As Peterborough Players celebrates 90 years of producing theater in the Hadley Barn, “Souvenir” by Stephen Temperley will kick off the summer season June 22 to July 3.
Based on a true story, “Souvenir” is a comedy that looks into the world of socialite Florence Foster Jenkins, who made a name for herself in her attempts to become a famous opera star, despite her particular skill set. The story is told through the eyes of her accompanist CosmeMcMoon as he struggles to understand the phenomenon in front of him, and he ultimately comes to admire Jenkins as they form a partnership on the way to their Carnegie Hall debut.
“Maytag Virgin” by Audrey Cefaly is on tap for July 6 to 16. The show is a contemporary romantic comedy about second chances, in which Alabama schoolteacher Lizzy Nash and her new neighbor Jack Key meet-cute most days in their backyards. Newly widowed Lizzy and Jack, who has a slightly turbulent past, maneuver their mutual attraction as they sort through life’s laundry, one pile at a time. Their world is filled with packing boxes, pie, and hours of talks as the two dance a getting-to-know you waltz for a year.
Peterborough Players will present Bess Wohl’s Tony-nominated “Grand Horizons” July 20 to 30. The comedy examines what happens when people attempt to redefine their relationships, and who has to pick up the pieces. Nancy and Bill have been married 50 years, and they’re starting to wonder about that “til death do we part” thing. While they face their decision seemingly unfazed, their adult sons do not, descending on their senior living community to fix things, learning a little more about their parents’ love lives than they ever wanted to know. As the family navigates their new reality, each must update their idea of what loving each other looks like.
“Pipeline” by Dominique Morriseau, scheduled for Aug. 3 to 13, delves into the turbulent connection between Nya, an inner-city public-school teacher, and her ex-husband Xavier as they attempt to co-parent their son Omari after his unfortunate run-in with a teacher in boarding school. Framed by Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem “We Real Cool,” “Pipeline” is a meditation on social prophesy, social media and a mother’s determination to redeem her son in her own eyes as well as that of the accusatory public.
The season concludes with “Tell Me on a Sunday,” featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black, Aug. 17 to 27. The story follows the turbulent quest for love of an optimistic woman as she arrives in New York City for the first time, and is told through a series of songs and letters home to her mother.
The Players’ Second Company show will be “A Year with Frog and Toad,” based on the Caldecott Award-winning children’s book series by Arnold Lobel, July 14, 15, 22, 26, 28 and 29 and Aug. 5, 9, 11 and 12. The show will be presented on the Elsewhere Stage, and invites young audiences to travel with a fusspot toad, a cheerful frog and all their woodland companions.
Summer season subscriptions go on sale April 3 for renewals and April 17 for new subscribers. Subscriptions are $209, and include the same seat to each of the five shows, priority seating, discounts on additional tickets and two free exchanges.
Barn Door flex passes – which allow the most flexibility and can be used in any combination — go on sale May 8. Five tickets are $209.
Single tickets for $49 go on sale May 22.
Tickets for “A Year with Frog and Toad”are $10 for children and $15 for adults. For groups of 10 or more, up to two adults can admitted at the children’s price of $10. For groups of 20 or more, up to four adults are free.
For information, go to the Peterborough Players website.