Action Arts Theater Donates Props, Costumes to Langhorne Players

The Newtown-based non-profit community theater, Langhorne Players, received a donation of props, costumes and $6,000 from a theater company that recently closed its doors.

Action Arts Theater Company of Cheltenham closed in 2010 because the small company could no longer fulfill its mission, according to the co-founder and former president of the theater, David Cole. Because of this, the theater wanted to find a similar company that could benefit from its props and costumes.

"Our small company is at a point where we can no longer operate," Cole said. "Our core group has assumed new responsibilities outside of theater, we do not feel we can fulfill the mission we set for ourselves, and we are looking to pass on our torch —and our assets — to another company who has a similar mission and purpose."

Cole contacted Robert A. Norman, treasurer of , during the summer of 2011 and said that the Langhorne Players shared a similar mission, and that the theater company was eligible as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to receive a donation of Action Arts' assets.

The Players then submitted a proposal, and almost a year later on Aug. 4, the theater company received props, costumes and a check for $6,000.

The president of Langhorne Players said that it is unfortunate that a peer theater company had to close, but that the Players are thankful for the donation.

"We are sad to see one of our peers succumb to the trials of sustaining a small, non-profit theater company in this age of easily-accessed digital entertainment and hard-to-come-by volunteers," said Charles Gorman, president of Langhorne Players. "But we thank Action Arts Theater Company for their generosity in helping keep our little theater alive. We are honored.”