Weston Playhouse’s Man of La Mancha (2016)
Dorset Theatre Festival
104 Cheney Road, Dorset
http://www.dorsettheatrefestival.org, 802 867-2223
June 21–July 14: “I’m Not Rappaport,” starring Judd Hirsch. A lifelong radical and world-class kibitzer, retiree Nat Moyer spends his afternoons spinning outrageous yarns that intrigue and infuriate fellow octogenarian Midge Carter, the half-blind building superintendent with whom Nat shares his Central Park bench. July 19–Aug 4: “Skeleton Crew,” by Dominique Morisseau. In the third play of the Detroit trilogy, a makeshift family of workers at the final exporting auto plant in the city navigate the possibility of foreclosure. Power dynamics shift, and they are pushed to the limits of survival. When the line between blue collar and white collar is blurred, how far over the lines are they willing to step? Aug 9–Sept 25: “Pride and Prejudice,” adapted by Kate Hamill, presented in collaboration with Actors’ Shakespeare Project. Literature’s greatest tale of manners, society, and love has never felt so theatrical or spirited than it does in this effervescent adaptation. Aug 29–Sept 1: “Ann,” by Holland Taylor, a co-production with WAM Theatre. This inspiring and hilarious play brings us face to face with the complex, colorful, and captivating character bigger than the state from which she hailed. New! Four one-night-only presentations of works in process: June 26: “Is Edward Snowden Single?” by Kate Cortesi. July 10: “A New Play” by Melissa Ross. July 31: “Invictus Mingus” by Frank Harts. Aug 12: “A Life in the Theatre” by David Mamet.
New England Youth Theater
100 Flat St, Brattleboro
http://www.neyt.org, 802 246-6398
May 25–26: Town School Theater. June 29–30: Melodrama Festival One. July 6–14: “Sweet Charity.” July 20–21: Melodrama Festival Two. Aug 10–11: Shakespeare Festival.
Actors Theatre Playhouse
http://www.atplayhouse.org, 877 666-1855
21 Main St., West Chesterfield, N.H.
Highly acclaimed theatre that’s edgy, excellent, and intimate. June 7–23: Ten-Minute Play Festival; July 7 and 14: Staged Reading of “Women of a Certain Age” by Richard Nelson: It’s election night 2016 in Rhinebeck, N.Y. A family gathers to finally wrap up the old homestead. July 21 and 28: Staged Reading of “The Little Foxes” by Lillian Hellman: The Hubbards ravage each other and the landscape in this American classic. Aug. 9–Sept. 1: “Moonlight and Magnolias” by David O. Selznick: A comedy for the ages.
Oldcastle Theater
331 Main St., Bennington
http://www.oldcastletheatre.org, 802 447-0564
June 15–24: “The Almost True and Truly Remarkable Adventures of Israel Potter.” This show has been transformed into a rollicking new play. Join young Israel as he goes from a small Berkshires-area town to the American Revolution then on to motherland England and back again. Along the way he meets historical figures, falls in love, fights the British, becomes a spy, escapes imminent death a few times and sings some songs. July 13–22: “The Whipping Man. “An extraordinary play about redemption and forgiveness, about the lasting scars of slavery and the responsibility that comes with freedom. Aug 10–19: “The Fourth Wall.” A thoughtful comedy that includes five Cole Porter songs. Audiences will laugh, and enjoy witty tunes while contemplating what is real and what is theatrical artifice in our everyday lives. Aug 31–Sept 9: “Proof.” The play combines elements of mystery, romance, and surprise with old-fashioned storytelling in a compelling, smart and compassionate play.
Sandglass Theater
17 Kimball Hill, Putney
http://www.sandglasstheater.org 802 387-4051
Sandglass Theater is an internationally known theater company combining puppets with music, actors and visual imagery. July 23–27: Summer Puppet Camp for Kids. Aug 15–18: Summer Intensive Training in Puppet.
Weston Playhouse Theatre Company
703 Main St., Weston
http://www.westonplayhouse.org, 802 824-5288
June 13–30: “Anne of Green Gables.” Based on L.M. Montgomery’s beloved novel, a heartwarming, humorous tale to delight the young and young at heart. June 21–July 7: “Our Town.” Bridging the common and the cosmic, a fresh look at a Pulitzer Prize-winning classic. July 5–28: “Fun Home.” A groundbreaking and gorgeous five-time Tony Award winner. July 12–Aug 4: “West Side Story.” The iconic American musical. Aug 2–25: “A Doll’s House, Part 2”. Fresh from its Tony-winning Broadway run, the comic sequel to Ibsen’s famed drama. Aug 9–Sept 2: “Million Dollar Quartet.” Four rock ’n’ roll legends, one unforgettable jam session, and a Tony-nominated jukebox musical that will have you swingin’ in your seat. Sept 27–Oct 20: “Two Trains Running.” A new addition to the Weston Playhouse season. Public performances Friday–Sunday only. The harrowing and empowering circumstances of the civil rights movement come front and center in Wilson’s sixth and final Century Cycle work.
Vermont Theatre company
http://www.vermonttheatrecompany.org,
802 258-1344
Rotary Stage in Brattleboro Memorial Park
June 28–30; July 1: “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare.
Great River Theater Festival
Various locations
http://www.greatrivertheaterfestival.org
July 6–8: The Great River Theater Festival is back for its second season, with performances by community theater groups from up and down both sides of the Connecticut River Valley. After last year’s first successful festival featuring 14 shows by seven companies in four venues in Putney, Main Street Arts is renewing its commitment to the area by moving the GRTF to Rockingham, where it will take the stage at the Bellows Falls Opera House, Vermont Academy’s Horowitz Hall, and MSA’s own theater space in Saxtons River. With MSA as the lead sponsor offering a production of Peter Shaffer‘s “Equus,” the other festival participants so far are The Rude Mechanicals Theater Ensemble (Keene, N.H.), Sandglass Theater (Putney), Southern Vermont Lyric Theatre (Grafton) and River Theater Company (Charlestown, N.H.) Show and ticket information will be available closer to the festival date at mainstreetarts.org and by contacting MSA at (802) 869-2960 or info@mainstreetarts.org.
