“[Eben's] contributions to theatre in Kentucky are extraordinary, not only with his own productions, but with his work bringing greater recognition to theatre and drama across the state. In the world of outdoor drama, he is legendary.”
– Ann Latta, former Secretary of Tourism and Development
For over five decades, the husband-and-wife team of Eben and Charlotte Henson have devoted themselves to keeping Kentucky’s oldest outdoor theatre afloat as a labor of love for actors and the community.
Now, with the passing of Eben Henson, Charlotte, Holly and Robby Henson are keeping up the high standards set by the man everyone knew “the Colonel.”
Holly Henson, Artistic Director
Holly, daughter of founders Eben and Charlotte Henson, grew up at Pioneer Playhouse and has worked in every capacity over the years. She attended Stephens College and The Drama Studio/London, and spent ten years working as an actress before switching into standup comedy. Holly has logged over 200 hours on prime-time television in various capacities, including performer, comic and writer. She has appeared on KET, PBS, The USA Network, MTV and Comedy Central. She was the project director for the Raintree County Festival, one of Kentucky’s Top Ten Summer Festivals in 2007 and was narrator on Turner Classic Movie’s mini-documentary, “Hollywood In My Hometown.” She wrote the 2009 original Kentucky-history play “The Infamous Ephraim” which was staged in celebration of the 200th anniversary of Kentucky’s pioneer surgeon, Ephraim McDowell. Holly divides her time between standup, acting, producing, directing, writing and trying to change the world, “one outdoor theatre at a time.”
Robby Henson, Director
Robby Henson received his MFA in film from New York University and directed his first production at Pioneer Playhouse in 1983. His award-winning documentaries have shown at the Sundance Film Festival, the Guggenheim Museum and on PBS. He wrote, produced and directed Pharaoh’s Army, a Civil War drama starring Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson and Patricia Clarkson.
Recent work includes writing and directing the The Badge, an award-winning New Orleans crime drama starring Billy Bob Thornton, Patricia Arquette, Sela Ward and Thomas Hayden Church.
His thriller The Visitation, based on the bestselling novel by Frank Peretti and starring Randy Travis, Kelly Lynch and Edward Furlong, was released by 20th Century Fox in 2005. His current project House, with Michael Madsen, was filmed in Poland and will be released by Lionsgate Films this fall.
Col. Eben C. Henson, 1923 – 2004
The founder of Pioneer Playhouse served as location representative for six major movie companies and was author of the book How to Play the Voice as an Instrument. This former mayor of Danville has been a leading force in bringing film productions to the Bluegrass area and has served in that capacity under six governors. For his work in helping establish the outdoor drama movement in the state, he received the Governor’s ‘Pioneering Award.’ Along with Rosemary Clooney and Loretta Lynn, he was one of six recipients to receive a Sidewalk Star in downtown Lexington.
As president and founding member of the Kentucky Arts Commission, he once visited the White House to consult on the formation of the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to establishing the first State Theatre in the nation, he was also instrumental in helping form Kentucky’s first Film Commission — bringing an additional 14 movies to the region.
