The Bucks County Playhouse held an outdoor ceremony to reopen and rededicate New Hope’s historic Parry Barn as the Bill Harris and Jay Manas Playhouse Barn.
The barn, one of the oldest stone structures in New Hope, is named for Bill Harris and Jay Manas of Upper Black Eddy who were well-known and loved in the community. The gift is part of a trust established by Manas and was directed to the Playhouse through Bill T. Nolan, a longtime friend of the couple and the sole trustee.
Future opportunities at Parry Barn include cabaret, spoken word, classical music and more. The gift from the Manas trust represents one of the largest gifts from an individual to the Playhouse to date. The gift will provide funding for the renovation of the Playhouse Barn, as well as supporting young artists and future programming within the newly renovated building.
Renovations to the barn included creating an intimate performance space that will host events like a cabaret series, spoken word/poetry, classic music and other performances by established and emerging artists. There will also be flexible-use spaces for education programs, a patron lounge, and exhibits from the archives of both the Playhouse and New Hope Historical Society. When not in use for mission-based programming, the building will be available for business meetings, private celebratory dinners, small weddings and rehearsal dinners.
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