Porthouse Theatre’s Legacy of Community Support and Artistic Magic

A Theatre Under the Stars in Cuyahoga Valley National Park 

Porthouse Theatre’s story began in 1968 with a partnership between Kent State University and The Cleveland Orchestra. When the orchestra announced plans to build a summer home, Blossom Music Center, in Cuyahoga Falls, Kent State president Robert White seized an opportunity for the organizations to work together to develop additional educational and cultural facilities next door on 37 acres of university-owned land. While the initial agreement was to focus primarily on music, programs in art and theatre quickly joined the plan for a Kent/Blossom Arts Festival. 

By the summer of 1969, the Kent Blossom theatre program had already taken off under the leadership of Kent State theatre professors William H. Zucchero, ’52, and Louis O. Erdmann, M.A. ’58. Students performed that first summer as a band of strolling Elizabethan-style players on the grounds of Blossom and in productions of “Death of a Salesman” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” on the Kent Campus. In October 1969, Kent State trustee Cyril Porthouse and his wife Roberta announced a $60,000 challenge gift to begin construction for an actual stage. Their pledge was joined by a $30,000 gift from Kent State professor Gerald Read and his wife Victoria to aid in the construction of the facilities. 

The soon-to-be-named Porthouse Theatre took shape over the course of the following spring and, when construction delays meant that the theatre was unable to open in time for the 1970 season, Zucchero and Erdmann improvised by holding performances in a tent in the parking lot. Finally, in the summer of 1971, the reality of a theatre under the stars was achieved when Porthouse Theatre and the neighboring Read Pavilion opened to the public, showcasing a full season of productions.  

Magic and Growth Made Possible by the Generosity of Many 

Since the initial gifts from the Porthouse and Read families, Porthouse Theatre has continued to thrive through continued support from decades of patrons and friends.  

In the early 1970s, some of Porthouse’s very first dedicated donors were members of the First Nighters program. The support of these early patrons was commemorated on a plaque that remains at the theatre today. In 1980, Porthouse Theatre’s neighbors James and Betty Hudkins donated their 95-acre farm and expanded the site’s footprint from its original 37 acres to its current 127 acres. 

The beautiful surroundings make the Porthouse experience more than just an evening or afternoon watching a performance. Visitors take full advantage of the grounds and regularly bring picnic dinners to enjoy before the show. In 2001, Gerald and Victoria Read returned to Porthouse with an additional gift for the construction of a covered picnic pavilion named in honor of their daughter and son-in-law, Victoria Anne and Carlton Forrest Thornbury. Another picnic pavilion was added in 2011 through the generosity of the Gregory Hackett Family Foundation, which also funded the installation of ceiling fans in the theatre in 2013. 

Between 2014 and 2018, the power of philanthropy marked the theatre’s 50th anniversary in a significant way. Through a generous lead gift from the Gregory Hackett Family Foundation, Porthouse completed a $1 million capital campaign that made transformational improvements to audience-facing spaces at the site. The campaign, supported by hundreds of donors, resulted in the construction of a new box office, the extensive renovation of Read Pavilion, expansion of the facility’s restrooms, a feature wall at the theatre’s entrance and an additional parking area. 

As audiences have enjoyed these improvements to the theatre since 2018, Porthouse has also looked forward to what comes next. As budgets continue to tighten and costs rise throughout higher education and arts organizations, Porthouse needs the partnership of its community more than ever. In the summer of 2025, Porthouse asked audiences, alumni and friends for help to solve a critical need: a new roof. The summer-long “Raise the Roof” campaign, paired with a perfectly timed production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” raised more than $100,000 toward the total cost.  

In the fall of 2025, long-time Porthouse season ticket holders Joan and Rocco DiLillo answered Porthouse’s request for support with a transformational $1 million gift that named the theatre’s stage as the Joan and Rocco DiLillo Stage in their honor. Noted philanthropist and arts supporter Roe Green, M.A. ’80, L.H.D. ’23 also showed her support when she and the Roe Green Foundation made a $1 million gift to create a new fund for Porthouse and Kent State’s School of Theatre and Dance. The fund supports Porthouse Theatre productions and establishes the Roe Green Musical Theatre and Porthouse Artistic Directorship.  

A Community Treasure That Feels Like a Family 

Throughout its nearly six decades, something that makes Porthouse shine each season is the community it has built. Season ticket holders and visitors return year after year, as do many of the professional and student artists who make the productions come to life on stage. 

Porthouse has cemented itself not only as a community treasure for audiences, but also as a celebrated educational program that impacts the artistic journeys of students and offers many their first professional theatre credit. Countless Porthouse alumni, many of whom are also Kent State graduates, have gone on to successful careers in theatre, film, television, education, administration, philanthropy and more. Alumni of the Porthouse program are Tony Award and Emmy Award winners and nominees, as well as professional artists whose work has appeared on Broadway and on stages across the United States and beyond. They are teaching the next generation of artists as they work and impact their own communities, helping them appreciate the power of the arts. 

Looking forward, Porthouse Theatre hopes to continue to strengthen its impact on audiences and students. With an increased endowment, Porthouse can continue to stage high-quality productions, while maintaining and expanding its training programs. The theatre also plans to make additional enhancements to improve the audience experience, including the replacement of the theatre’s wooden benches with individual seats. 

Nearly 60 years after its founding, Porthouse’s story remains rooted in the same spirit that originally brought it to life. With continued support, Porthouse will not only preserve its legacy as a theatre under the stars, but also expand its ability to inspire, educate and entertain for generations to come. Because, as so many alumni and audience members already know, it’s not summer without Porthouse Theatre.

To learn more about Porthouse Theatre and explore the current season, visit www.porthousetheatre.com. 

If you are an alumni of the Porthouse Theatre program and would like to update your contact information or share news, please complete the Porthouse Alumni Update Form.

To support Porthouse Theatre, visit our online giving portal.