The Pioneer Playhouse, located in Danville, Kentucky, is the oldest outdoor theater in the state of Kentucky.
The Pioneer Playhouse was built by Col. Eben C. Henson who established the outdoor theater in 1950. Notable alumni actors include John Travolta, Lee Majors, then known as Harvey Yeary, and Jim Varney. In 1962, Pioneer Playhouse became the first theater in the nation to be accorded the legal status of State Theater by act of Legislation.
Since Henson's death in 2004 the theater has been run by Henson's widow, Charlotte. Her daughter Holly served as artistic director until her death in 2012. Robby Henson, her son, directs at least one play at the theater every summer.
2014
Whodunnit, Darling? by Charles Edward Pogue and Larry Drake
Is He Dead? by Mark Twain, adapted by David Ives
The Wonder Team by Robby Henson
Walking Across Egypt by Catherine Bush (adapted from the novel by Clyde Edgerton)
A Visit from Scarface by V. Cate and Duke Ernsberger
2013
Deathtrap by Ira Levin
Tamed by Holly Hepp-Galvan, adapted from Taming of the Shrew
The Search for Tinker Doyle by Elizabeth Orndorff
Moon Over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig
Cockeyed by Samuel French
2012
Dracula Bites! by V. Cate and Duke Ernsberger
Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin
Bottoms Up! by Gregg Kreutz
High Strangeness by Elizabeth Orndorff
Tuna Does Vegas by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard
2011
The 39 Steps adapted by Patrick Barlow
Tartuffe: The Southern Version adapted from Moliere
That Madcap Moon by Janet Henson Dow
Don't Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell by V. Cate and Duke Ernsberger
Kosher Lutherans by William Missouri Downs
2010
A Nice Family Gathering by Phil Olson
Miranda: The Catch of the Day (Adapted from Miranda, by Peter Blackmore)
The Dillinger Dilemma (World Premiere by Elizabeth Orndorff)
For Better by Eric Coble The production was directed by Katherine M. Carter
Run for Your Wife by Ray Cooney The production was directed by Lawrence Lesher
2009
M is for Million by Jack Sharkey
The Infamous Ephraim by Holly Henson
Lend Me a Tenor by Ken Ludwig
Girl Crazy by Guy Bolton & John McGowan
Be My Baby by Ken Ludwig
2008
Leading Ladies by Ken Ludwig
Mornings at Seven by Paul Osborn.
Death by Darkness by Elizabeth Orndorff. The production was directed by Lawrence Lesher.
Love, Sex and the IRS by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore. The production was directed by Synge Maher.
Cookin' with Gus by Jim Brochu. The production was directed by Lawrence Lesher.
2007Babe, The Sheep Pig by David Wood. The production was directed by Robby Henson.
The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni. The production was directed by Lawrence Lesher.
The Odd Couple by Neil Simon. The production was directed by Lawrence Lesher.
A Jarful of Fireflies by Catherine Bush. The production was directed by Robby Henson.
Greater Tuna by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, & Ed Howard
2006My Sister Eileen by Joseph A. Fields & Jerome Chodorov
Rumors by Neil Simon
Shakespeare in Hollywood by Ken Ludwig
Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott
Social Security by Andrew Bergman
2005On the Razzle by Tom Stoppard
Squabbles by Marshall Karp
The Man Who Came to Dinner by Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman
The Last of Jane Austen by Shirl Hendryx
Death by Golf by Gregg Kreutz
2004
Cactus Flower by Abe Burrows
Mr. Shaw Goes to Hollywood by Mark Saltzman
Biloxi Blues by Neil Simon
2003
Impossible Marriage by Beth Henley
Proposals by Neil Simon
Sylvia by A.R. Gurney
1995
Tom Jones
Harvey by Mary Chase
My Fat Friend by Charles Laurence
