Vermont's Weston Playhouse and Dorset Theatre Festival Summer Schedules
Two gems nestled in the Northeast Kingdom
By: Larry Murray - Dec 09, 2008
Weston Playhouse
(The Weston Playhouse in Vermont has not yet officially announced its season, but our insider sources tell us that this schedule is pretty much set.)
Fully Committed, the popular sweet frappé of a comedy was last seen around here at Barrington Stage in 2007. It will open the Weston Playhouse season, with "Scrubs" TV star Sam Lloyd, Jr. as Sam and the mélange of characters who populate this one man show. It will run for two weeks from June 23 to July 4, 2009.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will open July 9 and run until July 25. The popular William Finn musical which began its life at Barrington Stage will finally get its Vermont Premiere in an all-new production.
Also receiving its Vermont Premiere is the rock musical Rent, opening July 30 and running to August 22. The Book, Music and Lyrics are by Jonathan Larson, gathering many awards in New York, and a diverse following nationwide. The stage musical remains far superior to the insipid film version.
Rounding out their main stage season will be the drama that inspired a generation, A Raison in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. This 50th Anniversary Production will open August 27 and close September 5.
In their second venue at the Weston Rod and Gun Club will be the drama The Oath, a story about one man's bravery, slated for July 15 to August 2. This World Premiere play is based on the book by Khassan Baiev with Ruth and Nicholas Daniloff, and has been adapted for the stage by Gavin Broady.
Rounding out the season is the spoof of every musical you've ever known, The Musical of Musicals, (The Musical!) with music by Eric Rockwell, Lyrics by Joanne Bogart, Book by Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart. It opens August 12 and runs through September 6, 2009.
Weston's annual children's theatre production will round out the offerings.
Information and "anytime" tickets are on sale now at the box office - (802) 824-5288.
The Weston Playhouse
Dorset Theatre Festival
Update: Please note that as March 2009 this company was revising its summer schedule and that some of the details below may no longer be accurate.
The Dorset Theatre Festival has announced plans for Summer 2009. The season will run from June 17 through Aug. 29, and will include four mainstage productions, as well as additional children's programming.
Plays include Agatha Christie's The Hollow, Sidney Howard's The Late Christopher Bean, Volume III of The Kaufman Collection, and Marry Me a Little. Subscriptions are on sale now and will be offered at a specially discounted rate until Feb. 1, 2009.
From June 17 to July 4, DTF starts its season with a bang, presenting The Hollow, a mystery of sexual jealousy and deception from the pen of Agatha Christie, Britain's master of suspense. Next, from July 8-25, comes a classic comedy, The Late Christopher Bean by Sidney Howard, the screenwriter of Gone with the Wind. The Late Christopher Bean tells the tale of a Vermont country doctor whose home and family are turned upside down by the New York City art world.
The second half of the summer will bring Volume III of The Kaufman Collection, the Festival's commitment to rediscovering for American audiences George S. Kaufman's great works for the stage. From July 29 until August 15, DTF will present one of the following titles, currently under consideration: The Butter and Egg Man, Merton of the Movies, or You Can't Take it With You.
Finally, Dorset Theatre Festival is proud to present Marry Me a Little. This two-character song cycle, conceived and developed by Craig Lucas (author of the book for Tony Award-winning The Light in the Piazza) and Norman René, uses the songs of the legendary Stephen Sondheim to tell the story of two lonely-hearts, each alone on a Saturday night with their romantic dreams and disappointments. Marry Me a Little closes out DTF's 2009 Season with a run from August 19 to August 29.
Dorset Theatre Festival