“Undiscovered Country” has taken top honors in the Oswego Players 2026 Don J. McCann Memorial One-Act Play Writing Contest. By Dana Leslie Goldstein, of Brooklyn, “Undiscovered Country” examines losing a loved one and how, through memories, lost love can be found. A panel of 15 volunteer judges praised it for its flow of dialog and richly developed characters. Goldstein receives a $250 cash prize. Garnering a $150 second-place prize is Ben Dworken, of New York City, for “I Am Enough.” It’s a story of a young autistic man who struggles to conquer his inner insecurities before a big audition. The $75 third-place prize is awarded to “All for a Buck,” by Keith Whalen, of Peekskill. Whalen’s play is about a son who discovers who his father truly was through his best friends.

The Oswego Players’ Fall show for the 2026 season is a debut Season Run of “Old Money, New Habits”, written by local playwright Alexis Martin and directed by Sherri Metz. The play will be performed over two weekends in mid-October and is a full-length version of the entry script with which Martin won the Don McCann One-Act Playwriting Contest in 2023. “Old Money, New Habits” is a farce set in an English Estate in the 1930s (why wouldn’t it!), featuring murder, suspects, animosity and the odd glass of port.

For almost 90 years, the Oswego Players has entertained community audiences by offering “live theater performed by your neighbors – affordable, intimate and only here in Oswego.” For over 30 years, Chiasson’s Heating and Air Conditioning have been offering sale, service and installation of heating and cooling systems to Oswego businesses and residents. A chance meeting of the two organizations has supercharged a relationship for the past year. “At Chiasson’s, we’ve always been interested in local community activity,” owner Chuck Chiasson said. “Last year, we were doing some major work at a private residence and it turned out that resident was on the Board of the Oswego Players and invited us to review their HVAC system. One thing led to another, and we ended up being their major sponsor for 2026.”

For 88 years, the Oswego Players have delivered on their promise of live theater performed by your neighbors – affordable, intimate and only here in Oswego. The Players are proud to seek auditions for their October production “Old Money, New Habits”. Written by local playwright Alexis Martin, this hilarious farce is directed by Sherri Metz. Auditions will be held from 7pm to 9pm on August 17th and 18th at the Frances Marion Brown Theater at 32 Barbara Donahue Drive, Oswego, NY.

In any small town, people need a place to relax and unburden themselves without fear of judgement. In Robert Harling’s exceptional play ‘Steel Magnolias’, this safe space is Truvy Jones’ in-home beauty parlor. Under the directorship of Kevin Colvin, the Oswego Players are performing this acclaimed play on August 14th – 16th and 21st – 23rd at the Frances Marion Brown Theater near Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY.