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In 1967, the Maine State Legislature passed a resolution designating Lakewood as the Official Theater of the State of Maine. It was indeed an honor as few states had bestowed upon a theater.

In the history of American theater, Lakewood Theatre presents a unique picture. It is evident from the evolution of Lakewood from an Indian campsite to a country picnic ground, an amusement park, summer theater and to the official theater of the State of Maine.

Herbert L Swett, forged the modern theater from a tumbledown hotel, a modest restaurant, a bandstand, children's playground and bowling alley. He was a Bangor native and Bowdoin College graduate. Swett had come to Central Maine in 1901 to manage the trolley line for the widow of Gen. R. B. Shephard. Lakewood was part of the trolley line's property.

Swett was a man of vision. He acquired the Lakewood property in 1926. The Country Club opened that same year. Swett successfully operated Lakewood until his death in 1945. In the 1950's and 1960's, Swett’s daughters and their husbands ran the theater.

From 1925-41 this jewel of America's resident stock companies was the major summer tryout for productions hoping for success on Broadway. "Life with Father," which went on to Broadway for 3,224 performances, a longevity record that stood for many years, premiered at Lakewood in 1939.

Until 1961, Lakewood Theater held on to its resident company format. At that time, it joined the other summer theaters on the East Coast in presenting package productions. The Swett Family sold the Theater in 1970.

Iin 1983, Lakewood Theatre Company renovated the old building, gave it new life, and opened those same doors to the world of theatre.

In 1999, the Theatre Company, in 1999, was able at last to purchase the whole building with the community support. From this auspicious beginning, the theatre has continued to be one of the finest community theatre groups in Middle Tennessee.

In the 2002 season, Lakewood surpassed its 1,100th production. It is surely a record that is untouchable. Previously, "The Late George Appley," with 575 plays held the highest records.

A "Who's Who" of silent screen, Broadway, movie and television have passed through the backstage door. Some of those include Mary Astor, Allen Ludden, Betty White, Milton Berle, Phyllis Diller, Carol Channing, Lana Turner, Robert Stack, John Travolta, Gloria Swanson, Mickey Rooney, Myrna Loy, William Shatner, Lloyd Bridges, Tom Poston, Patty Duke, Art Carney, Van Johnson, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Lillian Gish, Rita Moreno, Humphrey Bogart, Lynn Redgrave and Groucho Marx, to name a few.

The classic, quality productions of such acclaimed plays like Arsenic and Old Lace, On Golden Pond, and Driving Miss Daisy along with musicals like The Winter Wonderettes as well as children's show such as Tom Sawyer and Peter Pan have assured audience satisfaction time after time. This theatre has contributed a lot in providing the class entertainment to the roaring crowds.

Still showing films, still entertaining audiences, the Lakewood now draws audiences from a wider geographical area, to watch a wider variety of entertainment choices than ever before.