Picnic, by William Inge, will open Thursday, April 2 at Stoneham Theatre. The classic American drama, set in a small Kansas town in the early 1950s, tells the story of Madge and Alan, a sweet young couple and Hal, the ex-football star and drifter who awakens Madge's true desires and shakes up the community. Most of the story takes place around a Labor Day picnic.
Picnic was first produced on Broadway in 1953 with actor Paul Newman has Hal Carter. Inge received the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the work. The play received the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play of the season. The film version was released in 1955, starring William Holden (Hal Carter) and Kim Novack (Madge Owens).
Directed by Stoneham Theatre's Artistic Associate Caitlin Lowans, Picnic features an ensemble cast of actors ranging in age and experience. Veteran Boston actors include Leigh Barrett as Irma Kronkite, Dee Nelson as Flo Owens, Sarah Newhouse as Rosemary Sydney, and Lisa Foley as Mrs. Potts. Ms. Barrett returns to Stoneham Theatre after appearing as Rose in Gypsy. Ms. Newhouse is a founding company member of the Actors' Shakespeare Project and has worked extensively at the American Repertory Theatre, Boston Theatre Works, Lyric Stage, The Publick Theatre and other venues.
Relative newcomers to the Boston theatre scene include Craig Mathers as Howard Bevans, seen earlier this season in The Light in the Piazza at SpeakEasy Stage Co. Mathers is currently Assistant Professor of Performing Arts at Emerson College. Emily Graham-Handley (Millie Owens) is a senior at Emerson and Delilah Kistler (Madge Owens) and Ben Sloane (Alan Seymour) are recent graduates. Although young, Graham-Handley appeared on Broadway as Alice in Hollywood Arms in 2002.
Aidan Kane (Hal Carter) comes to Stoneham Theatre from New York City, where he has worked on All My Children and As The World Turns.
Making his professional debut is 16-year-old Scott Coffey (Bomber Guetzl) of Winchester. Coffey is an active member of the young company and Resident Youth Ensemble at Stoneham Theatre. He has just been accepted to Walnut Hill Academy for the Arts in Natick.
Ms. Lowans is the Artistic Associate and Director of Education at Stoneham Theatre. She directed A Year With Frog & Toad, a Broadway musical based on the children's book series by Arnold Lobel, in February at the Theatre. Lowans' other directing credits at Stoneham Theatre include Gypsy, A Christmas Story, Pal Joey, Cole Porter's You Never Know, And Then There Were None, and many shows for the young company education program. Just last spring, she completed a Masters of Education in Arts Education from Harvard University.
Costume Designer Seth Bodie, Scenic Designer Charlie Morgan, Lighting Designer Christopher Ostrom, and Sound Designer David Wilson make up the production team.
Picnic runs Thursday, April 2 through Sunday, April 19. Tickets are $40(Adult), $35(Senior), and $20(Student). Stoneham Theatre is located at 395 Main Street in Stoneham. For tickets and information, visit or call the Box Office at 781-279-2200, open Tuesday through Saturday 1-6pm, or www.stonehamtheatre.org.
