Our 2022 Mainstage Theatre Series!
Spring
Intimate Apparel
by Lynn Nottage
April 21-May 1
Set in 1905 New York, Intimate Apparel tells the story of Esther, a lonely, single African-American woman who makes her living sewing beautiful corsets and ladies’ undergarments. There is warm affection between her and the Orthodox Jewish man who sells fabrics to her, but any relationship between them, even a touch, is completely forbidden. Seeking love and romance, Esther eventually embarks on a letter-writing relationship with a mysterious suitor laboring on the Panama Canal. When he moves to New York they embark on an unhappy marriage, leading Esther to realize that only her self-reliance and certainty of her own worth will see her through life’s challenges.
by Lynn Nottage
April 21-May 1
Set in 1905 New York, Intimate Apparel tells the story of Esther, a lonely, single African-American woman who makes her living sewing beautiful corsets and ladies’ undergarments. There is warm affection between her and the Orthodox Jewish man who sells fabrics to her, but any relationship between them, even a touch, is completely forbidden. Seeking love and romance, Esther eventually embarks on a letter-writing relationship with a mysterious suitor laboring on the Panama Canal. When he moves to New York they embark on an unhappy marriage, leading Esther to realize that only her self-reliance and certainty of her own worth will see her through life’s challenges.
Summer
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
by Rachel Sheinkin and William Finn
June 11-July 2
An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.
by Rachel Sheinkin and William Finn
June 11-July 2
An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
by William Shakespeare
July 9-30
This classic play weaves together several stories taking place under the moon of a mystical midsummer night. One story involves a complicated lovers’ quarrel among four Athenian youths. Another follows a group of six amateur actors preparing for the performance of a lifetime. Both groups find themselves in a forest inhabited by mischievous fairies who manipulate the humans and are engaged in their own domestic intrigue. The play is one of Shakespeare's most popular and is widely performed.
by William Shakespeare
July 9-30
This classic play weaves together several stories taking place under the moon of a mystical midsummer night. One story involves a complicated lovers’ quarrel among four Athenian youths. Another follows a group of six amateur actors preparing for the performance of a lifetime. Both groups find themselves in a forest inhabited by mischievous fairies who manipulate the humans and are engaged in their own domestic intrigue. The play is one of Shakespeare's most popular and is widely performed.
The Nerd
by Larry Shue
August 6-21
Willum Cubbert has often told his friends about the debt he owes to Rick Steadman, a fellow ex-GI whom he has never met but who saved his life in Vietnam. Willum is delighted when Rick shows up unexpectedly at his apartment on the night of his birthday party. But his delight soon fades as it becomes apparent that Rick is a hopeless “nerd” —a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence, and less tact. As Rick stays on and on, his continued presence among Willum and his friends leads to one uproarious incident after another, until the normally mild-mannered Willum finds himself going mad. This extraordinarily inventive, side-splitting comedy will delight with absurdity and even a dash of romance!
by Larry Shue
August 6-21
Willum Cubbert has often told his friends about the debt he owes to Rick Steadman, a fellow ex-GI whom he has never met but who saved his life in Vietnam. Willum is delighted when Rick shows up unexpectedly at his apartment on the night of his birthday party. But his delight soon fades as it becomes apparent that Rick is a hopeless “nerd” —a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence, and less tact. As Rick stays on and on, his continued presence among Willum and his friends leads to one uproarious incident after another, until the normally mild-mannered Willum finds himself going mad. This extraordinarily inventive, side-splitting comedy will delight with absurdity and even a dash of romance!
Fall
The Mousetrap
by Agatha Christie
October 8-29
The scene is set when a group of people gathered in a country house that is cut off by a blizzard. To their horror, they discover that there is a murderer in their midst. Who can it be? One by one the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts. Brimming with intrigue, sophisticated humor, and surprising twists, Agatha Christie's iconic murder mystery is the world’s longest-running play. The Mousetrap opened in London's West End in 1952 and ran continuously until March 16, 2020, when the stage performances had to be discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
by Agatha Christie
October 8-29
The scene is set when a group of people gathered in a country house that is cut off by a blizzard. To their horror, they discover that there is a murderer in their midst. Who can it be? One by one the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts. Brimming with intrigue, sophisticated humor, and surprising twists, Agatha Christie's iconic murder mystery is the world’s longest-running play. The Mousetrap opened in London's West End in 1952 and ran continuously until March 16, 2020, when the stage performances had to be discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Holiday
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley
by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon
November 26-December 18
A charming, witty sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice set two years after the novel ends, Miss Bennet continues the story, only this time with bookish middle-sister Mary as its unlikely heroine. Mary is growing tired of her role as dutiful middle sister in the face of her siblings’ romantic escapades. When the family gathers for Christmas at Pemberley, an unexpected guest sparks Mary’s hopes for independence, an intellectual match, and possibly even love.
by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon
November 26-December 18
A charming, witty sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice set two years after the novel ends, Miss Bennet continues the story, only this time with bookish middle-sister Mary as its unlikely heroine. Mary is growing tired of her role as dutiful middle sister in the face of her siblings’ romantic escapades. When the family gathers for Christmas at Pemberley, an unexpected guest sparks Mary’s hopes for independence, an intellectual match, and possibly even love.