This year’s annual two-week-long “Shakespeared!” Workshop at the Putnam County Playhouse centers around Macbeth, with the middle school group performing a more traditional version and the high school group presenting their off-beat comedic version, complete with a lively soundtrack, chase, and pop-culture references.  Both versions embody Shakespeare’s original text, but in short condensed adaptations.

Both groups meet in the afternoons daily during the two weeks, playing theatre games, learning voice,  stage movement, and acting techniques, and, of course, rehearsing the play.  The middle school (entering grades 6th-8th) group meets Monday-Friday 12:30-2:30pm, and the high school (entering 9th+) workshop meets Monday-Friday 3:00-5:30pm with performances Friday and Saturday, June 24 and 25 at 7:00pm, when each group presents their own very different versions of the play: the middle school group performing on Friday and the high school group performing on Saturday.

We plan to adhere to guidance provided by the CDC for Covid-19 at the time of the workshop. Last year, we were able to relax a little, but participants still had the option to wear masks during sessions, we created physical distanced staging, and we kept air flowing throughout the playhouse, or worked outside.  The kids did have the option to perform without masks, as well.  We’re hoping for the best, but are prepared to implement whatever protocols seem appropriate at the time.

The scripts will be available soon on the playhouse at the Youth Theatre Workshop page using the drop down menu. So, feel free to read it before our first day. We will read through the play on day one, and the players will have a chance to note their role preferences. The roles will be cast that evening, and rehearsals will begin on day two!

THERE ARE PARTS FOR EVERYONE! “Shakespeared!” is tailored to provide young players with an opportunity to engage with Shakespeare’s text in a fun way and to see the potential interpretations that lie within the text.

The registration link for the 2022 workshop will be available on February 1st! PLEASE DON’T USE THE 2021 FORM!!!

Our fund drive letters for our 2022 season have gone out! Broadway recently opened up again, and we hope we can return to our regular seating arrangement and celebrate our 61st season with you – our wonderful audiences!

We have planned a season of fun and entertainment for you that includes the return of a favorite show that we were unable to bring you last summer, the stage version of a hilarious film favorite, a classic musical, and a heartwarming family story. Season ticket information will be mailed to you in April/May. Please plan to join us for:

This glorious musical version of the Charles Dickens novel will open our season with performances June 2-4 and June 8-11. Director Caroline Good will have auditions on Sunday, April 10 at 3 p.m. and Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m. Oliver! is always a favorite and includes such lively songs as “I’d Do Anything”, “Ooom-Pah-Pah” and the touching “Where Is Love” and “As Long As He Needs Me.”

[Our previously planned production of Fiddler on the Roof was replaced because of licensing restrictions placed on community theatres when a professional road company is planned for the territory.]

Our next attraction will be Clue Onstage. This is the stage version of the hilarious film. It will be onstage July 7-9 and July 13-16. Come and see if you can figure out who killed Mr. Boddy…..and where…..and with what instrument! Directors Shelly McFadden & Vickie Parker will have auditions Sunday, May 1 at 3 p.m. and Monday, May 2 at 7 p.m.

….try try again….. Our third attraction will be Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This re-telling of the Biblical account of Joseph and his brothers will be presented August 11-13 and August 17-20. Director Jack Randall Earles will have auditions Sunday, June 13 at 3 p.m. and Monday, June 14 at 7 p.m.

The 61st season will close with a production of The Miracle Worker. This story of teacher Annie Sullivan and her student Helen Keller will warm your heart. It will be onstage September 8-10 and September 14-17. Director Ric McFadden will have auditions Sunday, July 17, at 3 p.m. and Monday, July 18 at 7 p.m.

SHAKESPEARED! The Youth Theatre Workshop will present Macbeth. The workshop will be conducted June 13-24 with performances on June 24 & 25. The Children’s Theatre Workshop will be conducted July 18-22 with a performance on July 22.

If you did not receive your Fund Drive Letter – or you are not on our mailing list, you can download a contribution form HERE.

The Rehearsal Center at the Putnam County Playhouse is used for many things. Its primary use, of course, is for a rehearsal space. While the show next on the schedule is rehearsing on the mainstage, the show following it spends its time in the Rehearsal Center. Tape on the floor marks out the set design and folding chairs and “rehearsal” furniture are used to help the actors during blocking.

The rehearsal center is also used for auditions. There are also dressing rooms for the performers. During a performance, it is the Green Room – the place where actors who are not onstage wait until it’s time for them to go their “places” before making an entrance. Before we had the rehearsal center, the dressing rooms were in the small barn – there were many crossovers in the rain! Auditions and rehearsals were also held outdoors.

It was in 2006 that the decision was finally made – after many seasons of discussion – that fundraising for a rehearsal center would begin. We had a fundraising evening of entertainment and a special outreach was made to PCPH supporters. The result was gratifying, and ground was broken for the structure in the spring of 2007.

Construction was quick, and the structure was ready to use for the opening show of the season Cinderella.

This past season, the board elected to give the rehearsal center a name. While the efforts of many made the project happen, the board chose to name it after the person whose efforts at fund raising and attention to detail were paramount in making the rehearsal center a reality. From now on it will be known as:

The annual meeting for Putnam County Playhouse was held on Sunday, October 3, at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre. Board members and guests Ashlee Anne Vitz and Bryan Schroeder convened to hear reports on the 2021 season.

Committee chairpersons gave their reports on their activity and a lively conversation about PCPH was enjoyed by all.

As provided in the By-Laws of PCPH, the nominating committee also put forth the names of those who were to be considered for the role of a member of the board. Four names of board members whose terms were expiring and who had expressed an interest in serving again were placed in nomination. They were Caroline Good, Brad Sandy, Sandi Rossok, and Shelly McFadden. Cameron Wunderlich was nominated to fulfill the final year of retiring board member Drew Brattain’s term. The roster was accepted by acclamation.

Jack Randall Earles was named the winner of the Upstage Award for his role as Louis XI in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

In the regular board meeting that followed, the nomination committee presented its prepared slate of officers who will serve for the coming season. They were President, Shelly McFadden; Vice-Presidents, Dustin Bond and Linda Gjesvold; Recording Secretary-Assistant Treasurer, Kathryn Dory; Corresponding Secretary, Jack Randall Earles; and Treasurer, Mark Hammer.

Congratulations to our new president Shelly McFadden and welcome to new board member Cameron Wunderlich!

This year the Annual Meeting of the Putnam County Playhouse, Inc., will be on Sunday, October 3, at 2 p.m.

The meeting will be in the Hazel Day Longden Theatre.Social distancing and masks will be followed. Because of protocols, refreshments will not be served this year.

This letter to you from our outgoing President Michael McClaine explains the details!

The prestigious HAMMY/UPSTAGE Award will also be presented at the meeting. Our nominees from our three productions this season are:

Jack Randall Earles as Louis XI in Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Ashlee Anne Vitz as Alma in Pillow Talk.

Jack Randall Earles as Wilbur C. Henderson in You Can’t Take It With You.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this unusual season a success. We are all looking forward to our 2022 season, and we hope you are, too!

As the 2021 60th Anniversary Season of Putnam County Playhouse comes to an end, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our supporters for all they have done for us.

To our audiences – THANK YOU for attending our productions!

To those who contributed to our 2021 Fund Drive – THANK YOU!

To all of those who worked on our shows & workshops, THANK YOU!

To our sponsors for the season – THANK YOU!

See you 2022!

The final show of the 60th season at Putnam County Playhouse is now open! You can call the box office at 765-653-5880 after 5 p.m daily [except Sunday]. All performances begin at 8 p.m. and all tickets are $10. The Pulitzer-prize winning comedy You Can’t Take It With You will be presented September 7-11 and September 14-18. Limited seating is available.

The production is sponsored by:

To read about our sponsor click HERE.

The leading role of Martin Vanderhof, an iconoclastic grandfather bent on tilting windmills, is acted by Ric McFadden. The place is New York City and the time in 1938 or so. Vanderhof and his family including daughter Penny (Shelly McFadden), son-in-law Paul (Michael McClaine) and grand daughters Essie (Hannah Lafever) and Alice (Anna Harris) all live in worlds of their own making. His other son-in-law Ed (Bart Jones) plays the xylophone and sells candy on the side.

Also involved in the house are the servants Rheba (Morgan Asher) and Donald (Noah D. Pettit). Mr. De Pinna (Jim Rambo) helps Paul with creating fireworks and Boris Kolenkhov (Jack Randall Earles) visits regularly to help Essie with her dancing.

When daughter Alice falls in love with Anthony Kirby, Jr. (Cameron Wunderlich), the delicate imbalance of the household is thrown into a whirl. An invitation to dinner offered to the senior Kirbys (Holly Pritchett & Dustin Bond) begins a night of chaos that even the Vanderhof-Sycamores are unable to set right.

Can love survive? Will Tony and Alice finally get together?

Sometimes even a Mrs. Fix-It like Penny is unable to come up with a solution. And what about the visiting Russian Grand Duchess (Karen Temple), the G-Men (Ethan Lawler), and Gay Wellington (Sandi Rossok), an actress who enjoys her whiskey?

Directed by Dustin Bond who also did the lighting design. Linda Gjesvold did the set design. Ruby Sullivan is the light board operator.

Did we mention the Grand Duchess Olga Katrina, a cousin to the Czar of all the Russias?

Oh…..and Donald always brings the flies with him.

PHOTOS BY LINDA GJESVOLD.

In a spirit of optimism – members of the cast of the planned September production are continuing their rehearsals. The Pulitzer-Prize winning comedy You Can’t Take It With You will hopefully be presented September 7-11 and September 14-18. All performances will begin at 8 p.m. and all tickets are $10. The box office will open at 5 p.m. on Monday, September 6. At that time you can call 765-653-5880 for reservations. No calls will be taken until then. After September 6, the box office will be open daily at 5 p.m. [except Sunday, September 12].

The production is sponsored by:

The comedy is directed by Dustin Bond – who also designed the lighting. Ruby Sullivan will run the light board. The set was designed by Linda Gjesvold.

The cast includes Ric McFadden in the leading role of Martin Vanderhoff – a man who has gone his own way in life. Playing members of his eccentric family are Michael L. McClaine as son-in-law Paul who is married to free spirit Penny played by Shelly McFadden. His two granddaughters Essie an aspiring ballet dancer and Alice a secretary are played by Hannah Lefever and Anna Harris respectively. Essie’s husband, Ed, who plays the xylophone and sells home made candy is played by Bart Jones making his PCPH debut. Jim Rambo is Mr. DiPenna, who assists Paul in making fireworks.

The household domestic couple are played by Morgan Asher and Noah D. Pettit. Tony Kirby, a suitor to Alice, is played by Cameron Wunderlich. Jay Prewitt and Holly Pritchett are his parents, the stuffy Mr. and Mrs. Kirby.

Other visitors to the house include Mr. Kolenkhov, Essie’s dancing teacher played by Jack Randall Earles; an actress who Penny is trying to recruit to be in one of the plays she has written, Gay Wellington, played by Sandi Rossok; an IRS representative, Joshua Saul Bain; and a deposed Russian Duchess, Karen Temple. Bond, Bain, and Ethan Lawler are G-Men who pay a surprise visit to the household.

Wunderlich, Harris, and Pettit are also working backstage. This production will close the 60th anniversary season of Putnam County Playhouse.

Putnam County Playhouse has announced that its August production of the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has been canceled.  A member of the JOSEPH company tested positive for Covid-19 and the production was halted last week.

Refunds are available for those who have pre-purchased tickets for the show.  The box office at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre will be open August 9-14 and August 16-21.  Box office will be open from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. each of those days only.  Those wishing to receive a refund should bring their tickets to the box office on any of those days. Refunds will not be offered after August 21.

We thank you for your continued support.  The 60^th Season will end in September with a production of the Pulitzer-prize winning comedy You Can’t Take It With You.

NOTE: TICKETS FOR THIS 2021 PRODUCTION WILL NOT BE HONORED FOR ANY PLANNED PRODUCTION IN 2022.

The 2021 Children’s Theatre Workshop is in operation this week.  Creator-Director Caroline Good has gathered a talented group of instructors and interns to provide the participants with a great experience in “how theatre is created”.

The Workshop will present the fruits of its labors to an audience of family and friends at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 23, at 7 p.m.

Working with Good are Ashlee Anne Vitz [late of Pillow Talk] and Craig Robinson [who appeared in SHAKESPEARED! earlier this summer].

The interns include Bella Green, Rebecca Hebb, Ruby Sullivan, Avery H. Stockwell , Marigrace Girton , MJ Cooper ,and Gunner Roach . Working on the technical side are DePauw students Molly Murphy, Ivy Sedam, Josie Cox, and Grace Riley.

One of the plays on the bill will be “The Disappearing Porridge” written by Riley. The cast for this production features Lydia Grove, Josie Tincher, Blake Hambler, Charlotte Tomamichel, Abram Goss, and Mariah Hall. Appearing with them are Jackson Wells, Finley Burton, Gabby Robbins, Aleks Koulak, Lydia Wells, Sage Cummings, Addy Koulak, and Alex Gurnon.  

Also being presented is “The Tiniest Queen” written by seventh grader Cooper.  It features Hayley Roderick, Gabriel Whitman, Keyli Hamblet, Cecilia Wells, and Jessica Bogaerts. Also appearing will be Atlas Cora McAllister, Hillis Barcus, Lauren Wells, and Layla Koulak.

Director Dustin Bond has scheduled two sessions of auditions for You Can’t Take It With You. The Pulitzer-prize winning comedy by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart will close the 60^th season of Putnam County Playhouse with performances September 7-11 and September 14-18.

Auditions will be at the Rehearsal Center at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre on Sunday, July 18 at 3 p.m. and again Monday, July 19, at 7 p.m.

Download an audition sheet here.

The show is being sponsored by Shuee’s Great Buys Plus.

To read about our sponsor click here.

Bond is looking for actors to portray a family of eccentrics – the Sycamores –  who live by their own rules and the people who come into contact with them.  There are roles for actors of all ability levels.  The leading roles include Grandpa Vanderhoff, the head of the family; Penny, his daughter, who fancies herself a painter and/or a playwright; Alice, the grand daughter who is not sure of her place in the world; and Tony Kirby, who loves Alice in spite of her family. 

Other roles include Penny’s daughter Essie and her husband Ed, the family servants Reba and her boyfriend, Donald: Tony’s disapproving parents, and many more.  The full character list and their stage ages can be found here.

To read the play click here.

This is a great opportunity for actors who are looking to be onstage for the first time or who are returning to the stage after an absence.  All those auditioning should be 16 years of age or older.

The 60^th season continues in August with a production of the musical Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

You can read all about our 2021 Children’s Theatre Workshop

by clicking HERE.

The second production of the 60th season of Putnam County Playhouse is set to take the stage! It is the comedy Pillow Talk directed by Andrew Ranck.

The show will open Tuesday, July 6. There will be ten performances at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre: July 6-10 & July 13-17. The box office will open at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 5. The number to call is 765-653-5880. All tickets are $10 and all performances begin at 8 p.m. The box office accepts cash or personal checks. We are unable to process credit/debit cards.

Based on the popular 1959 film that featured the first onscreen pairing of Rock Hudson and Doris Day – the fast moving plot details the hilarious consequences of sharing a telephone party line. Jan Morrow needs to get a call through and her party line nemesis Brad Allen will not get off the line!

Starring in the leading roles are Sarah Armitage as Jan and TJ Tincher as Brad. Both of these performers have been in many shows at PCPH and bring strong comic timing and character development to the stage. Sarah was last seen in the drama Picnic. TJ directed Send Me No Flowers in 2019.

Director Ranck has also peopled his cast with stalwart comic supporting players. They include Ashlee Anne Vitz as Alma, Jan’s maid with a love for drink and Scott Armitage is Pierrot, Jan’s fussy boss at a swank decorating firm. Also featured is Sam Draper as Brad’s rival for Jan’s affections, the wealthy Jonathon Forbes.

Making her PCPH debut is Tara Smith who plays a telephone inspector and four – count them FOUR – of Brad’s girlfriends. Also featured and fresh from a performance in June’s Hunchback of Notre Dame is Noah D. Pettit as Tony Walters, a lecherous young swain with designs on designer, Jan.

Scene stealing will be rampant with the popular Karen Temple playing multiple roles including Mrs. Walters and an annoying telephone operator. Joining her in displaying multiple personalities are Brad Sandy, Lita Sandy, and Mike Mitchell. Each of them is involved in a dazzling display of costume changes as they play a policeman, a beat poet, a maid, and clients of the design firm owned by Mr. Pierrot.

Production stage manager of the production is Jessica Alltop. Her stage crew includes Cameron Wunderlich with assistance from cast members. Sarah Nowling is running the light board and the sound board is operated by Grant Pettit.

Scenic artist for Pillow Talk is Linda Gjesvold. Set design and set decoration is by Ranck. The set includes some original mid-century modern furnishings, electronics, and art work.

DePauw intern Ivy Sedam is the costume co-ordinator while her fellow intern Ja’el Thomas is working on various aspects of the production. Board liaison is Caroline Good.

Seating is limited to 80 audience members per performance as PCPH continues to follow the recommendations for social distancing.

The season continues in August with the musical Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and ends in September with the Pulitzer-prize winning comedy You Can’t Take It With You.

YO! The latest edition of SHAKESPEARED! the annual Putnam County Playhouse Youth Theatre Workshop will present the fruits of its labor this weekend. A group of Middle School students and a group of High School students will each present of version of the Bard’s comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The middle school production will be presented on Friday, June 25, at 7 p.m. The high school production will be presented on Saturday, June 26, at 7 p.m. at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre. Although both presentations are open to the public, social distancing is stressed. EXTREMELY LIMITED SEATING [80 chairs per performance] is available with preference given to the families and friends of our cast members. Admission is $3 for those over 12 years of age and FREE for those not yet that age. Tickets are available at the door only.

The productions are sponsored by:

Read more about our sponsor HERE.

Read about our sponsor here.

The Middle School Group is directed by Eleanor Howard and Craig Robinson. It features Josie Cox as Hermia and MJ Cooper as Lysander with Gunner Roach as Demetrius and Marigrace Girton as Helena. The Royals are Grace Riley, Joey Draper, Molly Murphy and Sadie Henry.

Also featured are Ella Tischer, Kathryn Funk, Charlie Hall, Luna Pope, Lillian Green, and Alex Roberts. Appearing as the mischievous fairies are Clara Everett, Rowan O’Bannon, Jocelyn Gardner, Madilyn Hiatt, Jasmine Cummings, and Jewelee Butcher.

Murphy and Riley are assistant directors for both groups. Working on the technical side for both productions are Ivy Sedam as costume designer/co-ordinator, Ja’el Thomas the light operator, and Fiona Good as the sound technician.

The high school group is directed by Caroline Good, creator of SHAKESPEARED and the adapter for both scripts. This version of the Shakespearean classic features Ellie Henry, Alice Howard, Stevie Keenan, and Jessica Geiger as the star-crossed lovers. The Royals are Willow Jones, Peyton Freeman, Courtney Huff, and Maia Alley.

Also featured are Kiara Boyd, Craig Robinson, Mya Weddle, Olivia Stierwalt, Samantha Funk, Rebecca Hebb, Evalyn Green, and Marlene Andrade.

Featured roles are played by Ruby Sullivan, Devin Huff, Charlie Xaq Good, Griffin Jones, Avery H. Stockwell, Ava Watson, and Elena Emmerich.

Auditions for the third production of the 60^th season of Putnam County Playhouse have been set.  The musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor© Dreamcoat will be produced August 10-14 and August 17-21.  Director Jack Randall Earles will hold two sessions of auditions.  The first will be on Sunday, June 13, at 3 p.m. and the second will be Monday, June 14, at 7 p.m.  Both sessions will be in the Rehearsal Center at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre in Greencastle.

The show is being sponsored by First National Bank.

Read about our sponsor HERE.

Vocal direction is by Kathryn Dory. Assistant director is Sandi Rossok. Musical staging and dances will be by Earles and Lita Sandy. Morgan Asher is the rehearsal/production pianist and pit conductor. Production stage manager for the show is Cameron Wunderlich.

Click HERE to download an audition form.

Anyone wishing to audition should prepare 32 measures of a song and bring sheet music.   An accompanist will be provided.  Songs should be appropriate for a musical. Acapella auditions are discouraged.

All of those auditioning should be at least 16 years of age.

Because this musical is a “sing-thru” there are no scenes to be read.  Instead an extensive dance audition will be included.  Please wear appropriate shoes.

Characters to be cast include The Narrator, a strong female singer who tells the story; Joseph, the hero of the story; Joseph’s eleven brothers and their father, Jacob.  An Elvis-like singer is also sought for the role of The Pharaoh.  A strong mixed ensemble is also needed.  Additional roles and solos will be cast from the ensemble.

To read more about the characters in the musical click HERE.

To read the Director’s Note click HERE.

The current season continues this week with sold out performances of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and with the comedy Pillow Talk which opens July 6.

The first show of our 60th season, the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame, is sold out for all remaining performances.

Thank you to all of our subscribers and those who have reserved tickets. Our seating arrangement contains 80 seats for each performance in order to follow mandated social distancing protocols.

If you are a season ticket subscriber and you have tickets for the show that you cannot use OR if you have made reservations and find that you cannot attend the show – please let the box office know so that those tickets can be released. You can call the box office at 765-653-5880 ONLY after 5 p.m. on PERFORMANCE DAYS ONLY. Our box office is staffed by volunteers and is ONLY open those hours.

THANK YOU!!

Registration is complete. If you are participating, you can find more information here.

The 60^th anniversary season of Putnam County Playhouse will open on June 1 with a production of the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The show will be presented June 1-5 and June 8-12.  All shows begin at 8 p.m. and all tickets are $10.

Details about the cast and crew can be found here.

The production is sponsored by:

Our season was planned with Covid restrictions in place.  Because of social distancing, the number of seats in our theatre has been reduced to 87 for each performance.  You can see a seating chart here.

Our season ticket advance sales have reduced the number of seats available by nearly half.  So there are some seats available for MOST performances, but tickets are in limited supply.  You can make reservations for The Hunchback of Notre Dame or any of our shows by calling the box office.

The box office number is 765-653-5880.  The box office is only open during performance weeks from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. daily except Sunday. So for our current production, it will open on Monday, May 31, at 5 p.m. 

No ticket requests or questions can be answered on Facebook or the website.  Tickets are available ONLY by visiting or calling the box office.  Please do not submit ticket requests or questions on the Facebook or website platforms.

Our season continues in July with the comedy Pillow Talk, in August with the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor© Dreamcoat, and closes in September with the Pulitzer prize winning comedy, You Can’t Take It With You.

Definition of “Party Line” by Merriam-Webster:

A single telephone circuit connecting two or more subscribers with the exchange — called also party wire.

The 60^th season of the Putnam County Playhouse will continue in July with a production of the comedy Pillow Talk.  It will be presented July 6-10 and July 13-17.

Director Andrew Ranck will conduct two sessions of auditions for roles in the play.  The first will be Sunday, May 23, at 3 p.m. with the second on Monday, May 24 at 7 p.m.  Both sessions will be in the Rehearsal Center at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre in Greencastle.

Best known as a 1959 film starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson, the characters in Pillow Talk include Jan Morrow, a smart interior decorator, who shares a party line [the show is set in the late 1950’s] with a suave song writer, Brad Allen.  There are many supporting characters including Jonathan Forbes, a rich man with a crush on Jan; Alma, Jan’s maid; Pierot, Jan’s partner in her design firm; Mrs. Walters and her son, Tony, clients of the firm; and Brad’s girlfriends and many others.

Read about the show and find a character list here.

Andrew says: “From romantic leads, best friends, persnickety shopkeepers, liquor friendly housekeepers, sexy models, nightclub singers, and judgmental telephone company supervisors, there is a tremendous variety of comedic character parts perfect for everyone…..”  Read all of his comments about the play here.

No monologues are necessary, and those who audition will be reading from the script. All those auditioning should be at least 16 years of age.

You can print out an audition form here.

Live theatre is coming back to the Hazel Day Longden Theatre. The Putnam County Playhouse will open its 60th season with a production of Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The musical will play ten performances June 1-5 and June 8-12. Tickets for the show will go on sale when the box office opens at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 31. All performances begin at 8 p.m. and all tickets are $10.

All Covid protocols will be followed. Patrons are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing while in the theatre. There will be 80 seats only available for each performance. Several performances will have limited seating available because of the advance season ticket sales.

This version of the classic story has songs from the Disney animated feature and the script is based on the book by Victor Hugo. Music is by Alan Menken and lyrics by Steven Schwartz. The book is by Peter Parnell.

Director for the production is Shelly McFadden. Vocal Director is Lori Miller. Rehearsal pianist and pit conductor is Morgan Asher. Choreographer is Joshua Bain who also serves as assistant director. He is being assisted by Sarah Armitage with the dances. Set design is by Ric McFadden and the technical director is Dustin Bond.

The production is sponsored by:

Read about our sponsor HERE.

Read about our sponsor HERE.

The title role of Quasimodo the Hunchback of Notre Dame will be played by Dustin Bond. Samantha Grace Shelton plays the gypsy girl Esmerelda who befriends him. Ric McFadden and Jay Prewitt play the Frollo brothers, Claude and Jehan. Other leading roles are Clopin the King of the Gypsies played by Grant Craig and Captain Phoebus played by Nathan Brown – both actors making their PCPH debuts in this musical. Playing multiple roles are Chris Wurster, Anna Harris, Kayla Norman, and Noah D. Pettit.

Michaela Semak and Jack Randall Earles appear in supporting roles.

The choir will feature Susan Anthony, Kathryn Dory, Kathi Elliott, Dale Grove, Hannah Newlin, Diane K. Parrish, Lisa Price, Kyla Scheuermann, Eric Vagedes, Miller and Bain, and four members of the Howard family: Brian, Eleanor, George, and Alice.

Among those joining Asher in the pit are Ally Trexler (violin) and Dede Schwomeyer (percussion).

Stage Manager is Cameron Wunderlich. Props master is Pettit. Also working on the stage crew are Sarah Nowling and Ally Taylor. Costumes are by Shelly and Sarah. Running the sound board is Grace Elmore and Därvell Barger will run the light board. Spotlight operators are Tucker Elmore and Josie Lyons.

Director Caroline Good has announced that registration is now open for the 2021 Children’s Theatre Workshop. Last year, the CTW was conducted online. “All protocols will be observed, but we hope to have an in person Workshop this season,” said Caroline. “We will make that decision as the time approaches.”

To sign up for the workshop click here.

Two additional sessions of auditions for the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame have been scheduled by director Shelly McFadden.  The first will be Sunday, March 28 at 3 p.m. and the second will be Monday, March 29 at 7 p.m.  Both sessions will be in the Rehearsal Center at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre in Greencastle.

The show will be produced June 1-5 & June 8-12. It will open the planned 60th Season of Putnam County Playhouse. Details are still being worked out. The board is watching the COVID protocols carefully and decisions will be made with the safety of our participants and audiences in mind.

Among roles in the musical are Quasimodo, the title character; Esmerelda, the beautiful dancer he falls in love with; Frollo, the archdeacon of Notre Dame; and Phoebus, the captain of the Cathedral Guard.  McFadden is also looking for a large ensemble – or congregation.  Numerous supporting roles will be cast from the congregation.  There are opportunities for many performers in singing and dancing roles.

Click HERE to learn more about the roles/characters and to read about the production.

You can print out an audition form in advance HERE.

Also needed are a few more members for the Choir, who sing throughout the production. Persons interested in performing in the Choir can audition during these sessions as well. You can print out an audition form for the Choir HERE.

Those wishing to audition should prepare no more than 32 measures of a song.  An accompanist will be provided. Please bring your sheet music. A capella auditions are strongly discouraged.  There will also be a dance portion of the audition.  All those auditioning should be at least 16 years of age.  Those attending should wear masks, and social distancing will be observed during the process.

Plans for our 60th Season continue. Director Shelly McFadden is planning two sessions of auditions for members of the choir in her production of the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The show is scheduled to be presented in June with dates to be announced.

The choir consists of two double quartets. Those appearing in this capacity will be onstage during the entire play. These participants will also have their music books with them.

The auditions for Choir Members will be Sunday, March 14, at 3 p.m. and again Monday, March 15, at 7 p.m. Both sessions will be in the Rehearsal Center at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre. Those auditioning are asked to prepare a musical selection of not more than 32 measures. An accompanist will be provided. [A capella auditions are strongly discouraged.] And all Covid restrictions will be in place including wearing masks and social distancing.

CHOIR AUDITION FORM HERE.

All of those auditioning should be at least sixteen years of age. Auditions for leading roles and members of the congregant who will play multiple roles will be March 28 & March 29. More details are forthcoming.

To read more about the show click here and here.

Registration is now open for Shakespeared! Youth Theatre Workshop 2021

Workshop Dates:  Mondays-Fridays June 14-26

Performances:  Friday & Saturday, June 25 & 26 at 7:00pm

This year’s annual two-week-long Shakespeared! Workshop at the Putnam County Playhouse centers around A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The middle school group will perform a more traditional version and the high school group will present its off-beat comedic version, complete with a lively soundtrack, chase, and pop-culture references. 

Sign up by clicking HERE.

Both groups meet in the afternoons daily during the two weeks. Activities include theatre games, learning voice, stage movement, and acting techniques, and, of course, rehearsing the play.  The middle school group meets Monday-Friday 12:30-2:30pm, and the high school workshop meets Monday-Friday 3:00-5:30pm with performances Friday and Saturday, June 26-27 at 7:00pm, when each group presents their own very different versions of the play.

We will plan on adhering strictly to the updated CDC protocols for Covid-19 at the time of the workshop. Last year, all participants wore masks during sessions, we created physical distanced staging, and we kept air flowing throughout the playhouse, or worked outside.  Props and set pieces were wiped down frequently, and we provided hand sanitizer.  We’re hoping for the best, but are prepared to implement these protocols again and consider moving the performances to the park, if necessary.

The scripts will be available soon on the playhouse website’s Youth Theatre Workshop page. So, feel free to read it before our first day. We will read through the play on day one, and the players will have a chance to note their role preferences. The roles will be cast that evening, and rehearsals will begin on day two!

THERE ARE PARTS FOR EVERYONE!

Shakespeared! is tailored to provide young players with an opportunity to engage with Shakespeare’s text in a fun way and to see the potential interpretations that lie within the text.  For more information click here.

Details and sign up information for our annual July Children’s Theatre Workshop will be posted soon.

As we move ahead with our plans for our 60th Anniversary Season, we hope that we will be able to produce the four shows that we have announced for the summer 0f 2021.

We are still watching details about the Pandemic and will follow all protocols as prescribed by county, state, and Federal authorities. The board is planning a meeting in early March to discuss changes we may have to make to our season. Any and all of those decisions will be posted here, so keep watching the Website.

Until then, if you are interested in participating in a production this summer, you can find all the information you need at the links below. Stay safe and we hope to see you at the barn!

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

Show Information.

Director’s Note.

Cast Information.

Pillow Talk

Show Information.

Director’s Note.

Cast Information.

Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor© Dreamcoat

Show Information.

Director’s Note.

Cast Information.

You Can’t Take It With You

Show Information.

Director’s Note.

Cast Information.

We sincerely hope that we can be onstage this summer and that you will be able to join us. Please know that all dates in this post are TENTATIVE and depend entirely on the protocols that will be in place in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your continued support.

Planning a production and putting together all of the pieces can’t wait until the last minute! So director Shelly McFadden decided to go ahead with work on The Hunchback of Notre Dame – our first planned production for 2021.

Left to right: Noah Pettit, Dustin Bond, Ric McFadden, Connor George, Cadence McFadden

“One of the advantages of directing the first show is that you get to have the main stage for your entire rehearsal process,” said Shelly. “I love the Rehearsal Center, but it is fun to have the Barn to yourself for a few weeks.”

Director Shelly McFadden dropped her mask briefly to take a selfie with the crew.

The second production Pillow Talk with director Andrew Ranck will begin its process in the Rehearsal Center early in June.

Shelly and husband Ric – who is the set designer & construction captain for the show – got their crew together earlier this week for some preliminary stage work. Also on hand were Dustin Bond, Connor George, Noah Pettit, and Caydence McFadden.

Noah Pettit

Dustin Bond

Board members are watching the news and following the Pandemic News and Restrictions closely as spring approaches. Final decisions about auditions, performances, and tickets will be announced as they are made in accordance with state guidelines.

You can read about the scheduled audition dates for Hunchback of Notre Dame HERE.

Additional show information and Director’s Notes for all productions will be posted in February!!