The theater was founded by Beulah E. Jay and her husband Edward G. Jay, Jr. with acquaintance F.H. Shelton in an effort to produce
"American plays of ideas," an underrepresented genre at the time. During its 100 years of performing, Plays & Players theater company
has produced innumerable notable performances—some of the most noteworthy being the world premiere of the acclaimed Broadway play
"Stalag 17" in 1949, and a childhood performance by actor Kevin Bacon in "Member of the Wedding" in 1974.
The first season of Plays & Players included "An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde and "The Learned Ladies" by Molière,
both still popular plays today. On March 14, 1973, Plays & Players Theatre was entered in the National Register of Historic Places.