Players because the facilities were needed by the parish.

Because the feeling persisted that Little Theater brings a definite advantage to a
community, an appeal was made to the Marple Township Park and Recreation Board to
give the Players a home and thereby give them a chance to bring entertainment and
culture into the township.

When the 1964-65 season opened, the group became the Marple-Westgate Players and
found themselves under the sponsorship of the Marple Township Park and Recreation
Board with a new home at the Paxon Hollow School in Broomall.

Eventually the sponsorship was transferred to the Marple Newtown Leisure Services, and
the name became the Maple Newtown Players (MNP). In 1982, MNP moved to its current
home at the Gaunlett Community Center.

MNP began the Marple Newtown Players Children’s Theater in 1987 with its first
production Alice in Wonderland.

In 2002 the sponsorship of Marple Newtown Leisure Service ended, and the Marple
Newtown Players became incorporated as a not for profit corporation.

A Children’s Summer Theater Camp was started in 2004 for children to develop an
appreciation of theater and to gain self confidence and improve communication skills
through theater arts.

The Marple Newtown Players look forward to proudly continue the tradition of bringing
quality “live” theatre at affordable prices to the community.
About Us
Marple Newtown Players
History of the Marple Newtown Players