In 1967 Ralph Rosinbum, an associate professor at the University of Washington, and Louis Lotorto founded the Bellevue Playbarn Children’s Theatre. With Rosinbum as Artistic Director and Lotorto as Business Manager, the Children’s Theatre produced live plays for young actors and audiences from 1967 through 1977.

Like the local adult theatre group the Bellevue Playbarn, the Children’s Theatre performed at the Center Stage Theatre at Crossroads Shopping Center. The children had use of the stage during the summer months, and the group usually performed three plays per season. Bellevue Playbarn Children’s Theatre raised the curtain for the first time on July 26, 1967 with “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” The production starred Richard Dorrish in the title role and John Harsh as Huckleberry Finn. The last show was “Red Riding Hood” with Molly Jacobson in the lead. That play closed on July 30, 1977.

Heritage Corner is a feature in the Bellevue Reporter. Material is provided by the Eastside Heritage Center. For more information call 425-450-1049.