At the beginning of our 62nd season [and our 40th season inside the Hazel Day Longden Theatre] we decided we would have to replace the air conditioning units that keep YOU cooler when you’re attending our shows!

During rehearsals of our season opener GREASE! the units arrived! Because of supply chain issues, the units ordered in March had been briefly delayed. They were expertly put into place and are now hard at work. The cast rehearsing Anything Goes [with our new pianist] is having a great time getting ready for YOU. Tickets for the show go on sale at 5 p.m. Monday, August 14 at the box office only.

See you there!

The Putnam County annual Children’s Theatre Workshop will display the fruits of its labors on Saturday, July 29, at 7 p.m. on the stage of the Hazel Day Longden Theatre. The public is invited to the event – and admission is free to all.

The Workshop is made possible by a grant from Arts Illiana.

Director of the program Caroline Good has assembled a mighty team volunteers who work only one week to make the show possible. In addition to Good and Kathi Elliott who give instruction in acting, there is Sarah Armitage for dance/movement, and Eleanor Howard for voice and diction. Instructors also include Ruby Sullivan and Alice Howard.

Their work is coordinated with that of the interns (all of them alumni of the program) Rebecca Hebb, Catherine Ryan-Shager, MJ Cooper, Ella Tischer, Josie Tischer, Gabby Robbins, Charlotte Tomamichel,  and Savannah Wolfe.

Audiences will see the World Premieres of two plays by the resident playwrights of the program.  They are  And the Winner Is… by Sullivan, and The Almost Heist by Ellen Blackledge and Joslyn Cash.

Appearing in Sullivan’s play are Tinzlee Coulson, Ben Wolfe, Maryn Huber, Hollis Barcus, and Hadley Roderick. Also taking on roles in this spoof of children’s beauty pageants are Henry Wolfe, Cece Wells, Cheyanne Johnson, and Nancy Napier.  Completing the cast will be Zoey Bond, Nora Napier, Levi Watkins, and Delilah Plot.

In the play by Blackledge and Cash, audiences will see Hannah Jernagan, Elijah Neeley, Gloria Jones, Tatum Wilson, Millie Jones, and Keyli Hamblet.  Also featured are Wyatt Schutter, Caydee Johnson, Greene Henry, Quinn Dory, and Lauren Wells. Rounding out the cast are Liza Tischer, Jeriden Vaughn, and Alton Henry.

Putnam County Playhouse extends its thanks to the families of the participants who participate in our Youth Programs!

Taking a cue from Emily Dickinson, director Jack Randall Earles and his assistant director Sandi Rossok have scheduled two days of auditions for their production of the Paul Osborn play Morning’s At Seven. The first session will be Sunday, July 23 at 3 p.m. followed by a second session on Monday, July 24, at 7 p.m. The events will be held at the Michael McClaine Rehearsal Center in the Hazel Day Longden Theatre.

To watch an interview with Jack Randall about the auditions – click HERE. [Note – I messed up the husbands & wives. Ida is married to Carl, Cora is married to Thor, and Esther is married to David. JRE]

Production dates for the show which will close the 62nd season of Putnam County Playhouse are September 14-16 & September 20-23.

Stage manager for the production is Brandon Wunderlich. Technical director is Dustin Bond. Set designers are Linda Gjesvold and Cameron Wunderlich and Anna Harris.

Morning’s At Seven is sponsored by:

There are nine roles in the production. They include four sisters in their late 50’s/early 60’s (stage ages) Esther, Ida, Cora, and Aaronetta. Three of the sisters are married to men of the same ages – these roles are Theodore (Thor), David, and Carl. Visiting on a particular weekend are Ida and Carl’s son Homer and his intended bride, Myrtle – both of whom are in their late 30’s/early 40’s (stage age).

You can read a character description here.

You can download an audition sheet & read the audition scenes here.

Read the Director’s note here.

Will there really be a morning?

by Emily Dickinson

Will there really be a “Morning”?
Is there such a thing as “Day”?
Could I see it from the mountains
If I were as tall as they?

Has it feet like Water lilies?
Has it feathers like a Bird?
Is it brought from famous countries
Of which I have never heard?

Oh some Scholar! Oh some Sailor!
Oh some Wise Men from the skies!
Please to tell a little Pilgrim
Where the place called “Morning” lies!

Director Dustin Bond’s production of the comedy The Play That Goes Wrong will continue the 62^nd season of Putnam County Playhouse. It will be onstage July 13-15 and July 19-22. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are available only at the box office by calling 765-653-5880 after 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday beginning July 10 until closing night July 22. Tickets are not available online OR on Facebook. All tickets are $15 and all shows begin at 8 p.m.

This production is sponsored by Greene Realty.

Click HERE to read about our sponsor.

The Play That Goes Wrong is an award-winning play that was as popular Off-Broadway as it was when it was first presented by its creators in London. It has also toured the U.S.

Hear what director Dustin Bond has to say about the production in an interview on Conversations With Jack HERE.

[Still working with new technology – turn your sound up and listen closely. It’s the video that goes wrong.]

Things go wrong from the moment the lights go up as the Cornley Drama Society struggles to present Murder At Haversham Manor. In fact even before the show starts, the actors and crew on are onstage making some last minute frantic preparations. It seems that everything is working against them. Where is Winston the Dog? What happened to the sound man’s Beatles CD Box Set? Can anyone help the stage manager with the mantelpiece?

Members of the Society include Grant Craig as Director Chris Bean who also plays Inspector Carter and the leading man of the troupe Robert Grove is played by Andrew Ranck who plays Thomas Colleymore.  Others involved in the onstage chaos are Anna Harris as Sandra Wilkinson and Florence. Ase Lafevre is Max Bennett and dual roles in Murder At Haversham Manor – Cecil Haversham & Arthur the Gardner.

Also featured are Cameron Wunderlich as Jonathan Harris also known as Charles Haversham, the murder victim in the play within a play and Jack Randall Earles as Dennis Tyde who plays the butler Perkins – who may or may not have done it. And if this sounds confusing now – just wait until you see what happens in Act Two!

Hannah Lafevre is Annie, the stage manager who finds herself onstage, and Jay Prewitt is Trevor the harried technical director who for some reason dons a wig and hits the stage when one of the actors is indisposed. Other members of the stage crew who are pressed into service are Ashley Hugues as Phyllis and Parker Helmer as…..Parker.

Vickie Parker is the assistant director. The true production stage manager is Ruby Sullivan. Light board operator is Ric McFadden. The set was designed by Bond and lighting design is by Wunderlich. Sound operator is Ben South. Costumes are by Shelly McFadden.

Kate Snyder, Torie Smith, and Rebecca Hebb are on the stage crew. And our thoughts and prayers are with them.

The PCPH maven of all things Shakespeare – Caroline Good – is bringing back her uber popular Youth Theatre Workshop SHAKESPEARED! to the mainstage! This season her two groups of Elizabethan performers will be presenting versions of The Tempest. The Middle School group will present its version on Friday, June 30, at 7 p.m. The high school group will present its ‘Gilligan’s Island’ inspired version on Saturday, July 1, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available only at the door for $3. Children under age 12 are admitted FREE!

The middle school group is directed by David Johnson who is assisted by Eleanor Howard. Costumes are by Caroline Good. Assistant director/stage manager is Marigrace Girton (who also handles these positions for the older group).

Featured in this group are Alex Gurnon as Prospero, Josie Tischer as Miranda, Kate Larson as Ariel, Michael Henry as Sebastian, and Joey Draper as Caliban. Other thespians in the cast are Kendra Arruda, Jewelee Butcher, Addy Koulak, Millie Larsen, Caleb Watkins, and James Malinoski.

Joining them onstage in other roles are Klaire Scheibe, Lucy Malinoski, Marissa Scheibe, Timothy Bogaerts, Ingrid Norris, and Lucas Vaglia.

Featured roles are taken by Blake Hamblet, Chiara Pavey, Evelyn Ryan-Shager, Savannah Wolfe, Luna Pope, Nadia Wagner, Alice Hayward, Nicolette Blackledge, Charlotte Brown, and Mariah Hall.

The high school group is being instructed by Ms. Good. Costumes for the production are by Girton and Samantha Funk. Light operator for both versions is Fiona Good.

Taking on roles in this version are Joslyn Cash as Prospero, Ella Tischer as Miranda, Alice Howard as the wily Caliban, MJ Cooper as Stephano, and Catherine Ryan-Shager as Gonzalo. Josie Cox, Ethan Snyder, Ellen Blackledge, Liel Watkins, Clara Everett, and Erika Buker also play major roles.

Performers playing multiple roles are Adi Gillum, Josie Tischer, Aubrianne Hayman, and Max Isaacs-Bailey.

Did you miss the auditions last weekend for Anything Goes? Don’t despair! Director Brad Sandy is still looking for a few more adults (age 16 & up) for the ensemble.

Join us onstage for this August production. Never been onstage? Now’s your opportunity! Thinking about making a comeback? Check it out!

You can contact Brad at [email protected]

See you at the barn!

Here’s another chance to be in a musical this season at PCPH! Director Brad Sandy is having two sessions of auditions for the Cole Porter musical Anything Goes.

The first session will be Sunday, June 18 at 3 p.m. The second session will be Monday, June 19 at 7 p.m. Both will be in the Michael McClaine Rehearsal Center at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre.

One windy day we talked to Brad about the auditions. Turn up your sound and watch him HERE.

The musical will be produced August 17-19 and August 23-26.

It is being sponsored by:

The auditions will include reading from the script. Please prepare 16 measures of a Broadway type number to sing. An accompanist will be provided. There will also be a general dance audition and a tap audition – many of the numbers include tap dancing by the leads and members of the ensemble. Brad is looking for cast members at least 16 years of age and older.

Read what Brad says about the show here.

Read about the show & find a list of the characters here.

We have added ONE additional performance of Grease! It will be Tuesday, June 13 at 8 p.m.

This performance sold out in thirty minutes. No additional performances can be added.

Thank you for your support.

Grease has officially sold out!

Director Lita Sandy’s production  of the popular rock and roll musical Grease will be on stage at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre June 8-10 and June 14-17. Curtain time for all performances is 8 p.m. IF you have reserved and not yet paid for your ticket – please pick them up by 7:30 p.m. on the night of the performance.

If you already have your ticket, remember that an onstage sock hop will start at 7:30 p.m. each night for audience members. Be there or BE SQUARE!

The play is sponsored by Bittles & Hurt and Hopkins-Rector.

Starring in the production are Clay Glessner as Danny and Bella Green as Sandy – the mismatched teens who have to overcome many obstacles to become a couple. They are joined by their friends Kenickie and Rizzo played by Dylan Arnold and Emily Gray, who find themselves mixed up in a romantic subplot of their own. 

The Pink Ladies – Hallie Rice, Chloe Gardner, and Alice Howard and the T-Birds – John Reach, Devin Huff, and Cyrus Gurnon are along for all the singing and dancing chaos.

Miss Lynch the harassed English teacher/principal is played by Karen K. Temple and Suzanne Funk is Blanche a confused staff member. Others in the adult ensemble are Savanna Mattox, Samantha Funk, and Makayla Long.

Patty and Eugene are played by Hannah McLaughlin and William Johnston.  The dancing rival for Danny’s affections, ChaCha is played by Ashton Kirton.  Teen Angel will be a crooning Andrew Ranck. Pete Grajewski is Johnny Casino and Dan Gurnon plays Vince Fontaine.

The Pony-Tail Girls are Josie Tischer, Josephine Glessner, Raylee O’Connor, Johnna Stampley, Josie Cox, Clara Everett, Charlie Martoglio, and Catherine Ryan-Shager.The Burger Boys are Noah D. Pettit, Trenton Bright, Joey Draper, and Miles Jernagan.

In addition to Sandy, the production staff includes Debby Lambert as Vocal Director, Morgan Asher as Musical Director, and Vickie Parker as Assistant Director.  Choreography is by Tara Gardner and costumes are by Shelly McFadden. Percussionist is Dede Shwomeyer.

Lita talks to Jack Randall about Grease HERE.

Set design is by Brad Sandy.Technical director and lighting designer is Dustin Bond.  Sound designer and sound board operator is Ben South and Shelby Merrill is running the light board.Stage manager is Brandon Wunderlich.  Assistant stage manager is Bart Jones. Jennifer Wunderlich and Zoe Cope are on the stage crew and properties are managed by Jessica Walter.

The 62^nd season of Putnam County Playhouse will kickoff with an Open House at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre. The event will be Sunday, June 4, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Highlights from the season opener Grease will be onstage.

Season tickets will be on sale at the box office and individual tickets for all four of the main stage shows will also be available.  Season tickets are $50 and single tickets are all $15 each.

Board members will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about PCPH.  We will also be celebrating our 40^th season inside the barn theatre!

Clay Glessner as Danny Zuko and Bella Green as Sandy Dumbrowski