Archive for month: March, 2025

Westport, NY — The Depot Theatre in Westport, New York, is pleased to announce its dynamic, energetic, and expanded 2025 professional main stage season lineup, including two plays and two musicals.

Lights go up on the main stage with FIRST DATE, a musical rom-com in which a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious high-stakes dinner.

Blind date newbie Aaron is set up with serial-dater Casey, and in a delightful and unexpected twist, Casey and Aaron’s inner critics take on a life of their own when other restaurant patrons transform into supportive best friends, manipulative exes, and protective parents, who sing and dance them through icebreakers, appetizers, and potential conversational land mines. Performances of FIRST DATE will be June 26-July 13.

Next up on the stage is RADIANT VERMIN, a fast-paced, provocative, pitch-black satire that skewers fantasies of having it all. A young couple is offered an ideal house by a mysterious stranger, prompting the question: How far would any of us go to get our dream home? This thought-provoking comedy teeters on the brink of mayhem while shining a light on the human condition, the haves and have-nots, and the inequities of life. Performances will run from July 17 to August 3.

Beginning August 7, the Depot will produce the Tony® Award-nominated musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET. The musical is set on December 4, 1956, when an extraordinary twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions ever.

Featuring an incredible score of rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, R&B, and country hits, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET hit songs include “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Walk the Line,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Hound Dog,” and more! MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will run from August 7-24.

The expanded season continues with a special limited run of THE ROOMMATE, a dark comedy about what it takes to re-route your life – and what happens when the wheels come off.

The play features two women in their mid-fifties: Sharon, who is recently divorced and needs a roommate to share her Iowa home, and Robyn, who needs a place to hide and a chance to start over. But as Sharon begins to uncover Robyn’s secrets, they encourage her own deep-seated desire to transform her life completely. THE ROOMMATE will run for four performances from August 28-31.

The 2025 season was curated by the Depot’s team of Artistic Directors, Beth Glover and Karen Lewis.

“Our lineup for 2025 is inspired by the tremendous response to last summer’s exciting, audience-pleasing season,” said Beth Glover. “We’re thrilled to once again offer an emotional, laugh-filled, and tune-packed shared experience for our patrons this summer!’

The professional productions are preceded on the main stage by a special Depot Theatre Academy production of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, with four performances by the region’s experienced student artists on June 12-14.

The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, NY, and it is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association.

2025 Season Passes will go on sale on April 15, and can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 518.962.4449. Individual tickets will be available beginning May 15.

Auditions will be held in Westport, NY on March 29, and in New York City on April 4. More details, information about the Depot Theatre Academy youth program, additional events, and news updates can be found online at DepotTheatre.org.

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About the Depot Theatre The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and it is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. In addition to its volunteer board of trustees, the theatre depends on the support and generosity of its loyal donors, volunteers, and community members. Committed to promoting and providing exposure to the performing arts in the Adirondacks, the Depot Theatre invites all to “Take a journey without leaving the station.” The Depot Theatre’s 2025 programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, with additional support from the Essex County Arts Council.   The Depot Theatre Academy is a robust educational experience for area youth and a pathway for those interested in pursuing a profession in theatre—whether that’s backstage or on stage.

2025 Season Begins with Performance Opportunity for Experienced Student Artists

Westport, NY —The Depot Theatre is pleased to announce its 2025 Academy outreach and education programs, beginning with a main stage performance opportunity for experienced student artists.

The Depot Theatre Academy is a robust educational experience for area youth and a pathway for those interested in pursuing a profession in theatre—whether that’s backstage or on stage.

Following a successful inaugural program in 2024, the Depot Theatre Academy outreach and education program will once again open the theatre’s main stage season, this time with a production of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, with four performances on the Depot Theatre stage during the weekend of June 12-14, 2025.

This special opportunity is for young artists ages 13 and older enrolled in school, inclusive of home school and college. The program will feature the same process that professional artists experience on the main stage, with competitive auditions and demanding rehearsals, culminating in performances on the Depot Theatre main stage.

The program will be led by a team of experienced professional teaching artists. It will be directed by Gigi Mason, Depot Theatre’s Director of Outreach and Education, live musical direction and accompaniment will be provided by music and drama educator Kim Weems, choreography by Jackie Robertin, and assistance from theatre educator and actor Amy Fitts, and workshops by a number of visiting professional artists throughout the rehearsal period.

Auditions for THE DROWSY CHAPERONE will be held at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall on Sunday, March 30, from 10am – 1pm. There is no cost for participation. Interested participants should contact Gigi Mason at gmason@depottheatre.org to access audition preparation information.

2025 ACADEMY SUMMER PROGRAM

The Depot Academy will once again offer a three week Junior program for artists ages 8-18. The summer program will be held July 21-August 7, culminating in three performances of THE WIZARD OF OZ: YOUTH EDITION on August 8-10 at the Whallonsburg Grange.

For the second time, The Depot Academy will again offer a program for new younger performers this summer. Lovingly dubbed “Munchkin Camp,” this opportunity for 5-8 year olds new to theatre will be a two week experience from July 28-August 7th at the Whallonsburg Grange, culminating with students performing with the Junior program as Munchkins in THE WIZARD OF OZ: YOUTH EDITION on August 8-10.

Details and registration forms for both age groups for the summer program will be available online at the depottheatre.org beginning April 15th.

“We’re thrilled to offer these three programs again this year,” said Gigi Mason. “From ages 5 through college, our young artists will have access to professional expertise on stage, and there will also be workshop opportunities for those interested in learning about various off-stage careers in the arts, such as technical disciplines.”

Tickets for the Academy performances of DROWSY CHAPERONE will go on sale on May 15 and will be available online or by calling the box office at 518.962.4449. For more Depot Theatre programming information and news, visit depottheatre.org.

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The Depot Theatre Academy program for experienced student artists, with performances of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, is sponsored by THE MILL.

ABOUT THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

When a die-hard theatre fan plays his favorite cast album, the characters come to life in this hilarious Tony Award-winning musical farce.

Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is a loving send-up of the Golden Age musical, featuring one show-stopping song and dance number after another. Hailed by New York Magazine as “The Perfect Broadway Musical,” THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is a masterful meta-musical, poking fun at all the tropes that characterize the musical theatre genre.

ABOUT THE DEPOT THEATRE

The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and it is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. In addition to its volunteer board of trustees, the theatre depends on the support and generosity of its loyal donors, volunteers, and community members. Committed to promoting and providing exposure to the performing arts in the Adirondacks, the Depot Theatre invites all to “Take a journey without leaving the station.”

The Depot Theatre Academy is a robust educational experience for area youth and a pathway for those interested in pursuing a profession in theatre—whether that’s backstage or on stage. DepotTheatre.org