Last night I had the pleasure of attending a screening of the new PBS documentary, “Staging Success: The PlayhouseSquare Story” at the historic Capitol Theatre in Gordon Square. The documentary takes a fascinating look at the history of our incredible theatre district.

From the theatre’s early days as movie houses and vaudeville stages, to their abandonment in the late 60’s, to the ‘crazy’ group of dreamers who brought attention back to the beautiful complex, the investors that saved the theatres from the wrecking ball days before they were turned into a parking lot, to the PlayhouseSquare we all know and love today.

Playhouse Square in 2012 (Image courtesy of PlayhouseSquare)

If you have ever enjoyed a night on the town in Playhouse Square Center, or if you have always wondered where our rich theatre history originated, you owe it to yourself to watch “Staging Success: The PlayhouseSquare Story.” The documentary airs tonight at 8PM on WVIZ-TV.