Audiences eager to again watch live performances are being invited to return to Huron Country Playhouse this summer.
Celebrating 50 years of theater in Grand Bend, they playhouse’s Mainstage and the newly-named South Huron Stage (formerly known as Playhouse II) will be holding variety of productions during the June 23 to Sept. 4 season.
Drayton Entertainment artistic director Alex Mustakas said audiences are eager to get back to enjoying live theater after two years of pandemic-related restrictions.
“Commemorating the longevity of the Huron Country Playhouse means that much more after all we’ve been through over the last few years,” Mustakas said. “We encourage audiences to make a special trip to Grand Bend – hit the beach, visit local restaurants, play a round of golf, tour the nearby wineries, stay over at one of the many first-rate area accommodations, and of course, see a show or two to mark this momentous anniversary. Years from now we’ll all talk about where we were, and what shows we saw, the year that theater came back.”
Kicking off the season is the musical show Fiddler on the Loose, which runs on the Mainstage from June 23 to July 9. Featuring fiddler/showman Jesse Grandmont, this popular musical variety show showcases over 60 songs, including tunes ranging from Dust in The Wind to Devil Went Down to Georgia to Footloose.
Comedy fans can take in the absurdist British farce It Runs in the Family – a frantic, funny tale about a neurologist’s imprudent past – which runs from July 20 to Aug. 6 on the Mainstage.
Capping off the summer season on the Mainstage is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s treasured musical The Sound of Music. With such iconic songs including My Favorite Things, Do Re Mi and Edelweiss, the family favorite about Maria and the von Trapp family will be running from Aug. 17 to Sept. 4.
On the South Huron Stage, Good Ol’ Country Gospel – an uplifting celebration of ballads and songs of praise – will be running from July 20 to Aug. 6. The performance will include songs such as Amazing Grace, Peace in the Valley and How Great Thou Are.
Following that show audiences at the South Huron Stage can take in the Sweet Delilah Swim Club – a comedy about five female friends reuniting years after they were on the college swim team. Described as part Steel Magnolias and part Designing Women with a hint of Golden Girls, the comedy will be run from Aug. 18 to Sept. 4.
Along with the professional shows, the theatre’s popular Youth Pre-Professional Program will take place in Grand Bend this summer. The program is designed to provide aspiring young local performers to both participate and learn more about theatre. Participants will also get the chance to star in a one-hour version of Disney’s Frozen Jr., which runs from Aug. 9 to 13.
Mustakas said all measures will be in place to ensure the safety of performers and audience members, with options to be offered to patrons with regards to seating capacity.
“It’s exciting and emotional at the same time because we’ve waited so long for the return of live entertainment,” says Mustakas. “That said, full recovery will be a multi-year effort, so this season looks a little different. There are one or two fewer shows as we cautiously resume operations, but the top-quality entertainment experience and customer service audiences have come to expect remain the same.”
Tickets for the summer season will be on sale beginning on April 4 and can be picked in person at the box office, by phone at 519-238-6000 or toll free at 1-855-372-9866 or online at www.huroncountryplayhouse.com .