Ogunquit Playhouse



WWW ogunquitplayhouse.org

About

Ogunquit Playhouse is a regional theater on 10 Main Street in Ogunquit, Maine. Ogunquit Playhouse is one of the last remaining summer theaters from the Summer Stock which still produces musical theatre. The Playhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Level of Significance "in consideration of the significant contributions made by its founder Walter J. Hartwig and the Playhouse to Performing Arts Education throughout the nation." The Playhouse's season runs from May–October, producing 5 shows each season.

New Works

Ogunquit Playhouse's New Works Program launched in 2016 and has fostered new productions such as Heartbreak Hotel, Grumpy Old Men, The Da Vinci Code, Mystic Pizza the Musical, From Here to Eternity, The Nutty Professor, and Mr. Holland’s Opus. According to the Boston Globe, “Developing new musicals has been part of the theater’s mission, and Kenney says he and the board have been looking for suitable projects and partnerships since 2016, when the theater launched its new works program. That program yielded staged readings of “Frida” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus” in New York, as well as the 2017 world premiere of “Heartbreak Hotel”, produced with Fingerlakes Musical Theatre Festival.” In 2024, Ogunquit Playhouse presented the World Premiere of My Best Friend’s Wedding based on the beloved Julia Roberts comedy.

History

Source:
1927- Walter Hartwig starts the Manhattan Theatre Colony
1933- Walter and Maude Hartwig establish Ogunquit Playhouse in a downtown garage
1937- The Playhouse is built at 10 Main St
1941- Walter Hartwig dies, Maude Hartwig takes over
1950- John Lane becomes General Manager, then owner of Ogunquit Playhouse with business partner, Henry Weller
1994- John Lane retires and transfers ownership of the Playhouse to the Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation that oversees the Playhouse to this day
1999- Roy M. Rogison is hired as Producing Artistic Director, and the Playhouse begins producing its own shows, Children's Theatre Program Begins
2000- John Lane dies
2006- Bradford T. Kenney becomes Executive Artistic Director, Season expands from 10 week to 21 week season
2012- Ogunquit Playhouse celebrates its 80th season featuring- Always, Patsy Cline, 9 to 5, South Pacific, Damn Yankees, Ballroom With a Twist, and Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story
2022- Ogunquit Playhouse celebrates its 90th season featuring- The Cher Show, The Nutty Professor, Mr. Holland’s Opus, and Beautiful-The Carole King Musical
2023- Deborah Warren becomes Managing Director
2025- Bradford T. Kenney marks his 20th season with the Playhouse

Past Productions

Source:
Shows by season for the last 10 seasons:
2014 SeasonGrease, With Mo Gaffney, Directed and Choreographed by DJ Salisbury, May 21-June 21, 2014Billy Elliot, Directed by BT McNicholl, June 25-July 26, 2014Mary Poppins, Directed by Shaun Kerrison, July 30-August 30, 2014The Witches of Eastwick, American Northeast Premiere, Starring Sally Struthers, Directed by Shaun Kerrison, September 3-September 27, 2014
2015 Season
2016 SeasonLet It Be: A Celebration of the Music of the Beatles, Directed by Daniel A. Weiss, May 18-June 11, 2016 Anything Goes, With Andrea McArdle and Sally Struthers, Directed by Jaymie McDaniel, June 15-July 9, 2016The Hunchback of Notre Dame, With Paolo Montalban and F. Michael Haynie, Directed by Shaun Kerrison, July 13-August 6, 2016Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Directed by David Ruttura, August 10-September 3, 2016Million Dollar Quartet, Directed by Hunter Foster, October 5- November 6, 2016Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Directed by Sam Scalamoni, November 30- December 18, 2016
2017 SeasonMamma Mia!, With Patrick Cassidy and Angie Schworer, Directed by Larry Raben, May 17-July 1, 2017Bullets Over Broadway, With Sally Struthers and Vincent Pastore, Directed and Choreographed by Jeff Whiting, July 5- July 29, 2017Ragtime, With Klea Blackhurst, Directed by Seth Skylar-Heyn, August 2-August 26, 2017Heartbreak Hotel, World Premiere, Written and Directed by Floyd Mutrux, August 30-September 30, 2017From Here to Eternity, North American Premiere, With Robyn Hurder, Directed and Choreographed by Brett Smock, October 4-October 29, 2017White Christmas, With Sally Struthers, Directed by Jaymie McDaniel, November 29-December 17, 2017
2018 SeasonSmokey Joe’s Cafe, With Kyle Taylor Parker and Jelani Remy, Directed and Choreographed by Joshua Bergasse, May 16- June 9, 2018Oklahoma!, Directed by Fred Hanson, June 13-July 7, 2018An American in Paris, With Clyde Alves, Directed and Choreographed by Jeffry Denman, July 11-August 4, 2018Grumpy Old Men, American Premiere, With Sally Struthers and Hal Linden, Directed by Matt Lenz, August 8-September 1, 2018Jersey Boys, With Jonathan Mousset, Directed by Holly-Anne Palmer, September 5-October 28Elf The Musical, With Jennifer Cody, Directed and Choreographed by Connor Gallagher, November 28-December 16, 2018
2019 SeasonJersey Boys, With Jonathan Mousset, Directed by Holly-Anne Palmer, May 15-June 15, 201942nd Street, With Rachel York, Directed and Choreographed by Randy Skinner, June 19-July 13, 2019Cabaret, With John Rubinstein, Directed by BT McNicholl, July 17-August 10, 2019Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, With Kate Loprest, Directed by Shaun Kerrison, August 14-August 31, 2024Menopause The Musical, With Cindy Williams, September 4-September 14, 2019Kinky Boots, With Kyle Taylor Parker, Directed by Nathan Peck, September 18- October 27, 2019Annie With Sally Struthers and Angie Schworer, Directed by James A. Rocco, November 27- December 22, 2019
2020 Season
  • Playhouse Patio Cabaret, Outdoor concert series featuring Playhouse stars
  • Broadway Gives Back to the Playhouse A Very Brady Musical, With Gavin Lee, Kerry Butler, and Klea Blackhurst, Directed by Richard Israel, Wednesday October 28, 2020
2021 Season
All took place in the Leary PavilionSpamalot, With Charles Shaughnessy and Jennifer Cody, Directed by BT McNicholl, June 16- July 10, 2021Escape to Margaritaville, Regional Premiere, With Cailen Fu and Megan Kane, Directed by Richard J. Hinds, July 14- August 28, 2021Mystic Pizza, World Premiere, With Krystina Alabado, Gianna Yanelli, and Kyra Kennedy, Directed by Casey Hushion, September 1- October 2, 2021Young Frankenstein, With Sally Struthers, John Bolton, and Hannah Cruz, Directed by Jeff Whiting, October 6-October 31, 2021
  • Playhouse Patio Cabaret, Outdoor concert series featuring Playhouse stars
2022 SeasonThe Cher Show, Regional Premiere, With Sara Gettlefinger, David Engel, and Angie Schworer, Directed by Gerry McIntyre, May 12-June 25, 2022The Nutty Professor, World Premiere, With Dan DeLuca, Klea Blackhurst, and Jeff McCarthy, Directed by Marc Bruni, July 1-August 6, 2022Mr. Holland’s Opus, World Premiere, With Akron Watson, Anastasia Barzee, and Veanne Cox, Directed by BD Wong, August 13- September 10, 2022Beautiful- The Carole King Musical, Regional Premiere, With Sarah Bockel, Ben Jacoby, and Anthony Festa, Directed by David Ruttura, September 15- October 30, 2022Elf The Musical, With Steven Booth and Diana Huey, November 20- December 18, 2022
2023 SeasonMillion Dollar Quartet, With Daniel Durston, Scott Moreau, and Nat Zegree, Directed by Hunter Foster, March 22- April 9, 2023Beautiful- The Carole King Musical, With Sarah Bockel, Ben Jacoby, and Matthew Amira, Directed by David Ruttura, May 11-June 10, 2023Singin’ in the Rain, With Max Clayton, Christian Probst, and Kate Loprest, Directed by Jaymie McDaniel, June 15-July 15, 2023.On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, The New International Production, With Gaby Albo, Directed by Luis Salgado, July 20-August 19, 2023The Da Vinci Code, World Premiere, With Michael Urie, Hannah Cruz, and Charles Shaughnessy, Directed by Leigh Toney, August 24-September 23, 2023Tootsie, Regional Premiere, With Dan DeLuca, Sally Struthers, Reed Campbell, and Jennifer Cody, Directed by Larry Raben, September 28-October 29, 2023The Sound of Music, With Emilie Kouatchou, Barrett Foa, Elizabeth Teeter, and Kate Loprest, Directed by Anthony C. Daniel, November 29-December 17, 2023
2024 SeasonWaitress, Regional Premiere, With Desi Oakley, Ben Jacoby, and Cleavant Derricks, Directed by Abbey O’Brien, Choreographed by Cost n’ Mayor, May 9-June 8, 2024

2025 Season

Come From Away, Directed and Choreographed by Richard J. Hinds, May 15-June 14, 2025.Guys and Dolls, Directed and Choreographed by Al Blackstone, June 19-July 19, 2025.High Society, July 24-August 23, 2025When Elvis Met The Beatles, World Premiere, August 28-September 27, 2025

Notable performers

Performers who have appeared at the Ogunquit Playhouse include the following: