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Community Theater in Bay Village has a long history, has impacted many lives, and means quite a lot to this community on the far west-side. 

In 1925 the Metropolitan Park Board purchased the estate of John Huntington, an English immigrant who came to this country and created a fortune with John D. Rockefeller in the Standard Oil Company. In the late 50's,  Holt Brown approached the Metropolitan Park Board and requested that the old carriage barn on the John Huntington estate, be converted into a theater for the community of Bay Village. The barn served as a community theater for 12 years until it was consumed by fire. The community was heartbroken in May of 1970 when the barn and playhouse burned to the ground. They responded by immediately raising funds and  in 1971 the current Huntington Playhouse building was constructed on the site where John Huntington's Barn once stood.

 Hundreds of thousands of patrons have been entertained by or participated in plays and events in the Playhouse. The blood, sweat and tears of many local residents and businesses went into its life and presence over 50 years. For many, the Playhouse was a home; it’s where relationships developed, where theater arts were learned, where life-changing introductions into the performance arts occurred, and where great memories were built — local theater at its best.

The Bay Village Community Theater was formed in 2015 after it was announced that the lease on the Huntington Playhouse would not be renewed by the Cleveland Metroparks and the facility would be closed.

The Bay Village Community Theater is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization formed to develop and implement live performance arts in Bay Village for the community’s enrichment and enjoyment.

 John J. Hnat – President

William M. Thornton – Treasurer

Judith P. Mazur - Secretary

Patrick M. Meehan – Vice President, Education

Andrew C.G. Lipian - At Large

Scott  A. Norcross - At Large