CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Ivoryton Playhouse actors and productions are nominated for 5 (count ’em 5 time!) Critics Circle Awards! Award ceremony is June 26th.
Best Actor in the Play – James Naughton ON GOLDEN POND;
Best Actor in a Musical – David M. Lutken RING OF FIRE;
Featured Actor in a Play – Sabatino Cruz ON GOLDEN POND;
Featured Actor in a Play – Sam Given LEGEND OF GEORGIA McBRIDE;
Best Ensemble – SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE.
We are so damn proud of the casts we assemble and the shows we produce. Thank you CT Critics Circle members for recognizing our efforts. Ivoryton Playhouse is the place to be in 2023!
Don’t Be Such An Old Poop! Come and See On Golden Pond By Ernest Thompson on stage at Ivoryton Playhouse May 18-June 11, 2023
Nominated for two CT Critics Circle Awards:
Best Actor in the Play – James Naughton – ON GOLDEN POND;
Featured Actor in a Play – Sabatino Cruz – ON GOLDEN POND;
Ivoryton – It is the year of the coronation of King Charles III, but here in Ivoryton we have been celebrating with our own Royal Families. The Queens of Georgia McBride have waved their majestic goodbyes and close on their heels come two crowned heads of the Broadway stage – Tony award nominated Mia Dillon* and Tony award winner James Naughton* in ON GOLDEN POND by Ernest Thompson. What a treat and a magnificent honor!
Mia Dillon will be taking on the role of Ethel Thayer, a role made famous by Katharine Hepburn in the Oscar winning movie. Mia, who was nominated for a Tony for her critically acclaimed role in Beth Henley’s CRIMES OF THE HEART, can be caught on the silver screen right now in the beautiful new adaptation of Judy Blume’s novel Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.
James Naughton is the winner of two Tony Awards as Best Actor in a Musical, for his portrayal of media-savvy lawyer Billy Flynn in the Broadway hit CHICAGO (1997) and for his role as a film-noir era detective in CITY OF ANGELS (1990), which earned him a Drama Desk Award. James has appeared in many movies including The Devil Wears Prada, First Wives Club, and The Glass Menagerie with Joanne Woodward. TV appearances include Planet of the Apes, Who’s The Boss?, Gossip Girl and most recently, Just Like That, with Sara Jessica Parker.
The first Broadway production of ON GOLDEN POND opened at the New Apollo Theatre in February 1979 and starred Tom Aldredge as Norman Thayer and Frances Sternhagen as Ethel Thayer. Ernest Thompson adapted his script into the screenplay play for the movie that opened in 1982 and garnered three Oscars – one for Thompson for the screenplay and best actor Oscars for its stars, Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda.
The story of ON GOLDEN POND begins with the arrival of an old, long-married couple at the lakeside cottage where they have summered for many years. Before long, three more people turn up at the pond: their daughter, her fiancé and his son. As the story unfolds, old conflicts are unearthed, new relationships are formed but, more than anything, we get a rare glimpse inside a long and enduring marriage – a rare gift.
Brian Feehan directs this tender and heart warming treasure that also features Stacie Morgain Lewis* as Chelsea, Josh Powell* as Bill Ray, Will Clark* as Charlie and Sabatino Cruz as Billy Ray Jr.
Set and lighting is designed by Marcus Abbott, costumes by Kat Duffner, and sound design by Alan Piotrowicz.
Ernest Thompson, the writer of ON GOLDEN POND, will be joining us at the performance on Sunday, May 21st for a talk-back. He will also be appearing at The Kate on Monday, May 22 at 7:00pm for a Museum Talk about his experiences making the film with Hepburn and Fonda. The Kate will feature ON GOLDEN POND costumes from the movie displayed from May throughout the summer, a painting by Henry Fonda created as a gift for Katharine Hepburn and props loaned by Ernest Thompson.
And so our Royal season continues…Let the trumpets sound and the flags wave – it is a Royal Spring in Ivoryton!
ON GOLDEN POND runs from May 18 through June11, 2023.. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm; evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm.
Tickets are $55 for adults, $50 for seniors, and $25 for students. Tickets are available online at ivorytonplayhouse.org or by calling the box office at 860.767.7318. (For information on group rates, please call the box office.) For more information on the entire 2023 season, visit ivorytonplayhouse.org. The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.
Our thanks to Option A for producing great videos for us!
The Legend of Georgia McBride By Matthew Lopez
THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE by Matthew Lopez is now open in Ivoryton through April 30th, 2023.
The play tells the story of Casey, an Elvis impersonator with everything going for him, including a sexy smile and a flashy sequined jumpsuit. But, one morning, he wakes up to find that he has lost his gig, his rent is overdue, and his wife announces a baby is on the way. So, when Elvis leaves the building and a drag show moves in, “The King” dumps his blue suede shoes for six-inch heels and transforms into an all-out queen with the help of new friends who become the second family Casey never saw coming. With snappy zingers and dance-worthy numbers, this wildly entertaining story will challenge your assumptions with extraordinary humor and depth.
The play swings back and forward between zany comedy and show-stopping dance numbers, with Charles Isherwood of The New York Times commenting that the play was “full of sass and good spirits – along with a spritz or two of sentimentality.” In February 2018, New Regency announced it was developing the play’s film adaptation in association with Jim Parsons’ production company.
You won’t want to miss this heartwarming comedy that, behind the laughter, shares a message of acceptance and family.
Playhouse Associate Artistic Director, Todd Underwood, directs this big-hearted, fun-filled evening. In describing the process, Mr. Underwood says, ‘It’s a special piece, and we are excited for everyone to see it.’
The cast includes familiar faces and brand-new talent on the Ivoryton Stage. Mike Boland*, Sam Given* and Rae Janeil are Ivoryton favorites, and we are thrilled to have them back with us. Welcome to Clint Hromsco and Timiki Salinas* as they make their Ivoryton debut.
The scenic design is by Martin Marchitto, lighting and sound design by Alan Piotrowicz, costume design by Angela Carstensen and wig design by Elizabeth Saylor.
THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE runs through Sunday, April 30th, 2023. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm; evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm, and Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm.
Tickets are $55 adults, $50 seniors, $25 students. Tickets available online at ivorytonplayhouse.org or the box office at 860.767.7318. 2023 season info visit ivorytonplayhouse.org.
Ivoryton Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.
Thank you to everyone who submitted plays for the 2023 Women Playwrights Festival. After receiving over 200 entries, the call for submissions is now closed. The 2023 Women Playwrights Festival at Ivoryton Playhouse will take place on Saturday, October 28, 2023.
On April 6, 2023, Ivoryton Playhouse opens its doors for a stellar new season – a year full of exciting, uplifting and affordable professional theatre. Musicals for families and romantics, stories of challenges overcome and evenings that are just plain fun, our 2023 Season has a little bit of everything and something extra! A great melting pot of a season in a theatre that feels like home.
The season opens on April 6, 2023 with a big hearted, music-filled comedy. THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA McBRIDE by Matthew Lopez is a wildly entertaining story filled with drag queens and an Elvis impersonator, snappy zingers and dance worthy numbers. A show that will challenge your assumptions with extraordinary humor and depth.
Ernest Thompsons’s charming and nostalgic play, ON GOLDEN POND will open on May 18, 2023. The movie was a big hit for one of the Playhouse’s most famous alums – Katharine Hepburn – and the play is a beautifully crafted love story about generations of a family struggling to show affection for each other. Heartwarming and hilarious, this is a play filled magic and memorable moments.
The summer opens on June 29, 2023 with one of the most beloved musicals of all time, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The glorious melodies and timeless tale of Maria and the Von Trapps makes this the perfect musical for the whole family. Featuring Ivoryton favorites, last seen together in SOUTH PACIFIC, David Pittsinger, Patricia Schuman, Adrianne Hick and Bruce Connelly. You don’t need to “Climb Every Mountain” to see this show, but you better get your tickets early!
JERSEY BOYS, the international musical phenomenon, opens in Ivoryton on August 10, 2023. Come peek behind the scenes – and behind the music – of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Filled with all of their greatest hits, “Sherry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” and so many more. No wonder that, for over 15 years, America’s favorite musical is the one about the boys from Jersey.
THE COLOR PURPLE, which opens on September 28, 2023, is an inspiring saga that tells the unforgettable story of a woman who, through love, finds strength to triumph over adversity and discover her voice in the world. This musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (and 1985 Steven Spielberg film) spotlights Celie, a downtrodden young woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of this epic story. With a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music and blues, THE COLOR PURPLE is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love, and a celebration of life.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET CHRISTMAS will round off the season, opening on November 16, 2023. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley come together attain to celebrate the holidays. Sun Records rings with sounds of the season and the chart toppers that made the Million Dollar quartet famous. The gang is back and up to their usual antics as we journey through stories of Christmas past, present and future!
Subscriptions are a great way to save money as single ticket prices will be going up for our three summer musicals. Six and three play subscriptions are available. Single tickets will go on sale March 1, 2023.
2:00PM: AT THE HOTEL TEXAS by Laurie Graff Laurie Graff is writer and actor from NYC. Best known for the chick-lit hit, You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs, Laurie has also written the novels Looking for Mr. Goodfrog and The Shiksa Syndrome. A produced and published OOB playwright, Laurie’s work is included in New Monologues for Women by Women and Best Men’s Stage Monologues of 1999. Having worked for years as an actress, Laurie’s favorite theatrical role was Frenchy in the Broadway hit Grease.
This play takes place late morning on Friday, November 22, 1963 and follows two sisters, Opal, a chambermaid, and Lottie, a waitress, working and scheming and sharing their plans as they work at the Hotel Texas in Fort Worth.
RECONSTRUCTION by Barbara Kimmel Barbara Kimmel is an Atlanta-based playwright and children’s author. Her plays are humorous takes on women’s struggles to find their voices and be heard. They have been produced in New York, London, Chicago, and Atlanta. She is a member of Working Title Playwrights and lives in Atlanta with her husband, playwright Hank Kimmel.
A woman faces breast cancer while her house is falling apart. Both require immediate attention. She struggles with anxiety and a dizzying amount of information as the decision-making processes become absurdly intertwined.
7:00PM HOW TO TIE A TIE by Brittney S. Harris Brittney S. Harris, a native of Norfolk, VA, has a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Georgia and is currently Assistant Professor of Theatre at Old Dominion University. Her areas of expertise and interests are in Race and Performance, Theatre for Social Change, and performative community-engaged programming. Brittney’s work is included in Best Women’s Monologues 2021 Anthology.
The play is set in present day and takes place in the sanctuary of a church. Charles Walker, a black man in his 40s and his wife, Grace, are getting ready for their daughter’s wedding. The play addresses the themes of non-traditional marriage in the past and present.
SCRAMBLED EGGS by Karly Thomas Karly Thomas is a New York based playwright, originally from San Juan Capistrano, CA. Her work has been produced by the University of Michigan, the Midtown International Theatre Festival, and the OC-Centric New Play Festival, as well as developed by the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival. Awards include the Kasdan Scholarship for Creative Writing, the Kennedy Center’s National Undergraduate Playwriting Award, and the National Society of Arts and Letters Richard Benvenuto Playwriting Award. Member of the Playwrights’ Center and the Dramatists Guild
A brunch-time gathering in a chic, Manhattan hotspot; an eclectic mix of characters including maybe Sarah Jessica Parker; a celebration or a commiseration? This play deals with our complicated relationships with families and abortion
Please call Sue McCann (860.767.7318) if you would like to book a boxed dinner to be delivered at 5pm. The menu for the boxed dinners:
THANK YOU: Funded in part by a grant from Community Foundation of Middlesex County / Sari A. Rosenbaum Fund for Women & Girls and the League of Professional Theatre Women Connecticut Chapter.Plus individual donations from: Anonymous, Jacqueline Hubbard, Al and Kathleen Jaffe, David and Linda May
The Great American Novel on Stage at Ivoryton Playhouse
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby Adapted for the stage by Simon Levy
No book has captured the essence of America in the 1920s with such damning insight as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s THE GREAT GATSBY, opening on stage at the Ivoryton Playhouse on Thursday, September 29th. An American classic and a brilliantly evocative work, THE GREAT GATSBY is often referred to as “The Great American Novel”. First published in 1925, this quintessential story of the Jazz Age sold no more than 25,000 copies in Fitzgerald’s lifetime. It has now sold over 25 million copies and is treasured by generations of readers.
The story tells of the mysteriously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan; of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted “gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession,” Nick Carraway, a young newcomer to Long Island, is drawn into their world of obsession, greed and danger. Simon Levy’s beautifully crafted play captures the disillusionment as well as the decadent excess of the 1920s.
The play was originally scheduled to be produced in May of 2020 and most of the cast have been patiently waiting in the wings since then. The play is directed Playhouse Associate Artistic Director, Todd Underwood. Gatsby has long been a favorite of his and he is delighted finally to be able to put it up on stage in Ivoryton. “This is the story of the American Dream and the lengths we will go to attain it. Love is at the crux of that dream and so, of course, we are blind to the consequences of our actions.” The cast includes Carlyn Connolly* (Cabaret) as Jordan, Joseph Cordaro (Brighton Beach Memoirs)as Nickand Siobhan Fitzgerald* (I Ought To Be In Pictures; Shear Madness) as Myrtle. Making their Ivoryton debut are Gabe Belyeu* as Wolfscheim/Ens., Greg Brostrum* as Tom, Rebecca Ellis as Mrs. McKee/Ens, Erik Kochenberger as Jay Gatsby, Daniel Rios, Jr.* as George Wilson and Katharina Schmidt as Daisy.
THE GREAT GATSBY runs through Sunday, October 23rd, 2022. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm; evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm. Sunday, October 23rd is a special performance and Gala at 3pm.
Our patio bar will now be open from 7pm on Friday and Saturday nights before the show where we will be serving red and white wine, rose, prosecco and beer. Cash and credit cards accepted. Come early to the Playhouse and enjoy a relaxing drink before the show.
Tickets are $55 for adults, $50 for seniors, and $25 for students. Tickets are available online at ivorytonplayhouse.org or by calling the box office at 860.767.7318. (For information on group rates, please call the box office.) For more information on the entire 2022 season, visit ivorytonplayhouse.org. The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.
Women Playwrights Festival 2022
