The Ogunquit Playhouse was first listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 14, 1995 in recognition of its local historic significance within the context of performing arts and community planning and development. Since that time, additional scholarship has been undertaken on the history of summer theater thus enabling the property to be evaluated within a broader context. Based on this research, the Ogunquit Playhouse?s listing was raised to the national level of significance in the area of Performing Arts Education. This assessment is based upon the important, influential, and unique role within the seasonal theater community that the educational wing of the Ogunquit Playhouse had in providing a performing arts curriculum during the summer season. The research also revealed that the Playhouse founder, Water J. Hartwig, was a nationally significant figure within both Broadway and summer theater circles, and is best known for founding the ?Little Theater Tournament? in the 1920s. This additional documentation was developed in recognition of the importance of the Ogunquit Playhouse and the contributions associated with it within the context of American theater.