Classics, Comedy, Suspense, Farce, True Drama, New Plays and New Directors will be making their way to the stage of the Frances Marion Theatre in 2024 as The Oswego Player proudly announces its 86th season.
Since its founding in 1938, the Players have carried on a tradition of producing a full slate of productions yearly. For the 2024 season, the seven mainstage shows marks one of the most ambitious slates the company as ever mounted.
The 86th-anniversary season actually kicked off last month with a dinner theatre evening of comedic one-acts, “Chef’s Kiss” held on January 27th at Canale’s Restaurant on Oswego’s west side. The show had the distinction of selling-out in just over 24 hours, leaving many in the community clamoring for a “second helping”.
In March, the mainstage portion of the season begins with “Games We Play” the third-annual production of winning plays of the Don McCann Memorial Playwriting Contest. The two one-acts, which won the 2023 competition, are: “Game of the Week” by Aaron Buitron & Phil Gross and directed by Kevin Colvin, and “Old Money, New Habits” written and guest directed by Alexis Martin. The performances will run March 8th and 9th at 7:30 pm and March 10th at 2:00 pm. This production is pay-what-you-wish with all of the proceeds going towards the Don McCann Memorial Playwriting Contest fund.
On April 5th, 6th and 7th the Players will showcase their first co-production of the season, partnering with The Oswego Opera to bring two pieces dealing with dark faerie tale themes: “Brundibar” by Hans Krasa, Musical direction by Juan LaManna, and “The Arkansaw Bear” by Aurand Harris, directed by Oswego Players president Norman Berlin III.
In May, the Oswego Players’ own Grande Dame, Inez Parker returns to the director’s chair for Ira Levin’s “Deathtrap”. The five-character, one set, two-act dark comedy tells the tale of Sydney Bruhl, a previously successful playwright desperate for a hit – which comes in the form of the titular “Deathtrap” written by a student named Clifford Anderson. Levin’s play holds the record for the longest-running comedy-thriller on Broadway. The production will run weekends May 10th – May 19th.
July will see a re-teaming of sorts in the form of “The Man Who Killed The Cure” by Luke Yankee, directed by William Edward White. Last season, White directed Yankee’s Titanic story “The Last Lifeboat”, which was received by record, sold-out audiences and multiple awards from TANYS (Theatre Association of NYS).
“The Man Who Killed the Cure”, Yankee’s riveting, controversial, and critically-acclaimed play is based on the life and death of Dr. Max Gerson, one of the fathers of natural healing methods to treat Cancer and the forces of Big Pharma and American Medicine who tried to stop his work from seeing the light of day. Performances will run weekends July 12th through July 21st.
Starting the fall leg of the 86th season will be “While the Lights Were Out”, a farce by Jack Sharkey, directed by Sherri Metz. The play features a thunderstorm! The lights go out! An agonized voice! A pistol shot! The lights come up! A blonde in black lace stands over the dead man holding a bloody dagger! … And that’s when the manic mayhem begins. The production will run weekends, September 6th through September 15th.
In October, the Oswego Players will present the classic black comedy mystery “Arsenic and Old Lace” by Joseph Kesselring, directed by Kevin Colvin presented as a co-production with Beyond The Rainbow. The perennial Broadway blockbuster tells the “sweet” tale of the Brewster Sisters, their nephews, and their penchant to treating lonely men to a final glass of their homemade Elderberry Wine. The production will run weekends from October 25th through November 3rd.
To wrap things up nicely, complete with holiday bow, the Players will present the timeless story “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” by Andrew J. Fenady and directed by Jenn Hitchcock.
Inspired by a simple, poignant letter written over 100 years ago by 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon to the editor of the New York Sun, “Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says if you see it in the Sun, it’s so. Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus?” Ed Mitchell, the Sun’s editor, gives the assignment of answering Virginia’s letter to Frank Church who, until his wife and baby died last Christmas Eve, was the Sun’s best and most dependable reporter.
Just in time for Christmas, this family production will run weekends from December 6th through December 15th.
“86 years is a long time for any organization to exist and the Oswego Players is committed to carrying this tradition of excellence far into the future.” Player’s president Berlin commented when announcing the 2024 season.
Caption: This photo is from our sold-out production of Chef’s Kiss at Canales Restaurant. During the climax of Mr. California Teen written and directed by Nichloas Gentle, Rodney (Emil Christmann) watches in horror as Colleen Friendly (Sarah Galvin) franticly drives as she waxes philosophical about being one with her car. Please come and see are wonderful productions at the Oswego Players’ enchanting venue, “The Little Theatre on the Water.” Secure your tickets for 2024 season by calling the box office at 315-343-5138 or visiting out website at https://oswegoplayers.org/.
