Stage 3 Theatre

By Thornton Wilder

Stage 3 opens its 16th season with one of the most important theatrical events of our time, Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Simple. Powerful. Huge in scope yet close and personal. Filled with the stuff of life...and death. Our Town is about us -- all of us --and what it means to be alive and human on this earth for the short time we are here.

Grover's Corners is a small town, much like where we live. George and Emily are small town kids, much like the ones you see every day. Their story is our story. Their joys are our joys and their sorrows become our own. We can see the moments of our lives through the moments of theirs. Sometimes very funny, sometimes heartrending, Our Town teaches us that our time here is precious and life is worth living. Join us for this fresh reinterpretation of one of the most beloved plays of our times.

By Neil Simon

And now for something totally different. Stage 3 rolls up its comic sleeves and gets to work on what is arguably Neil Simon's best comedy. Bring the smelling salts because you might laugh til you pass out.

Paul and Corie are newlyweds just starting out. They seem to have it all. Love, youth, optimism, a future, an apartment so small you have to go outside to change your mind. There's just one problem, they are utterly, undeniably, unquestionably wrong for each other. They wake up from a blissful honeymoon and begin to realize it'll never work. Not in a million years. Or can it? She's a free-spirited bohemian, he's a practical, straight-laced stick-in-the-mud. Fill the play with an assortment of wacky supporting players and you've got yourself a comic mix of immense proportions. Barefoot in the Park will leave you as breathless as the trip up to a fifth-floor walkup carrying a trunk load of laughs. Take that trip with us. It just might leave you short of breath. But in a very, very, very good way.

Adapted by Steven Dietz

The game's afoot. Join us...if you dare.

The world's greatest detective has seemingly reached the end of his remarkable career when a case presents itself that is too tempting to ignore: The King of Bohemia is about to be blackmailed by a notorious photograph, and the woman at the heart of this crime is the famous opera singer, Irene Adler. With his trusted companion, Doctor Watson, at this side, Sherlock Holmes pursues first the case, and then the affections of Miss Adler--and in doing so, marches right into the lair of his longtime adversary, that malevolent genius of crime: Professor Moriarty.

In this spirited, fast-moving and thoroughly theatrical adaptation, Steven Dietz presents Holmes at the height of his powers--surrounded by all the elements that fans of this exploits have come to expect: danger, intrigue, wit, humor and surprise. Featuring Artistic Director Don Bilotti as Holmes.

By Tom Zieglar

Somewhere, way back in the hills, a ninety year old woman is dying of cancer. Having left her fate in the hands of God, Grace is at peace with her place in the world and, more or less, with her imminent exit from it. Until volunteer hospice worker Glorie shows up, that is. This gorgeous piece will make you laugh while it makes you cry.

Grace and Glorie --one is a no-nonsense traditionalist and the other a modern day career woman. One has inner faith and the other is torn by external doubt. It's a story of conflict and acceptance. It's a story of humor and hope, as a grudging friendship springs up between the two and in getting to know each other they drop their masks and reveal their secrets, their dreams and their fears. In the moving climax, Grace and Glorie find their differences, and their unique personalities, can help and heal each other. Grace and Glorie will tickle your funny bone and tug at your heartstrings.

Conceived and adapted by Peter Glazer

It's a time for joy in the holiday season. The "Woodies" are back with the foot-stompin', roof-raisin', toe-tappin' heartbreakin', soul-soarin' musical journey of Woody Guthrie down highways, rail lines and back roads straight into the heart of America. An exuberant musical celebration of America, Woody Guthrie's American Song tells the life of the rambling folk singer through his words and music. From the dust storms of Texas to the promised land of California to the streets of New York City, Guthrie spins the tale of the land that 'was made for you and me'.

"This Land is your Land," Bound for Glory" and "Hard Travelin" are a few of the more than 2 dozen songs performed by 10 of our region's finest actors, singers and musicians. This evening of homespun wisdom, gentle humor and majestic music will have you leaving the theater with not only a song in your heart, but refreshed and invigorated with Guthrie's own sense of tolerance and optimism.