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Past Shows - 1979 to Today

The Glass Menagerie

The Glass Menagerie

2023

A classic of the American stage, Tennessee Williams' hauntingly poetic play The Glass Menagerie tells of a single mother and her two adult children struggling to get by in Depression-era St. Louis. In spite of her best efforts, Amanda succeeds more in distancing her children from her, with Laura retreating into her own imaginary world and Tom plotting to escape the "prison" he sees himself in.

Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka

Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka

2023

Music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newly

Adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy Allen McDonald

Based on the book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl

Murder by Membership Only

Murder by Membership Only

2023

This murder mystery-comedy with an all-female cast occurs in the exclusive Orczy Club, an "inner sanctum" for women mystery writers in London. When the most successful female mystery writer of the day drops dead after dinner, the club members try to solve the case themselves—at the risk of their own lives, since obviously the murderer is one of them.

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

2022

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

The Great Gatsby: A Live Radio Play

The Great Gatsby: A Live Radio Play

2022

This unique show is styled as a 1940's Live Radio Broadcast, with an ensemble of six actors bringing to life more than two dozen characters from the novel, with sound effects created live on stage, 1940's era commercials, and live musical accompaniment.

Clue

Clue

2022

Clue: On Stage is based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, has all your favorite characters.

Noises Off

Noises Off

9/2021 - 10/2021

The Valley Players' fall 2021 production will be Noises Off – often described as “a play within a play, a farce within a farce” by Michael Frayn. The show is directed by Joanne Puente.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Revival

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Revival

July 9 - 18, 2021

Adapted by Tim Kelly

Out of Sight Out of Murder - Revival

Out of Sight Out of Murder - Revival

Jan. 17 - Feb. 2 2020

Out of Sight... Out of Murder was the first Vermont Playwright's Award winner, produced in 1983. The play was subsequently published by Samuel French, and the Acting Edition bears the names of the original cast at the Valley Players.

Oliver - Revival

Oliver - Revival

October 4 - 20 2019

On Golden Pond - Revival

On Golden Pond - Revival

August 2 - 18 2019

Harvey - Revival

Harvey - Revival

May 31 - June 16 2019

Written by Mary Chase First

40th Anniversary Season Overview

40th Anniversary Season Overview

2019 - 2020

Our first show, Harvey, was staged in 1979. This was an auspicious start to our 40 year run performing community theater in the Mad River Valley. Over our 40 years we have never repeated a show, until now. To celebrate our anniversary, we hand-picked six of our most memorable shows to revive and kicked off the season May 31, 2019, with Harvey.

The Arsonists

The Arsonists

Nov. 30 - Dec. 16 2018

Written By Max Frisch; Translated by Alistair Beaton The story is about Gottlieb Biedermann, who has gotten himself into some hot water. He is in conflict with his business partner of twelve years, at odds with the changing world around him, and struggling to maintain an idea of safety in his home as a spat of fires ravage through some of the more well-known locales of his modern American city. His wife Babette feels torn between her perception of the world around her and the reality of it, caught up in the love she has for her husband all the while being deceived by it. The infallibility of a grim ending becomes all too real when a stranger knocks on the door, asking simply for a bit of food and maybe a dry place to sleep. The play suggests that once a door has been knocked it has to be opened, eventually. What would you do for the one who had knocked?

The Last Five Years

The Last Five Years

Feb 2018

Written and Composed by Jason Robert Brown

Family Holiday

Family Holiday

Nov 17 - Dec 3 2017

Written by DC Cathro

Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages

June 29 - July 10 2017

Book by Christopher D'Arienzo

Music & Lyrics by A Bunch of F*#@!ing Face Melting 80's Bands

Broken Circle

Broken Circle

October 27 - November 6 2016

Written by Jeanne Beckwith

The Great American Trailer Park - The Musical

The Great American Trailer Park - The Musical

June 17 - July 3 2016

written by David Nehls and Betsy Kelso

You Can't Take it With You

You Can't Take it With You

October 2 - 15 2015

Enchanted April

Enchanted April

April 24 - May 3 2015

Directors Note: I expect that everyone in our audience has experienced
the desire to escape—most recently from a world where spring
and sunshine seemed to disappear. The characters in our play
are desperate to escape as well. They are caught in a world of
unending rain that symbolizes their own loss of hope and of love.
World War I is four years past, but the grief, both public and private, is still very real, and for “Those who appreciate Wisteria and
sunshine...” it seems that a journey of rediscovery and reawakening could bring them the happy “Afters” that will heal all the
sad “Befores.” In the play tonight, we will journey with them to a
“Paradise” where they find themselves able to heal and prosper
and bloom once more.
Jeanne Beckwith, Director

Almost Maine

Almost Maine

February 5 - 14 2015

by John Cariani

Concert in C Flat

Concert in C Flat

November 6 - 16 2014

Playwrights Staged Reading

Playwrights Staged Reading

2014

Three Staged Readings by VT Playwright Winners

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden

June 27 - July 1 2014

A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story

December 6 - 15 2013

Young Frankenstein

Young Frankenstein

October 4 - 20 2013

Book by mel Brooks and Thomas Neehan, Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

December 7 - 16 2012

By Barbara Robinson

The Vagina Monologues

The Vagina Monologues

October 5- 21 2012

Avenue Q

Avenue Q

June 22 - July 8 2012

music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and book by Jeff Whitty

3 Girls X 3 An Evening of One Acts

3 Girls X 3 An Evening of One Acts

February 9 - 25 2012

[ title of show]

[ title of show]

October 21 - November 5 2011

by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell

Arms & the Man

Arms & the Man

June 30 - July 10 2011

By George Bernard Shaw

Forbidden Broadway

Forbidden Broadway

May 19 - 22 & 26 - 29 2011

Directed by Teresa Langston

4XChekhov

4XChekhov

Feb. 10-12; 17-19; 24-26 2011

Reefer Madness

Reefer Madness

Nov. 12 - Dec. 5 2010

Directed by Jasmine White

12 Angry Jurors

12 Angry Jurors

October 7 - October 23 2010

An Ideal Husband

An Ideal Husband

June 24 - July 3 2010

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

May 14 -23 2010

Adapted by Tim Kelly

"In The Zone"

"In The Zone"

Feb. 18-21 & 25-28 2010

"Working"

"Working"

October 2 - 18 2009

A Musical from the book by Studs Terkel

"30 Anniversary Retrospective"

"30 Anniversary Retrospective"

July 10 -12 2009

Ruth Ann Pattee, Artistic Director with a bunch of fabulous actors, singers and Joan Foster pulled together a wonderful evening of song, dance and play snippets.

"Same Time Next Year"

"Same Time Next Year"

January 16 -25 2009

"Oliver" The Lionel Bart Musical

"Oliver" The Lionel Bart Musical

October 3-12 2008

Love ~ The Human Comedy: A Festival of Six 10-Minute Plays

Love ~ The Human Comedy: A Festival of Six 10-Minute Plays

August 7 - 10 2008

"Side by Side by Sondheim"

"Side by Side by Sondheim"

June 29-July 1; July 6-8 2007

"The Cemetery Club"

"The Cemetery Club"

May 25-28; May 31-June 3 2007

This popular show about the lives of three Jewish widows is funny and poignant; full of laughter and tears. Lifetime friends, Ida, Doris and Lucille are part of a club, The Cemetery Club. Every month they meet at Ida's house in New York for tea, then trundle off to the cemetery to remember the good times and gossip with deceased husbands. Sam, the butcher, meets the widows at the cemetery while visiting his late wife and changes their lives forever. The movie version of this wonderful comedy starred Olympia Dukakis, Diane Ladd, and Ellen Burstyn.

"Terror by Gaslight"

"Terror by Gaslight"

February 15-18; 22-25 2007

Directed by Michael Lemay

"6 Women @ 60 in 2006"

"6 Women @ 60 in 2006"

Oct. 19 - 22 2006

"Dearly Beloved"

"Dearly Beloved"

Sept. 29 - Oct. 15 2006

By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jaime Wooten

"I Love You You're Perfect Now Change"

"I Love You You're Perfect Now Change"

June 29 - July 9 2006

"The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940"

"The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940"

February 17-March 5 2006

"The Mystery of Edwin Drood"

"The Mystery of Edwin Drood"

June 24- July 10 2005

A Musical by Rupert Holmes

Two One Act Farces: "A Slap in the Farce" & " A Matter of Wife or Death"

Two One Act Farces: "A Slap in the Farce" & " A Matter of Wife or Death"

December 10-19 2004

"Educating Rita"

"Educating Rita"

September 24 - October 10 2004

by Willy Russell

"Don't Dress for Dinner"

"Don't Dress for Dinner"

June 25- July 11 2004

by Marc Camoletti Adapted by Robin Hawdon

"Out of Order"

"Out of Order"

Feb 19-21; 27-29 2004

by Ray Cooney

"The Crucible"

"The Crucible"

Oct. 10-19 2003

"Steel Magnolias"

"Steel Magnolias"

June 27-29; July 4-6; 11-13 2003

By Robert Harling

"Sylvia"

"Sylvia"

Sept. 27 - Oct. 13 2002

By A.R. Gurney

"Murder at the Howard Johnson's

"Murder at the Howard Johnson's

February 21 - March 2 2002

"A Modern Christmas Carol"

"A Modern Christmas Carol"

December 7, 8, 9 2001

"Soup du Jour"

"Soup du Jour"

June 22 - July 8 2001

By Todd Mueller, Hank Boland and Greg Opelka

"Chasin' Night Birds"

"Chasin' Night Birds"

March 9 - 18 2001

"The Magic Book"

"The Magic Book"

December 1-3 2000

"Annie"

"Annie"

June 23 - July 9 2000

Based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie has become a worldwide phenomenon and was the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The beloved book and score by Tony Award winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, features some of the greatest musical theatre hits ever written, including "Tomorrow."

"The Touch" A Reading

"The Touch" A Reading

Feb. 26 2000

"The Misfit Toys"

"The Misfit Toys"

Dec-99

Monky Business

Monky Business

August 20 - Sept. 4 1999

Book by Todd Mueller & Hank Boland, Music and Lyrics by Gregg Opelka

"A Taste of the Valley Players" Retrospective

"A Taste of the Valley Players" Retrospective

July 9, 10, 11 1999

Deathtrap

Deathtrap

 Feb. 12-21 1999

Mrs. Santa Saves Christmas

Mrs. Santa Saves Christmas

 December 1998

The Foreigner

The Foreigner

 Sept. 25-Oct. 11 1998

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz

 June 26 - July 12 1998

84 Charing Cross Road

84 Charing Cross Road

 Feb. 13-22 1998

The Golden Goose

The Golden Goose

 Dec. 12-21 1997

Put on Your Dresses of Red and Gold (Award Winner)

Put on Your Dresses of Red and Gold (Award Winner)

 Sept. 26-Oct. 12 1997

Once Upon a Mattress

Once Upon a Mattress

 June 27-July13 1997

The Elves and The Shoemaker

The Elves and The Shoemaker

 December 1996

The Dining Room

The Dining Room

 Sept. 27-Oct. 13 1996

Anything Goes

Anything Goes

 June 28- July 14 1996

It’s Only Money (Staged Reading)

It’s Only Money (Staged Reading)

 March 10 1996

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

 Sept. 22-Oct. 8 1995

Carousel

Carousel

 July 1-17 1994

Festival of One Acts - Popcorn, Reduced for Quick Sale, The Waiting Room, A Chance Meeting

Festival of One Acts - Popcorn, Reduced for Quick Sale, The Waiting Room, A Chance Meeting

Feb. 25-Mar. 5 19964

Black Comedy

Black Comedy

 July 2-11 1993

Cherry Cokes

Cherry Cokes

 Feb. 12-28

Twigs

Twigs

 Sept. 25-Oct. 11 1992

I Do I Do

I Do I Do

 July 1992

Here Lies Jeremy Troy

Here Lies Jeremy Troy

 Mar. 6-21 1992

Everybody Loves Opal

Everybody Loves Opal

Better

Better

Chicago

Chicago

July 5 -21 1991

Horse Trough Trouble

Horse Trough Trouble

Sept - Oct 1990

Odd Couple Female Version

Odd Couple Female Version

Aug 12-Sept 2 1990

A Couple of White Chicks Sitting Around Talking

A Couple of White Chicks Sitting Around Talking

July 1990

Holy Matrimony

Holy Matrimony

Wait Until Dark

Wait Until Dark

The Woman in White

The Woman in White

The Women

The Women

Hard News

Hard News

The Fantasticks

The Fantasticks

Written by Tom Jones,

Rough Crossing

Rough Crossing

Aug. 21-Sept. 6, 1987

written by Tom Stoppard, directed by Mitchell Kontoff

Little Shop of Horrors

Little Shop of Horrors

1987

book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by AlanMenken
directed by Leo Cohen

Angel On My Shoulder

Angel On My Shoulder

Aug. 29-Sept. 7, 1986

written by Stephen Levi, directed by Mitchell Kontoff

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

written by Stephen Sondheim, directed by Wendy Cohen Kuglics

The Sandwalk

The Sandwalk

Nov. 22- Dec. 2, 1985

The second Playwright Award winner, written by David Paul Simon, directed by Leo Cohen

Butterflies Are Free

Butterflies Are Free

September 13-23, 1985

written by Leonard Gershe, directed by Mitchell Kontoff and Richard Kuglics

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

July 1985

written by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson, directed by Wendy Cohen and Bob Law

Tribute

Tribute

March 15-25, 1985

written by Bernard Slade, directed by Curtis Wright

Critic's Choice

Critic's Choice

Nov. 23- Dec. 3, 1984

written by Ira Levin, directed by Wendy Cohen and Tony Egan

A Shot in the Dark

A Shot in the Dark

September 4-24, 1984

written by Harry Kurniz, directed by Bob Law

Company

Company

July 6-16, 1984

music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Firth
directed by Wendy Cohen and Jim Dodds

The Lion in Winter

The Lion in Winter

March, 1984

written by James Goldman, directed by Charlie Cavanaugh

Out of Sight...Out of Murder

Out of Sight...Out of Murder

October 21-30, 1983

The first Vermont Playwright Award winner, written by Fred Carmichael, directed by

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

August 19-29, 1983

book by Abe Burrows, music and lyrics by Frank Leosser, directed by Leo Cohen

Wally's Cafe

Wally's Cafe

May 27-June 6, 1983

written by Sam Bobrick and Ron Clark, directed by Kimberly Cruz

Toys in the Attic

Toys in the Attic

Feb. 25-March 7, 1983

written by Lillian Hellman

The Murder Room

The Murder Room

Oct. 29-Nov. 8, 1982

written by Jack Sharkey, director by Don Hirsch

Guys and Dolls

Guys and Dolls

August 20-30, 1982

book by Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows, music & lyrics by Frank Loesser, directed by Leo Cohen

Something for Charlie

Something for Charlie

May 28-June 6, 1982

written by Neville J. Bryant, directed by Mark "Emmett" Bortner

On Golden Pond

On Golden Pond

Feb. 26-March 8, 1982

written by Ernest Thompson, directed by Fred Pacolitch

Hot Buttered Rum Review

Hot Buttered Rum Review

December 26-30, 1981

A multi-evening arts event by Dazey D. Productions

Night Watch

Night Watch

Oct. 23-Nov. 10, 1981

written by Lucille Fletcher, directed by April Hyson

On the 20th Century

On the 20th Century

August 14-24, 1981

The Valley Players' first musical! Book & Lyrics by Betty Comden & Adolph Green;
Music by Cy Coleman; directed by Leo Cohen

Bedroom Farce

Bedroom Farce

May 29-June 8, 1981

written by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Curtis Wright

Blithe Spirit

Blithe Spirit

February, 1981

written by Noel Coward, directed by David Sardi

A Delicate Balance

A Delicate Balance

Oct. 31-Nov. 10, 1980

written by Edward Albee, directed by Leo Cohen

Thieves

Thieves

August 15-25, 1980

written by Herb Gardner, directed by David Sardi

Three One Acts

Three One Acts

May 29-June 2, 1980

"George's Room" written by Alun Owen, directed by Elan Stevens
"I'm Herbert" written by Robert Anderson, directed by Leo Cohen
"Zoo Story" written by Edward Albee, directed by David Sardi

The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Feb. 28-March 22, 1980

written by Tim Kelly, based on the story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Directed by Don Hirsch

Cactus Flower

Cactus Flower

October 25-28, 1979

written by Abe Burrows, directed by Don Hirsch

"Cactus Flower" was our second show, and the first performed in the Odd Fellows Hall, now known as the Valley Players Theater.

Harvey

Harvey

July 5-8, 1979

written by Mary Chase, directed by Edsel Hughes

"Harvey" was the fist show produced by the Valley Players, performed at the Fayston Elementary School.

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