Apple Hill Playhouse 2019 Season

The Taffetas

Mainstage · Musical

Dates

7:30 May 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25
2PM May 19; 26

Credits

Concieved by Rick Lewis

Direction

Directed by Tina Lepidi-Stewart

It's 1950-something, and these four singing sisters from Muncie, Indiana are making their national television debut on the Dumont Television Network's Spotlight on Music! The Taffetas pays tribute to the sounds of The McGuire Sisters, The Fontane Sisters and The Chordettes. Opening Off-Broadway almost two years before Forever Plaid, The Taffetas made nostalgia what it is today! Spend an hour and a half with Kaye, Peggy, Cheryl and Donna and their 3-piece band, and remember what Sunday night television was like on your 12-inch black and white screen!

Moonlight and Magnolias

Mainstage · Play

Dates

7:30 June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15,
2PM June 9; 16

Credits

Written by Ron Hutchinson

Direction

Directed by Pamela Farneth

THE STORY: Legendary film producer David O. Selznick is five weeks into shooting Gone With the Wind when he realizes the script is awful, and that the director doesn't have a clue. He has five days to replace them, and restart the shoot, or the production will shut down. Selznick calls Victor Fleming from the set of The Wizard to Oz to direct, and he taps legendary playwright, screenwriter and script doctor Ben Hecht to rewrite the script. There's only one problem: Hecht hasn't read the book. Over the course of five madcap days, the three men, assisted by Selznick's assistant, Miss Poppenghul, frantically craft one of the most beloved screenplays of all time. As Selznick and Fleming act out the book for Hecht, the phone rings off the hook with calls from the likes of Vivien Leigh, Louis B. Mayer and Ed Sullivan. Hutchinson's play, based on historical events, is written as farce, but the characters also deal with serious questions about race and the fragile position of Jewish executives in Hollywood.

Sex Please, We're Sixty

Mainstage · Play

Dates

7:30 July 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13
2PM July 7; 14

Credits

Written by Michael Parker, Susan Parker

Direction

Directed by Ron Ferrara

Mrs. Stancliffe’s Rose Cottage Bed & Breakfast has been successful for many years. Her guests (nearly all women) return year after year. Her next-door neighbor, the elderly, silver-tongued Bud “Bud the Stud” Davis, believes they come to spend time with him in romantic liaisons. The prim and proper Mrs. Stancliffe steadfastly denies this but really doesn’t do anything to prevent it. She reluctantly accepts the fact that “Bud the Stud” is, in fact, good for business. Her other neighbor and would-be suitor, Henry Mitchell, is a retired chemist who has developed a blue pill called “Venusia,” after Venus the goddess of love, to increase the libido of menopausal women. The pill has not been tested.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Mainstage · Musical

Dates

7:30 July 25, 26, 27; Aug 1, 2, 3
2PM July 28; Aug 4

Credits

Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart

Direction

Directed by Erin Stetor-Seaberg
Music Direction by Michael Busija

Sondheim's joyous, musical romp through Rome has desperate lovers, scheming neighbors and secrets behind every toga.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a fast-paced farce that promises to have audiences rolling on the floor. Taking straight from the roots of comedy, Forum combines the ancient comedies of Plautus with a vaudevillian delivery. Pseudolus schemes to win the heart of the beautiful virgin, Phelia, for his young master, Hero. In exchange, Hero will grant Pseudolus his freedom once and for all. However, things are never as easy as they seem. Chaos ensues with hair-brained schemes, cases of mistaken identity, slamming doors and convoluted plot twists.

The Savannah Sipping Society

Mainstage · Play

Dates

7:30 August 15, 16, 17; 22, 23, 24
2PM August 18; 25

Credits

Written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, Jamie Wooten

Direction

Directed by Chelsea Frederickson

In this delightful, laugh-a-minute comedy, four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by Fate—and an impromptu happy hour—and decide it’s high time to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost through the years. Randa, a perfectionist and workaholic, is struggling to cope with a surprise career derailment that, unfortunately, reveals that she has no life and no idea how to get one. Dot, still reeling from her husband’s recent demise and the loss of their plans for an idyllic retirement, faces the unsettling prospect of starting a new life from scratch—and all alone. Earthy and boisterous Marlafaye, a good ol’ Texas gal, has blasted into Savannah in the wake of losing her tom-cattin’ husband to a twenty-three-year-old dental hygienist. The strength of her desire to establish a new life is equaled only by her desire to wreak a righteous revenge on her ex. Also new to town, Jinx, a spunky ball of fire, offers her services as a much-needed life coach for these women. However, blinded by her determination and efforts to get their lives on track, she over-looks the fact that she’s the one most in need of sage advice. Over the course of six months, filled with laughter, hilarious misadventures, and the occasional liquid refreshment, these middle-aged women successfully bond and find the confidence to jumpstart their new lives. Together, they discover lasting friendships and a renewed determination to live in the moment—and most importantly, realize it’s never too late to make new old friends.

Outside Mullingar

Mainstage · Play

Dates

7:30 September 5, 6, 7; 12, 13, 14
2PM September 8; 15

Credits

Written by John Patrick Shanley

Direction

Directed by Katya R Shaffer

Anthony Rielly and Rosemary Muldoon have grown up next to each other on two farms in rural Ireland. Rosemary fell in love with Anthony at the age of six, and is convinced that he will eventually come to her. Anthony had his heart broken as a young man, and hasn’t dared open it to another woman since. Forty years later, the two of them are still living next to each other, instead of together. With a small land feud happening between the two families, it seems unlikely that a romance will ever happen. Rosemary’s determination, however, eventually brings the two of the together, and two unlikely souls eventually find happiness.

Blithe Spirit

Mainstage · Play

Dates

7:30 September 26, 27, 28; October 3, 4, 5
2PM September 29; October 6

Credits

Written by Noël Coward

Direction

Directed by Matt Mlynarski

Blithe Spirit is set at the house of writer, Charles Condomine, and his wife, Ruth. One evening, Charles invites local eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to hold a seance at his house. He asks along his friends, Dr. and Mrs. Bradman, intending to gather character inspiration from Madame Arcati for his latest book. Despite initially thinking the seance has been a failure, it soon becomes clear that Madame Arcati has unwittingly brought back Charles’ first wife, Elvira, to haunt him. Once in his house, Elvira is unable to leave and, as she cannot be seen or heard by Ruth, she causes all kinds of mischievous trouble between the married couple. When Elvira unwittingly causes Ruth’s death in her attempts to bring Charles over to be with her, Charles becomes haunted by both of his now-deceased wives. Frustrated by their odd situation, the threesome call on Madame Arcati once more to send Elvira and Ruth back to the other side. Intensely funny and character-driven, Blithe Spirit combines farce, emotion, and wit to great effect.

Hyronomous A. Frog - The Frog Prince

Johnny Appleseed Children's Theatre · Play

Dates

June 18, 20, 21, 22; 25, 26, 27, 11:00am

Credits

Adapted by Edith Weiss

Direction

Directed by Vince D'Angelo

With rich humor for adults and children as well as delightful physical humor for even the youngest theatre goers, this play is a proven winner. Its premiere production ran for months, playing to literally thousands of children, young and old. Hyronomous, an inept and lonely frog prince, lives in a bog in the kingdom of Spamelot. Hyronomous is bored and unhappy as a frog. He’s larger than the other frogs and hates the taste of flies. One day, the good witch Gloria appears to tell him he was once a human prince and it was a spell that turned him into an amphibian. To break this croak-filled wizardry, Hyronomous must be kissed by a maiden. In a hysterical scene, he learns how to walk like a human and sets off for the castle of Spamelot. He sets his sights on the spoiled and petulant Princess Gladiola. Gladiola is engaged to the painfully pompous Sir Lancelot Pancelot and he, of course, despises the frog at first sight. As Gladiola and Lancelot plot ways to get rid of Hyronomous, our green hero tries desperately to act like a human being. His attempt to act like a person at the dinner table turns into a hilarious scene... infuriating the princess. Luckily, he finds a friend in Delphinium, the handmaiden, and Aunt Queen Bea, who try to save him from the slings and arrows of the outrageous Gladiola. Our beloved frog finally gets his kiss from the handmaiden Delphinium, bringing about an ending full of wit and charm.

Let Your Hair Down, Rapunzel

Johnny Appleseed Children's Theatre · Musical

Dates

July 9, 11, 12, 13; 16, 17, 18 11:00am

Credits

Book by Karen Boettcher-Tate
Music and Lyrics by Scott Deturk

Direction

Directed by Katya R. Shaffer
Music Direction by Jessica Sammarone

’It’s time to let your hair down, have a little fun,’ chimes the company in the opening number of this fresh, vivacious musical adaptation of a popular tale. Rene Shwartzbuckle sings to her husband, Walt, about her zany obsession for a turnip-like vegetable called ’rapunzel.’ After spotting a delectable patch of the plant in Witch Izwitch’s garden, Rene sends Walt to ’borrow’ some. The irritated witch has her malicious henchmen, the Glumpwarts, terrorize Walt. In fear, he promises to give his firstborn child to the witch in exchange for his own freedom. Your audiences are then taken many years ahead to visit the beautiful Shwartzbuckle child... Rapunzel. (Now you know where the name comes from!) It’s our heroine’s 18th birthday, and Witch Izwitch follows through with her promise and places poor Rapunzel alone in a tower. From here, an exuberant, amusing rescue attempt begins! (As for the ’mane’ ingredient of the show, don’t worry! The famous ’hair climbing’ scene is a breeze to stage!) Can Prince Llewellyn persevere over the powers of evil? Will the fresh, hysterical characters (such as the sages Parsley, Rosemary and Thyme) be able to help? And can Rapunzel convince the witch that it’s okay to be unique? Filled with an abundant supply of delightful songs like ’Just Because You’re Different,’ ’I’m a Nut’ and, of course, ’Let Your Hair Down,’ this show is zestful entertainment!

Charlotte's Web

Johnny Appleseed Children's Theatre · Play

Dates

July 30, August 1, 2, 3; 6, 7, 8 at 11:00am

Credits

Adapted by Joseph Robinette
Based on the book by E.B. White

Direction

Directed by Rachel Painter

The Children's Literature Association named this "the best American children's book of the past two hundred years," and Joseph Robinette, working with the advice of E.B. White, has created a play that captures this work in a thrilling and utterly practical theatrical presentation. The costumes and unit set may be simple or as colorful and elaborate as you wish; it's the story and relationships that make the show. All the enchanting characters are here: Wilbur, the irresistible young pig who desperately wants to avoid the butcher; Fern, a girl who understands what animals say to each other; Templeton, the gluttonous rat who can occasionally be talked into a good deed; the Zuckerman family; the Arables; and, most of all, the extraordinary spider, Charlotte, who proves to be “a true friend and a good writer.” Determined to save Wilbur, Charlotte begins her campaign with the "miracle" of her web in which she writes, "Some pig." It's the beginning of a victorious campaign which ultimately ends with the now-safe Wilbur doing what is most important to Charlotte. This is a beautiful, knowing play about friendship that will give your actors a great opportunity and your audience an evening of enchantment. 

Comedy Tonight! Gala

Special event

Dates

July 20, 6:30pm

Apple Hill Playhouse's Third Annual Gala

Drag Queen Bingo

Special event