2022-2023 Season
Over the River and
through the Woods Written by Joe DiPietro Directed by Robin Sutton Underwritten by Lynn Hollister Thursdays through Saturdays September 29 - October 15 at 7:30 Sunday Matinee October 9 at 2pm Nick is a single, Italian-American guy from New Jersey. His parents retired and moved to Florida. That doesn’t mean his family isn’t still in Jersey. In fact, he sees both sets of his grandparents every Sunday for dinner. This is routine until he has to tell them that he’s been offered a dream job. The job he’s been waiting for—marketing executive—would take him away from his beloved, but annoying, grandparents. He tells them. The news doesn’t sit so well. Thus begins a series of schemes to keep Nick around. How could he betray his family’s love to move to Seattle, for a job, wonder his grandparents? Well, Frank, Aida, Nunzio and Emma do their level best, and that includes bringing to dinner the lovely—and single—Caitlin O’Hare as bait…we won’t give the ending away here. 
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A Christmas Story
Adapted by Philip Grecian Directed by Keith Marrocco Underwritten by Bill Samelson and Mary Anne Wilkinson Thursdays through Saturdays December 1-17 at 7:30 Sunday Matinee December 11 at 2pm Humorist Jean Shepherd's memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus himself at Higbee's Department Store. The consistent response: "You'll shoot your eye out!" All the elements from the beloved motion picture are here, including the family's temperamental exploding furnace; Scut Farkas, the school bully; the boys' experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin; Ralphie's father winning a lamp shaped like a woman's leg in a net stocking; Ralphie's fantasy scenarios and more. A Christmas Story is destined to become a theatrical holiday perennial. 
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Sleuth
Written by Anthony Shaffer Directed by J. Paul Teel Underwritten by United Roofing and Sheetmetal Thursdays through Saturdays February 9-25 at 7:30 Sunday Matinee February 19 at 2pm The ultimate game of cat and mouse is played out in a cozy English country house owned by celebrated mystery writer, Andrew Wyke. Invited guest Milo Tindle, a young rival who shares Wyke's love for games, declares his intention to run off with Wyke's wife. The two men devise an elaborate revenge/power game; through their style and cunning, the stakes continue to rise, leading to the play's inexorable, heart-stopping finish.
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King Lear
Written by William Shakespeare Directed by Kathryn Sutton Major Underwriting by Alan Bryant Thursdays through Saturdays April 13-29 at 7:30pm Sunday Matinee April 23 at 2pm King Lear decides to divide his kingdom among his daughters, so he asks each how much they love him. Two of them flatter him with false praise and the third one, who truly loves him, does not impress him with her words. Lear banishes her and divides his kingdom between the other two daughters, each of whom goes on to reject him when he visits them at their homes, so Lear goes mad and wanders the woods for a long time and suffers through a dangerous storm. Because of Lear’s vanity and stubbornness, civil war and insurrection are the inevitable results of his actions, and many people die. 
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Last Round-Up of the
Guacamole Queens Written by Jones, Hope, Wooten Directed by Katie Irwin Underwritten by Susan Irza Thursdays through Saturdays June 8-24 at 7:30pm Sunday Matinee June 18 at 2pm In this deliciously funny Southern-fried comedy, the Verdeen cousins of Sweetgum, Texas — Gaynelle, Peaches, and Jimmie Wyvette — are up against the clock as they frantically attempt to produce the ultimate high school reunion before the old building is demolished. But they’ve got a bushel of obstacles to overcome before they can pull off this miracle. You’ll laugh so hard you might even consider attending your next high school reunion! 
Love Letters
Written by A.R. Gurney Directed by Chaz Pitman Underwritten by Alan Bryant One performance only! February 14 at 7:30 pm Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner, both born to wealth and position, are childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence begins with birthday party thank-you notes and summer camp postcards. Romantically attached, they continue to exchange letters through the boarding school and college years—where Andy goes on to excel at Yale and law school, while Melissa flunks out of a series of “good schools.” While Andy is off at war Melissa marries, but her attachment to Andy remains strong and she continues to keep in touch as he marries, becomes a successful attorney, gets involved in politics and, eventually, is elected to the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, her marriage in tatters, Melissa dabbles in art and gigolos, drinks more than she should, and becomes estranged from her children. Eventually she and Andy do become involved in a brief affair, but it is really too late for both of them. However Andy’s last letter, written to her mother after Melissa’s untimely death, makes it eloquently clear how much they really meant, and gave to, each other over the years—physically apart, perhaps, but spiritually as close as only true lovers can be.
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The Curse of an
Aching Heart Written by Herbert E. Swayne Directed by Jennifer Hargis Underwritten by Alan Bryant Thursdays through Saturdays August 10-26 at 7:30pm Sunday Matinee August 20 at 2pm Caution: Melodrama! Prepare yourself for booing, cheering and throwing popcorn! The sweet heroine is Melody Lane, a self educated and lovely orphan who falls into the hands of scoundrel Windermere Hightower. After Melody and the villain are married, he tells her that he expects her to carry out his criminal schemes. Revolted, she flees a wife in name only. Several months later she is at the None Such ranch where she falls in love with stalwart Lucius Goodenough. When Windermere appears at the ranch, Melody is appalled. And once again the virtuous heroine is rescued by guess who? 
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