Celebrating Milford’s Playhouse 101

To the Editor:

Forty-five years ago on a warm summer evening, a miracle came to Milford. Playhouse 101 was born along the shore of Railroad Pond at the First Congregational Church Parish House.

This was the first professional sum­mer theater in Milford, co-founded by native son Terry Lorden and Roi White, head of the theater department at Plymouth State College. Lorden served as producer and White as di­rector for three glorious seasons.

In 1971 alone, sales for the plays stood at 98.6 percent sold out, with over 10,000 evening tickets gone. People came from all over New Eng­land to attend.

Countless locals and profession­als were involved in production and sponsorship of the theater. The plays were exceptionally well reviewed. Milford was on the map for quality summer theater.

Playhouse 101 outgrew the Parish House. Its tremendous success led to an interim year of planning and the eventual building of a new theater bordering the Souhegan River in 1975.

Times have changed since then. Yet we must remember this remark­able event in the history of Milford. Terry Lorden recently gifted the First Congregational Church a wealth of Playhouse 101 memorabilia. It is a tre­mendous boost to our archives. Both the church and its cooperating neigh­bor, the Milford Historical Society, have holdings available for viewing. Let’s celebrate this important mile­stone in our town history. Some of you were there!

Bonnie Gondola

Historian

First Congregational Church, Milford