Martha's Vineyard Playhouse

The historic Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse was built in 1833 on pasture land donated by Captain William Daggett. The building was originally constructed for $2,000 and was dedicated on July 11, 1833 as  a Methodist Meeting House and used as such until 1845.

The Town of Tisbury held town meetings here between the years of 1852-1854.  In 1855, the building was bought for use as a public meeting house and named Capawock Hall.  At this time, the structure was raised from one to two stories with a market on the first floor.  The first Episcopal church service on Martha’s Vineyard was held here on December 24, 1862.  The hall was utilized for weddings and community suppers.

In 1895, the Masons bought the Capawock Hall after losing their own building in Tisbury’s great fire of 1883.  The building was purchased for “a considerable sum”  and remodeled.  A quote at that time said, “The interior is finished throughout with southern yellow pine bead board and (it) is one of the best suburban lodges in the state.”

The building was used as a Masonic Lodge until 1982, when Eileen Wilson and Isabella McKamy founded the theater and it became home to the Vineyard Playhouse Company Inc., a small professional non-profit theater.

The Company purchased its home in March of 1993.  A complete renovation, restoration and expansion of the historic theater building has been completed so that the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse can continue its role as one of Tisbury’s cultural and architectural gems for future generations.