The Cumming Playhouse, located inside the 1923 Cumming schoolhouse at 101 School St., is the heart of performing arts and history in Forsyth County.

The facility was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 through the efforts of the Historical Society of Forsyth County.

The school was the first high school in Forsyth County, issuing the first diplomas to graduates. 

The facility, which is owned by the city of Cumming, was restored through local 1-cent sales tax revenue in 2004. 

As a center of history, the facility also houses the Historical Society of Forsyth County and the Col. Hiram Parks Bell Center for Southern History and Genealogical Research.

As a performing arts venue, the playhouse opened its doors in 2004, providing quality entertainment throughout the season, offering plays, musicals and concerts.

Each year, the playhouse provides a wide range of entertainment to thousands of patrons.

Everything from concerts and traveling shows to full-scale, main stage plays and musicals grace the historic stage each year.

So far in 2016, the venue has presented tribute shows to the classic comedian Red Skelton and to country music rocker, Hank Williams Jr.

The playhouse also saw the return of “Mardi Gras,” a variety show featuring local musicians and comedians, which raises money for Age Well Forsyth.

In addition, Dacula-based band, The Skillet Lickers, presented its show, “Country Music Down Yonder,” which highlights the contributions of the group, founded in 1923, to the history of country music.

Fans of the classic television series, “The Andy Griffith Show,” enjoyed two sold-out performances of “Mayberry Moments.”

This show featured two stars from the 1960s classic program, as well as a tribute performance of everyone’s favorite Mayberry deputy.

There is still plenty more to come in 2016 at the playhouse.

The well-known Broadway musical, “My Fair Lady,” hits the stage April 28 to May 22 under the direction of City of the South Theatre.

“Leader of the Pack,” which was nominated for the 1985 Tony for Best Broadway Musical, will be presented by RISPA, the group that brought “CATS” to the playhouse in 2015. “Leader of the Pack” runs July 21-Aug. 14.

This fall, the playhouse’s most popular show, “Smoke on the Mountain,” returns, followed by a special Christmas edition of the “Georgia Senior Follies.”

“Smoke on the Mountain” will be presented Sept. 22-Oct. 16, and “Georgia Senior Follies Christmas Extravaganza” will run Nov. 17-Dec. 4.

Numerous concerts will also be featured various weekends through the end of the year.

These include performances by the Cumming Playhouse Singers, Frances Mooney and Fontanna Sunset, the Forsyth Philharmonic, the North Georgia Barbershop Singers and “Classic Nashville Roadshow,” featuring Jason Petty and Katie Deal, daughter of Gov. Nathan Deal.

For more information about upcoming shows and to purchase tickets, go to www.playhousecumming.com.

 Upcoming shows at the Cumming Playhouse

* March 31 — Cumming Playhouse Singers “And All That Jazz”

* April 8-10 — Ozark Jubilee from Branson, Mo.

* April 28-May 22 — “My Fair Lady” Broadway Musical

* June 4 — Frances Mooney and Fontanna Sunset

* July 21-Aug. 14  — “Leader of the Pack” Broadway Musical

* Aug. 27 — “Classic Nashville Roadshow”

* Sept. 22-Oct. 16 — “Smoke on the Mountain” Broadway Musical

* Nov. 17-Dec. 4 — Georgia Senior Follies “Christmas Extravaganza”

* Dec. 9 — Forsyth Philharmonic Christmas

* Dec. 11 — “Christmas Classics”

* Dec. 16 — Cumming Playhouse Singers Christmas

* Dec. 17-18 — North Georgia Barbershop Singers Christmas

 For more information, go to www.playhousecumming.com