The Curtain Rises Again

Southampton’s beloved 1932 movie house has reopened as the Southampton Playhouse, honoring its art-deco past while welcoming a new generation of film lovers

It’s the hush just before a reel begins — anticipation rippling through a seated audience — that captures the magic of cinema. For Southampton, that thrill returned this spring as the village’s beloved landmark, the old Southampton Theatre, emerged from a five-year slumber in dazzling new form.

Originally opened in 1932, the art-deco façade and iconic marquee of the Southampton Theatre witnessed generations of filmgoers — from Gary Cooper’s summer matinees to weekend escapes from reality. And now, under the name Southampton Playhouse, its legacy steps boldly into the present.

The rebirth began in 2022, when real estate patrons Aby Rosen, his son Charlie, and Lyrical Media’s Alex Black took ownership of the shuttered Hill Street site. Their vision was clear: to reweave this cultural fixture into the fabric of the community as a nonprofit beacon for cinema and connection.

With the careful craftsmanship of 1100 Architects and lead developer Jay Bialsky, the Playhouse shed its 1,000-seat single auditorium in favor of four intimate screening rooms, accommodating nearly 500 patrons. One of those rooms now houses the only IMAX theater on the East End, alongside Dolby Atmos sound and even a theater with 35mm projection capability — a nod to the tactile warmth of classic cinema.

But it’s the people behind the Playhouse who give it heart. Executive Director Maria A. Ruiz Botsacos, brought on board from Film at Lincoln Center, returned to the Playhouse the sense of goodwill and event-driven momentum she fostered on the city stage. “It’s about creating a space where everyone feels they belong,” she says.

Partnering with her is Artistic Director Eric Kohn, a former IndieWire executive whose weekly newsletter, The Playhouse Post, weaves cultural criticism, cinematic history, and local insight into each program. Kohn’s touch made that opening weekend feel like a homecoming — when screenings ranged from “Captain America: Brave New World” and the documentary Blue Angels in IMAX, to a repertory revival of Ernst Lubitsch’s 1932 classic Trouble in Paradise, perfect homage to the year the theater first welcomed audiences.

Indeed, the Playhouse is more than a theatre; it’s a gathering place. Its lobby recalls the old charm but blooms anew with a well-curated bookstore, an arcade console, and a thoughtful concessions lounge where candy mingles with cocktails and local treats. These additions blur the line between film, community, and experience.

Since its opening earlier this year, the Southampton Playhouse has housed not just Hollywood premieres, but also celebrations of community: Juneteenth events, repertory showcases, and even a Gary Cooper tribute born of local memory.

This restored cinema stands now both as a testament to memory and a promise of innovation — where architecture, technology, and programming converge in a gentle invitation: come, rediscover the thrill of the screen, and let a revitalized jewel of Southampton carry you into a new cinematic chapter.

A cultural landmark since 1932, the Southampton Playhouse has been reborn as a nonprofit dedicated to cinema, performance, and community. Its four distinct screens include a state-of-the-art IMAX auditorium, a rare 35mm projection theater, and a flexible performance space designed for events both intimate and grand. Beyond film, the Playhouse offers a curated lounge and bookstore that encourage conversation and discovery. Programming spans from Hollywood premieres to global discoveries and repertory classics, enriched by Q&As, workshops, and lectures. At its heart is The Playhouse Post, Artistic Director Eric Kohn’as weekly newsletter, which frames each program within a larger cultural and historical context. The Playhouse stands as both a tribute to cinema’s past and a beacon for its future.