2025 Season Archive
Support for the 48th season was graciously provided by the Rodgers Family Foundation, The James H. & Irene M. Hunter Charitable Trust, and the members of the Festival’s World Premiere Circle.
SALVAGE
A HEARTWARMING NEW COMEDY
JUNE 20 - JULY 5
WORLD PREMIERE
By LENA KAMINSKY
Directed by M. BEVIN O’GARA
THANK YOU TO OUR PRODUCTION SPONSORS
Starring
EVA KAMINSKY as Carla
ROBBIE SUBLETT as Kenny
MARCIA DeBONIS as Elaine
Scenic Design by CHRISTOPHER AND JUSTIN SWADER
Costume Design by CHELSEA KERL
Lighting Design by DAISY LONG
Sound Design by M.L. DOGG
Production Stage Manager COLLEEN ROONEY
Casting by JOE GERY
At her small town dump, Carla attempts to junk the overwhelming collection of mirrors from her childhood home. Instead, amid other people’s trash, she finds the treasure of two new friends she didn’t know she needed. Past lives and future plans intertwine – and sometimes collide – as together these neighbors sort through what to toss and what to take away. And maybe, discover the magic potion for moving on? A funny and heartwarming new play by Lena Kaminsky about what can happen when we allow ourselves to be seen.
“As a newcomer to a small town in upstate New York during the heart of the pandemic, I started writing SALVAGE following my first visits to the town transfer station. What started as dropping off my trash turned into something else. I found myself lingering, laughing, and getting to know my neighbors. In those exchanges, I rediscovered the power of connection that had been lost in those early days of isolation. I also found, to my surprise, that the dump was a beautiful place. I first went there thinking it would be, well…a dump, and I was all wrong. Instead I found a place where order and tidiness arose from chaos and mess. One of those times that life presents you with the thing you didn’t even know you needed. Dorset Theatre Festival is the perfect home for this story and I am so excited to share it with this community. Much like the rural town that inspired this play, I think the themes of community and connection will resonate with the audience here, and folks will leave feeling hopeful. See you at the dump!”
— Lena Kaminsky, Playwright
THE BOOK CLUB PLAY
AN AWARD-WINNING COMEDY
JULY 11 - JULY 26
By KAREN ZACARÍAS
Directed by JACKSON GAY
THANK YOU TO OUR PRODUCTION SPONSORS
Starring
CAITLIN CLOUTHIER as Ana
ALFREDO NARCISO as Rob/Sam
LUCAS DIXON as William/Frank
ELIZABETH NARCISO as Jennifer/Elsa
ABIGAIL STEPHENSON as Lily/Mrs. Simpson
JAX JACKSON as Alex/Carl
Scenic Design by RIW RAKKULCHON
Costume Design by VANESSA LEUCK
Lighting Design by PAUL WHITAKER
Sound Design by DANIEL BAKER
Projection Designer by JOEY MORO
Production Stage Manager BENJAMIN E. C. PFISTER
Casting by JOE GERY
A comedy about books and the people who love them. When the members of a devoted book club become the subjects of a documentary film, their intimate discussions of life and literature take on new meaning with the camera rolling. Add in the unexpected arrival of a provocative new member and the sudden inclusion of some questionable titles, and long-standing group dynamics take a hilarious turn. A sold-out hit at theatres across the country, this delightful and engaging play is sprinkled with wit, joy and novels galore.
“A delightful, fresh comedy.”
— Talkin’ Broadway
SATELLITES
A NEW INTERSTELLAR LOVE STORY
AUGUST 6 - 16
Two weeks ONLY!
By ERIN BREZNITSKY
Directed by ADRIENNE CAMPBELL-HOLT
THANK YOU TO OUR PRODUCTION SPONSORS
Starring
CHRISTOPHER LOWELL as Captain Mike Turner
KERRY BISHÉ as Dr. Katherine Sparks
Scenic and Costume Design by ALEXANDER WOODWARD
Lighting Design by MASHA TSIMRING
Sound Design by HIDENORI NAKAJO
Projection Design by JOEY MORO
Production Stage Manager COLLEEN ROONEY
Casting by JOE GERY
Girl meets Boy, Girl marries Boy, Girl moves on after Boy goes missing in outer space...Until Boy mysteriously reappears on Earth 7 years later.
Astronaut Mike and climate scientist Katherine awkwardly meet again for the first time in a NASA waiting room. While he has been lost in the far reaches of the cosmos, she has forged ahead on her own, grounded in the earthbound reality of career and motherhood. Memories of the couple’s romantic past converge with an impossible reunion in the present as they attempt to bridge the astronomical gap between then and now. Intimate, charming, and beautiful, Satellites is about time, space, and two people with great ambitions searching for connection.
“A mesmerizing story of career, cosmos, and caring. […] [Satellites] was recently chosen as the winner of the 2022 Premiere Play Festival, and it’s easy to see why. This two-hander brings heart and humor to an incredible story.”
— Marina Kennedy, Broadway World
“ funny and poignant, but above all else, it is a romance grounded in reality, and it is one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. […] Playwright Breznitsky proves herself a talent to be watched.”
— Allen Neuner, Out in Jersey
OTHER DESERT CITIES
A Contemporary Dramatic Comedy
AUGUST 22
- SEPT 6
By JON ROBIN BAITZ
Directed by ROBERT EGAN
THANK YOU TO OUR PRODUCTION SPONSORS
Starring
JAYNE ATKINSON as Silda Grauman
MICHEL GILL as Lyman Wyeth
JEREMY GILL as Trip Wyeth
LAILA ROBINS as Polly Wyeth
ELIZABETH STAHLMAN as Brooke Wyeth
Scenic design by CHRISTOPHER & JUSTIN SWADER
Costume Design by ELIVIA BOVENZI BLITZ
Lighting Design by PATRICIA M. NICHOLS
Sound Design by KARL FREDRIK LUNDEBERG
Associate Sound Design by VINNY PRUCHNICK
Assistant Direction & Dramaturgy by JAMES DAVIS
Production Stage Manager ADAM TAYLOR FOSTER
Casting by JOE GERY
When Brooke arrives at her parents’ Palm Springs mansion with the manuscript of her tell-all memoir in tow she unearths a devastating family secret—throwing her parents into a panic that threatens to rip the clan apart. With biting wit and razor-sharp insight, this gripping story, a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, skillfully navigates the complex dynamics of family loyalty, political divides, and buried truths. It will leave you questioning the price of secrets and the ties that bind.
“The most richly enjoyable new play for grown-ups that New York has known in many seasons…In his most fully realized play to date, Mr. Baitz makes sure our sympathies keep shifting among the members of the wounded family portrayed here. Every one of them emerges as selfish, loving, cruel, compassionate, irritating, charming and just possibly heroic…leaves you feeling both moved and gratifyingly sated.”
— The NEW YORK TIMES
“Spending time with these messed-up, complicated people is a genuine pleasure.”
— NEW YORK POST
2025 PIPELINE PRESENTATION
Bad Dates: End Game
A WORLD-PREMIERE READING Starring Tony Award-Winner, Julie White
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 - 7:30pm
By THERESA REBECK
Directed by John Benjamin Hickey
In Bad Dates: End Game, Haley is back, and she’s as hilariously relatable as ever. This time, the post-menopausal widow is diving headfirst into the absurdities of modern dating, from disastrous Tinder encounters to awkward setups, all while rediscovering herself with sharp wit and comedic charm. Starring Broadway legend Julie White (Tony Award Winner for ‘The Little Dog Laughed’) and directed by Broadway’s John Benjamin Hickey (Tony Award Winner for ‘The Normal Heart’), this staged reading promises a first look at the same uproarious humor and heartfelt moments that originally made ‘Bad Dates’ a runaway success. Don’t miss this side-splitting exploration of resilience, self-love, and the unexpected joys of life—complete with a rescue dog and a margarita or two!
Twenty years ago, Rebeck broke the mold of Off-Broadway romantic comedies with Bad Dates, which offered a funny perspective on love, with a particular focus on the female experience. The personal journey of Haley, a recently-divorced woman navigating the world of online dating and awkward encounters, gave the genre a modern twist and portrayed women in a way that had been largely underrepresented on stage at the time. Now, Rebeck is back with a laugh-out-loud sequel and reunited with the original Haley, Julie White. Director John Benjamin Hickey joins the two in exploring a whole new time in a woman’s life.
When the original Bad Dates debuted Off-Broadway in 2003, the New York Times hailed it as “hilarious and heartwarming.” The show was immediately met with positive reviews, quickly earning a reputation for its humor, heart, and relatable take on the messy and unpredictable world of modern romance. It has since been performed worldwide.
“The original Bad Dates has long been one of Theresa’s most popular plays, and it feels like a great honor for our Resident Playwright to be debuting the sequel right here in southern Vermont.”
— Will Rucker, Executive Artistic Director
WE HAD A BLAST!
A heartfelt thank you to all of you who attended our Fourth Annual Dance Party Ball!
Saturday, August 2nd 2025
Check out all of our photos from the 4th annual Dance Party Ball HERE
THANK YOU TO 2025 DANCE PARTY AUCTION DONORS
Hildene, Downtown Window & Design, Petal on Main, Vermont Flannel & Teddy Bear Cos., Mother Myricks, Smokeshire Design, Local Maverick, La Garagista’s, Southern Vermont Arts Center, Mountain Goat, Rick Dailey, Deborah Schaedler, Coco Goose, Mary-Anne & Bob Van Degna, Jill Layman, Diana Stugger, Patricia & Bruce Nelson, The Dorset Union Store, Julia Paul Culinary, Tod Beaty, Kimpton Hotels, Hill Farm Inn, The Inns Of Dorset, Judith McCormick Jewelry, The Dorset Field Club, Equinox Golf Resort & Spa, Cynthia Rosen, Andrew Koss (The Studio at Strawberry Fields Lane) , Joshua Smith Home and Design, Nicole Mills, Pure Complexion Spa, Zero Gravity, Spring & Harbor, TÖST Beverages, Drunken Munkey, Green Mountain Academy of Lifelong Learning, Annie & Austin Keating, Carol Nelson, Xavier Van Degna, Catbird Studio, H.N. Williams Store, Cathy Walker, Willoughby’s Depot Eatery, Patti Weisser, Flower Brook Acupuncture, Al Ducci's, The Italian Market of Manchester, Manchester Country Club, Tracy Rodriguez, Terry Jay, Lucine Almas, Caitlin Russel, LX Fitness, Vermont Kitchen Supply, Sherman Foote, Vermont Wood Pellet Company, Squirrel Gallery + Shop, Le Creuset Outlet Store, Regional Character, The Park–McCullough Historic Governor's Mansion, Marcia & Ron Lissak, Nature’s Market, Carter Richards Style, Kerry Lee Jewelers of Carmel, CA., Equinox Valley Nursery, Timothy G Ward Construction.
THANK YOU TO 2025 DANCE PARTY TABLE SPONSORS & EVENT UNDERWRITERS
Mary-Anne & Bob Van Degna Jill Layman Toby Barclay Patricia & Bruce Nelson Susie Hunter & Doug Watson Kim Beaty Mary & Alec Gerster Rising Sun Maintenance Susan Willets & Alan Pritz Georgette McAuley & Kevin Duffy, Allison & Walker Kimball
WE WELCOMED A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY BROADWAY STAR ADRIANNA HICKS
Grammy and Emmy-winning singer and actress Adrianna Hicks most recently starred as “Sugar” in Broadway’s Tony-nominated musical, SOME LIKE IT HOT. Variety calls her “a star,” Deadline calls her “incandescent” in the role, and The New York Times adds she has “a completely compelling aura of her own.” Hicks also originated the role of “Catherine of Aragon” in Broadway’s musical of SIX. Previously she appeared in ALADDIN and THE COLOR PURPLE.
AND APPEARANCES FROM OUR INCREDIBLE SPECIAL GUESTS!
2025 PLAYOFFS
There was nail biting, there was excitement, and then, there were plays. For one week in September, two teams of writers lived and work together in Vermont to produce one-act plays based on a common set of prompts.
While presenting excellent finished work is the ultimate goal, the creative process itself is the unseen essence of that work. Supporting artists in these efforts enriches us all.
In 2025 we had the pleasure of introducing the Playoffs series at the Dorset Theatre Festival in collaboration with the Rupert Coop. We found writers with a range of experience and brought them to our community to connect with other writers and our team of professional artists. For one week our writers immersed themselves in the creative process, surrounded by the beautiful nature of southern Vermont, and presented a final short work they created.
Our 2025 Team Leaders:
Sharbari Ahmed
Deborah Zoe Laufer
Our 2025 Guests:
Lori Soderlind
Theresa Rebeck
Will Rucker & Ryan Koss
Jackson Gay
