Summer raises the curtain on Kentucky’s outdoor theaters. Could this be their final act? • Kentucky Lantern

Pioneer Playhouse in Danville will lift the curtain this weekend on its 75th season of staging plays under the stars. It is the oldest outdoor theater in Kentucky, and unlike several others, has survived many challenges.

The weather is always a challenge. So are the economy and fierce competition for entertainment dollars. The COVID-19 pandemic crippled several outdoor theaters in Kentucky but Pioneer Playhouse remained open.