The Princeton Theater Group is pleased to announce Festival 56’s summer 2024 season. As our Artistic Directors begin their second summer here in Princeton, we tackle productions which share ideas and themes of exploration, discovery, and growth. We start by examining the idea of self-discovery, our own ability to create art, and the exploration of what unites us as human beings. We then redefine our artistic capabilities, while continuing an exploration of young adulthood, and our responsibility to each other as we grow together as a community.
Our Shakespeare in the Park production, a staple of a Festival 56 summer, will kick things off. This year will see the return of the timeless tragedy of Romeo & Juliet. Joe Calarco’s dynamic adaptation Shakespeare’s R & J pushes the boundaries of what our Shakespeare in the Park has been in years past and will certainly be unlike any Romeo & Juliet our audiences have seen. This reimagined adaptation sees the play through the eyes of growing, young adults in high school as they rehearse the script together—discovering Shakespeare as well as themselves. Festival 56 is again able to offer the Shakespeare production at no cost to playgoers (though a donation hat will be passed).
And speaking of original theater, Festival 56 jump starts its tradition of presenting a New Works Production with Sea Monsters of the Deep by Mark Shanahan. This family-friendly play is based on the true story of Morton Plank who finds himself in a strange and magical place as he
learns to confront his childhood fears while investigating a sea monster sighting on the island of Nantucket. We will be expanding the series to three performances while collaborating with the playwright for a series of talkbacks. This new work will be featured in rep. with Title of Show sharing ideas on the creation of art.
Our next production is Broadway’s own Urinetown the Musical. This brilliant satire modeled off the plays of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht parodies many musical theater genres while giving us some timely messages about community, responsibility, and our right to freedom. We welcome our Learning Stages Camp 56 young actors aboard this zany production with a heart as big as the sun.
Closing out our season we present the timeless favorite musical, Grease! This classic hit explores growing up in the 1950s as these iconic characters discover adulthood together accompanied by its failures and success while relating to the universal nostalgia that accompanies high school, pre-adulthood, and beyond.
We present six of Princeton’s favorite Festival events, Cabarets! These will open throughout the season. Some will be in our usual 10 pm slot as well as some earlier, family-friendly versions. We are also looking forward to collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce in the Princeton Street Concert series.
Tickets may be obtained at the Festival 56 Box Office, located at the Grace Theater, 316 S. Main Street in Princeton; by calling (815) 879-5656; or online at festival56.com.