The Caledonia Theatre Company presents an annual summer stock season there — in Fayetteville, PA, in the Cumberland Valley 17 miles from Gettysburg — with professional Equity talent plucked from all over the East Coast.
The 54th season under the Totem Pole marquee has includes Jeanne and Sam Bobrick's Weekend Comedy, June 22-July 4; Lucille Fletcher's Manhattan thriller, Night Watch, July 6-18; Caroline Francke's durable comedy, Father of the Bride, July 20-Aug. 1; Beth Henley's Pulitzer Prize winning family dramedy, Crimes of the Heart, Aug. 3-15; and Tintypes, the revue of American music circa 1900, Aug. 17-29.
Totem Pole Playhouse is under the artistic direction of Carl Schurr.
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The Caledonia troupe presents works in its third location in 50 years in Caledonia State Park. Totem Pole was led by Karl Genus 1951-53 and by William H. Putch for the next 30 years. He and wife Jean Stapleton helped make the playhouse a nationally-known company. Carl Schurr has served as producing artistic director since 1984. In 1994, he helped establish Caledonia Theatre Company (CTC), a non-profit organization "to preserve, secure and promote professional theatre at Totem Pole Playhouse." The CTC mission also includes providing arts education opportunities for area residents, including theatre camps for students.
Stars have been a part of the Totem Pole experience in the past, with appearances by Keir Dullea, Sada Thompson, John Ritter, Sandy Dennis, Harry Groener, Curtis Armstrong and Jean Stapleton. A core company of regulars is also part of the Totem Pole experience, with performances and direction by Schurr, Wil Love and others.
Totem Pole Playhouse is located at the junction of US Route 30 and PA 233 South, between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, PA, in Caledonia State Park in Fayetteville, PA. For information, call (717) 352-2164 or (888) 805 7056 or visit totempoleplayhouse.org.