No sooner have the annual seasons of our local professional theaters wrapped up (The Vermont Farm Project at Northern Stage and Mayfair Virgin at Shaker Bridge Theatre) than summer theater appears. Take a breath. It’s June already, and here’s a not-all-inclusive heads up on what is coming your way this month.
Shaker Bridge Theatre, White River Junction, VT, June 14: What The Constitution Means To Me is a one night only fundraiser for SBT starring the multi-talented Susan Haefner, Richard Waterhouse (recently of A Man of No Importance), and Kaitlynn Cherry. “Heidi Schreck’s critically-acclaimed play What the Constitution Means to Me played an extended, sold-out run on Broadway in 2019 and was nominated for two Tony Awards. [It] was named Best of the Year by the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, Time Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, The New Yorker and more.” Tickets are here.
Opera North, Blow-Me-Down Farm, Cornish NH, beginning June 27. Opera North begins yet another summer here in the UV with three main stage productions under the big tent. Opening on June 27 is The Little Prince; the mashup of opera and circus performers returns. (Where else can you see that?) )
“With a score by Oscar-winner Rachel Portman (Emma, Chocolat, Cider House Rules), this is a production for the entire family that includes circus artists, fantastical characters, lots of heart and fun. Opera North proudly celebrates Saint-Exupery’s 125th birthday with this production. With full orchestra. Sung in English.”
Man of La Mancha and The Marriage of Figaro will follow later in the summer. Info and tickets are here.
The New London Barn Playhouse, New London, NH, beginning June 11. Mostly American musicals. See talented young professionals before they hit it big. Learn more here. Season opener is The Bridges of Madison County.
Dorset Theatre Festival, Dorset, VT, beginning June 20. At the Dorset Playhouse, the community theater runs through the year, and professional theater takes over for the summer. Four plays, beginning with a new comedy, Salvage. What could be more Vermont than a play created around a small town dump? I will be reviewing this production later this month on Artful, and maybe trying to coax you to the Manchester/Dorset area, which has theater, quaint inns and modern hotels, an impressive and expanding Southern Vermont Arts Center, nice restaurants, and . . . outlet shopping. See the theatre festival lineup and purchase tickets here.
North Country Community Theater, Lebanon Opera House, beginning June 20 will present Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. “Based on the popular 1988 film, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels takes us to the French Riviera for high jinks and hilarity. Sophisticated and suave with a good dash of mischief, this hysterical comedy features a delightfully jazzy score by David Yazbek and was nominated for eleven Tony Awards.” The cast and crew are currently in the house, rehearsing, hanging a curtain, and building a set (photo, above.) Info and tickets here.
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And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.