Recent funding from three foundations has enabled the Mountain Playhouse, a Somerset County theater group, to purchase a nearby house and eight wooded acres, providing administrative office space and an artist's living quarters.
The house, located across the street from the Jennerstown theater's entrance, became available last summer after the death of Lucille Stoughton. Stoughton was the widow of Robert Stoughton, brother of Playhouse founders James Stoughton and Louise Maust.
In the 1950s, Robert and Lucille Stoughton built Stoughton Lake and developed the surrounding property for year-round and vacation homes. The couple operated Stoughton Lake Park, a swimming and picnicking spot, until 1991.
The property was passed on to Lucille Stoughton's niece, Joan Maust Gipson, with the stipulation that Mountain Playhouse producer Teresa Stoughton Marafino would have the right of first refusal to purchase it for the theater's campus. Gipson sold the property below its appraised value, according to Playhouse administrators.
"We are able to protect a beautiful piece of property and save annually on office rent and housing costs for our actors by using the office space and living quarters available in the house," development director Erica Roslonski said in a news release.
"Since 1998," she said, "when the Mountain Playhouse became a nonprofit, we have gradually added the necessary staff to manage the theater. This month, several administrative offices have been relocated to the house, providing both office and meeting space for staff and board meetings."
On Wednesday, Roslonski declined to disclose the grant amounts awarded by the Laurel Foundation, the Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation and Heinz Endowments. Purchase price for the property was $95,000, she said.
The one-bedroom apartment in the residence, Roslonski said, likely will provide summer housing for play directors.
Located in a restored 1805 gristmill, the 393-seat theater is Pennsylvania's oldest professional stock theater, according to its Web site.
