| Comstock-Cheney Hall | |
| Coordinates: | 41.3486°N -72.4422°W |
| Built: | 1910 and 1938 |
| Added: | April 15, 1982 |
| Refnum: | 82003769 |
Comstock-Cheney Hall, also known as Ivoryton Playhouse, is a theater building located in the village of Ivoryton in the town of Essex, Connecticut, US. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The theatre is believed to be the first continuously operating summer theatre in the United States.
Construction began in 1910 and was completed 1911 as a recreation hall for the Comstock-Cheney factory.[1] The building includes Classical Revival architecture. When listed the property included three contributing buildings on an area of .
The theatre is believed to be the first self-supporting summer theatre in the United States.[2] Although there were older theatres in Dennis, MA and Skowhegan, ME, they were endowed by foundations of wealthy families and not self-supporting. The Westport Country Playhouse was established one year after the Ivoryton Playhouse.
The Playhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, as is indicated on the front of the building.[3]