A revival slated for Bucks County Playhouse

A cultural icon in New Hope has been rescued.  Tourism officials are excited.

A Bucks County couple bought the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope and have turned it over to the Bucks County Playhouse Conservancy to renovate and manage, with the goal of reopening in summer 2012. 

Jerry Lepping, executive director of Visit Bucks County, calls this a big boost for tourism because it helps round out what visitors can do on a weekend visit to the area.

“People were saying the show’s weren’t great at the end and that may be true,” he said, “but it was still a good place to go. It wasn’t real expensive but it was part of the day.”

Lepping says he plans to integrate the playhouse with the county’s marketing effort.

“We will try to work with the conservacy who is going to be the managing group and incorporate a lot of their their promotions in our advertising,” he said.

The buyers are Kevin and Sherri Daugherty, who acted under their nonprofit Bridge Street Foundation. They paid less than the $2.1 million asking price.  He is founder of Speyside Equity, a private equity firm, and she owns Angel Hearts, an upscale boutique in Newtown, Bucks County.  

“We love this area and are excited to be able to bring back the theater,” read a statement from the Daughertys, who declined requests to be interviewed. “There has been a tremendous show of support for this effort by the local community.”  Renovations are estimated to cost about $2 million.