The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Music and Lyrics by William Finn
Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Directed by John Myers
August 23 – September 14, 2024

(Musical Comedy, Ages 13+)

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. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box. A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius.

Austenprov

Organized by Diana Holdridge
Improv | September 19 to 29, 2024

A one hour long form improv where the audience will give the actors a “new” Jane Austen title (could be anything really…zombies at Pemberley, werewolves at a ball, the saddest spinster in Bath…) and the actors will create a one hour play! Each performance will be completely original! Period costumes and the style of Jane Austen and her world will make for an extremely silly hour of fun!

A Tomb with a View

By Norman Robbins
Directed by Jesse Sundet
October 11 – 26, 2024

(Mystery/Thriller; Ages 13+)

A Tomb With A View is set in as sinister an old library as one is likely to come across presided over by a portrait of a grim faced, mad eyed old man. There, a dusty, lawyer reads a will (involving some millions of pounds) to an equally sinister family one member of which has were wolf tendencies, another wanders around in a toga of Julius Caesar and a third member is a gentle old lady who plants more than seeds in her flower beds. By the third act, there are more corpses than live members left in the cast and what about the sympathetic nurse and the author of romantic novels are they all, or more than, they seem to be? All is revealed as the plot twists and turns to its surprising conclusion.

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Book by Joseph Robinette
Music & lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Directed by Patti Finley
November 22 – December 14, 2024

(Musical Comedy, All Ages)

This musical, which received rave reviews on its Broadway run, is based on the movie classic that runs round-the-clock on television every Christmas. Set in the 1940s in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, the musical follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts—an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Rebuffed at every turn with a similar echoing response, Ralphie plots numerous schemes to achieve his desperate desire for the coveted BB gun. All the iconic scenes from the movie are here: Ralphie’s friend, Flick, getting his tongue stuck to the flagpole; his brother, Randy, getting dressed in his snowsuit; the bullies, Farkus and Dill; the leg lamp award; the bunny suit; Christmas dinner; and many others. The delightfully versatile score ranges from gentle ballads to show-stopping full-ensemble numbers such as “Ralphie to the Rescue!”, “A Major Award,” “Sticky Situation,” “Up on Santa’s Lap,” “Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana” and the inevitable “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!” A Christmas Story, The Musical will bring an exciting new dimension to those who have seen the movie and will certainly stand on its own for those who haven’t.

Book by Joseph Robinette. Music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Based on the motion picture A Christmas Story distributed by Warner Bros., written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, and upon In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash written by Jean Shepherd. Produced with permission of Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and Dalfie Entertainment.

The Eight: Reindeer Monologues

By Jeff Goode
Directed by Shannon Peterson
Dark Adult Comedy| November 29 to December 21, 2024

Late Night Shows start at 11:00pm, Fridays & Saturdays

(Dark Comedy, Ages 14+)

Are you looking for something different for Christmas this year? Well, this is the script for you: eight reindeer dishing about the real Santa. All those rumors you’ve heard about him and the elves? About Rudolph’s little secret? About Vixen’s story that was leaked to the press? All true. Yes, the reindeer finally speak up and – believe us – they do not hold back!

The Hallelujah Girls

By Jones Hope Wooten
Directed by Camilla Boylan
January 10 – 25, 2025

(Comedy, All Ages)

Hilarity abounds when the feisty females of Eden Falls, Georgia, decide to shake up their lives. The action in this rollicking Southern comedy takes place in SPA-DEE-DAH!, the abandoned church-turned-day-spa where this group of friends gathers every Friday afternoon. After the loss of a dear friend, the women realize time is precious, and if they’re going to change their lives and achieve their dreams, they have to get on it now!

But Sugar Lee, their high-spirited, determined leader, has her hands full keeping the women motivated. Carlene’s given up on romance, having buried three husbands. Nita’s a nervous wreck from running interference between her problematic son and his probation officer. Mavis’ marriage is so stagnant she’s wondering how she can fake her own death to get out of it. And sweet, simple Crystal entertains them all, singing Christmas carols with her own hilarious lyrics.

The comic tension mounts when a sexy ex-boyfriend shows up unexpectedly, a marriage proposal comes from an unlikely suitor and Sugar Lee’s archrival vows she’ll stop at nothing to steal the spa away from her. By the time the women rally together to overcome these obstacles and launch their new, improved lives, you’ve got a side-splitting, joyful comedy that will make you laugh out loud and shout “Hallelujah!”

Deep Blue (The World Premier)

By Gregg Irwin
Directed by Paul Archibeque
Drama | January 30 to February 9, 2025

Deep Blue, a new work by local play wright Gregg Irwin, is a timely exploration of the way in which humans and artificial intelligence may interact in the near future while working closely together. Chris is the solo human element in an undersea data center run by four AIs each with their own responsibilities…and personalities. This taut, engaging drama unfolds with heart and plenty of humor as Chris and his new AI crew learn to work together wile navigating the many challenges of living in isolation at the bottom of the ocean.

The Rivals

By Richard B. Sheridan
Directed by Diana Holdridge
Feb 21 – Mar 8, 2025

(Comedy, All Ages)

The Rivals concern the romantic adventures of Lydia Languish, (who only reads romance novels) who is determined to marry for love and into poverty. Realizing this, the aristocratic Captain Jack Absolute woos her while claiming to be lowly Ensign Beverly.

But her aunt, Mrs. Malaprop, will not permit her to wed a mere ensign and Lydia will lose half her fortune is she marries without her aunt’s permission.

In the end, Lydia abandons her sentimental notions and agrees to marry Jack. Numerous side plots exist (among them neurotic Faulkland’s endless testing of Julia’s love for him).

The Rivals is full of angry fathers, silly country squires, scheming servants and the famously ridiculous Mrs. Malaprop. The Rivals will be updated to the swinging 1960’s, a perfect setting for the romantic hijinks of the play.

Drunk Shakespeare

Organized and Formatted by
Paul Archibeque and Jordan Peterson
Comedy | March 13 to 23, 2025

(Comedy, Ages )

Five actors come together to perform one of Shakespeare’s classics but right before they begin, one of the actors has to take 5 shots. Watch as they try to perform a major role and the sober actors try and keep the play afloat.

Keep on Laughing

By Paul Elliot
Directed by Wendy Koeppl
April 4 – 19, 2025

(Comedy, Ages 13+ )

They’re back! The ladies of Exit Laughing are as zany and funny as ever, but now Connie’s daughter, Rachel, has married her 28-year-old stripper boyfriend, Bobby, and they are expecting twins. Connie, Leona and Millie have been touring the world and having the time of their lives, returning to tell hysterical stories of their adventures. But this time, one of their adventures has gotten out of hand. Level-headed Connie has met a man in Paris, and he’s proposed to her. Everyone should be happy, but Rachel and Bobby are not—Connie’s new boyfriend is the same age as Bobby. Join the ladies once more as they discover all the fun you can have if you look at life in new ways.

[Title of Show]

Music and Lyrics by Jeff Bowen
Book by Hunter Bell
Directed by Machaela Burt
Musical | April 25 to May 4, 2025

Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers, hear about a new musical theatre festival. However, the deadline for submissions is a mere three weeks away. With nothing to lose, the pair decides to try to create something new with the help of their friends Susan, Heidi and Larry on the eighty-eights. With the cast in place, Jeff and Hunter begin a conversation about what to write about. Eventually, Jeff suggests they write about what to write about. They make a pact to write up until the festival’s deadline and dream about the show changing their lives.

[title of show] is, above all, a love letter to the musical theatre — a uniquely American art form — and to the joy of collaboration.

Little Women, the Musical

Book by Allan Knee
Music by Jason Howland
Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein
Directed by Kelliey Black Chavez
May 16 – June 7, 2025

(Musical Comedy/Drama, All Ages)

Produced nationally and internationally, Little Women has been praised by critics for its ambition in adapting such a well-known story for the stage. This timeless, captivating story is brought to life in this glorious musical filled with personal discovery, heartache, hope and everlasting love. The original production starred the unparalleled Sutton Foster, who received Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations for her performance.

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, Little Women follows the adventures of sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested – her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more from herself. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in Civil War America.

Little Women embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears and a lifting of the spirit. The powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope – the sounds of a young America finding its voice.

Large Animal Games

By Steve Yockey
Directed by Curtis Ransom
Comedy | June 12 to 22, 2025

This incisive, unexpected, and larger than life tale of sex, love, and self delusion tracks the overlapping escapades of a group of friends old enough to know better in love but still naive enough to mess things up anyway, and the man who supplies them with equal parts tough love, lingerie and self awareness. In a series of fluid scenes, Large Animal Games takes a comically skewed and razor-sharp look at modern relationships through a mix of bullfights, big game hunting and intimate apparel.

Seussical Jr.

Book by Lunn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen
Flaherty and Eric Idle
Based on the works of Dr. Seuss
Music Supervised, Adapted and Produced
by Bryan Louiselle
Directed by Nikki Wesselman
July 11 – 19, 2025

(Musical, All Ages)

Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in Seussical JR., a fantastical musical extravaganza from Tony-winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos.

Horton must protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, and he must also guard an abandoned egg that’s been left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him.

Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant! Seussical JR. provides wonderful creative opportunities in terms of set design, lighting and costuming and can easily accommodate a large cast of expandable “Seussian” creatures.