As Highlands Playhouse puts a Covid-cramped year behind it and contemplates a successful Summer Season, its audiences will be welcomed back with a bright, spruced-up landscaping effort.
On Thursday, March 18, the exterior grounds of the Highlands Playhouse were given a much-needed freshening up by a seven-person grounds crew on loan from Highlands Falls Country Club.
HFCC Golf Course Superintendent (and full-time Highlands resident) Fred Gehrisch loaned a small contingent of workers for a morning of pruning, shaping and weeding at the Playhouse.
“We’ve been doing these types of projects for over 15 years now. The members and management at Highlands Falls are honored to be a part of the Highlands Community and we hope that this small donation continues to improve our town,” said Gehrisch.
The idea for the partnership came from Sandie Trevathan, a member of HFCC since 1996 and Vice President for the Playhouse.
“When the subject of a spring clean up arose after the first of this year, I remembered that Highlands Falls did a ‘community project’ each year. Asking Fred seemed like a logical first step in getting an overall landscape project started,” Trevathan explained.
At this time of year, the HFCC crew would normally be focused on fine tuning a comprehensive golf course renovation project at Highlands Falls.
“Due to the rain we experienced that particular day it was just too wet to do any construction or maintenance on our own golf course. With the Playhouse being high on a hill, it was actually a reasonably dry place to work. We sent over a small crew, headed up by my assistant, Chris Cowan. They were able to put in about 28 man-hours and took two loads of debris to the dump,” Gehrisch explained.
HFCC General Manager Jason Macaulay put the spotlight squarely on Gehrisch and his crew.
“Highlands Falls Country Club applauds the efforts of Fred and his crew to donate time to benefit this special community that so many of us call home,” said Macaulay. “Many of our members and some staff have served on local Boards in their desire to give back. Fred has found an excellent way to give back and to fulfill his desire to help our community despite his busy schedule.”
The beautiful landscaping mirrors the spirit of renovation and renewal that’s overtaken the playhouse as it shakes off the effects of Covid, which led to the shuttering of the box office in 2020.
You’ll find it mirrored in the freshened-up lobby interior and patio area, fresh faces in the box office and in the executive director’s role, and a fresh approach to the summer season that ‘ll extend performances through the Labor Day weekend.
Playhouse President Dave Healy says, “We greatly appreciate the willingness of the management and grounds crew at Highlands Falls Country Club to donate their time to help the Playhouse look its best when we announce the start of our 83rd season.”
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