Sylvia 

by A. R. Gurney

July 5, 6, 7 & 8, Thursday through Sunday

Do you ever think of your dog being human? If so, this show’s for you. In A. R. Gurney’s adult comedy performed by the Festival Players, Husband Greg is going through a mid-life crisis, his job as a number cruncher, has become “unreal” to him. Wife Kate is pursuing a challenging career bringing Shakespeare into the lives of inner-city Junior High School students. The kids are all grown and Kate looks forward to life with just the two of them, in their Manhattan apartment, after twenty-two years in the suburbs. Trouble starts when Greg brings home a street-smart stray dog named Sylvia and laughs ensue; a great farce written by the author of Love Letters.

The Winter’s Tale

by William Shakespeare

July 11, 12, 13 & 14, Wednesday through Saturday

One of the Bard’s great romances, the Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company joins the playhouse schedule adding their unique blend of classics for contemporary audiences with their traditionally styled troupe of touring players. The kings of Sicilia and Bohemia clash over Hermione, the wife of Sicilia. Love, jealousy, intrigue, faithfulness, estranged children and mistaken identities culminate in a story ending happily ever after. Come and enjoy this great West Michigan troupe present the play with the famous (and one of the longest) Shakespearean stage direction: “exeunt, pursued by bear!”

Escanaba In Da Moonlight

by Jeff Daniels

July 18, 19, 20, 21
July 26, 27 & 28 (Encore 2^nd Week)

Michigan’s own Jeff Daniels penned this Michigan classic performed by the Festival Players. Just “Nort” of Escanaba sits the Soady Family Deer Camp. The show revolves around the storytelling of the Soady patriarch, Albert, and “da strange occurrences” revolving around his son Rueben, known in local circles as, “da buckless yooper.” West Michigan actors Terry Ireland and Tom Harryman reprise their performances in Daniels’ wildly funny play. The Muskegon Chronicle said, “hilarious script…” the production “generated huge and genuine laughter.” What do Flying saucers, flatulence, ancient Ojibwa rituals, deer and the DNR have in common? Find out early and bring your friends. You’ll want to come back for our encore 2^nd week.

The Mystery of Irma Vep (A Penny Dreadful)

by Charles Ludlum

August 1, 2, 3 & 4, Wednesday through Saturday

Charles Ludlum of the Ridiculous Theatre Company wrote this wonderfully theatrical Victorian Thriller performed by the Festival Players. The plot centers around Mandacrest Estate, the home of Lord Edgar and Lady Enid. Lady Enid is Lord Edgar's second wife, though he has yet to recover entirely from the passing of his first wife, Irma. The house staff, a maid named Jane Twisden and a swineherd named Nicodemus Underwood, have their own opinions of Lady Enid. A variety of stock Victorian characters appear, plus assorted mummies, ghosts, vampires and werewolves. Oh, did we tell you that we only have two cast members to do all the roles in this show? Join the fun and see if we make it through the play without the actors harming (or hamming) themselves.

White Lake Youth Theatre Presents

Stuart Little

By E. B. White, adapted by Joseph Robinette

August 9, 10 & 11, Thursday through Saturday

This is the endearing classic about a mouse named Stuart Little who is born into an ordinary New York family. All the charm, wisdom and joy of the E.B. White original are captured in this adaptation by Joseph Robinette, who also wrote last year’s Dorothy Meets Alice. The many adventures of Stuart Little are brought vividly to life in this story theatre presentation. The youth theatre ensemble play many human and animal roles in a series of delightful scenes that make up the marvelous maneuverings of a mild-mannered mouse trying to survive in a "real people's world." The playhouse’s White Lake Youth Theatre tradition continues.

Lend Me a Tenor

by Ken Ludwig

August 15, 16, 17, 18, Thursday through Sunday
August 23, 24 & 25, Thursday through Saturday (Encore 2^nd Week)

Ken Ludwig’s multi-award winning farce will be the final season show for the Festival Players and includes Howmet favorite Michael Bradley and West Michigan’s Bill Iddings. Renowned tenor "Il Stupendo," is scheduled to sing the lead in Otello, for the Cleveland Opera Company. Unfortunately, chaos ensues when a "Dear John" letter left by his wife is misinterpreted as a suicide note. The distraught tenor accidentally is given a double dose of tranquilizers to calm him and passes out. Saunders, the company's General Manager, is determined the show must go on, so he enlists the aid of his assistant Max to impersonate the opera star. What follows is a chain-reaction of confusion, plot twists, double entendres, innuendoes, and constant entrances and exits through many doors. Watch the company fall to pieces in this fitting end to a hilarious season.