Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley and has been writing his column for the Lake Placid News since 2005. He visited the Depot Theatre in August and interviewed some of the cast and crew. He also shares his thoughts on a performance he attended: “If you missed The Million Dollar Quartet, you missed an informative and lively hoot.”
Read the full article here.
The cast of the Depot Theatre’s Million Dollar Quartet had the honor of opening the 176th Essex County Fair with the National Anthem at 5 pm on Wednesday, August 13th.
A torrential summer storm framed the moment, rain pouring down as the cast performed the anthem to open the Fair.
Cast members from left to right: Jane Boxall (Fluke), Brian Sanford (Johnny Cash), Addison Schuh (Dyanne), Jonathan Acorn (Jerry Lee Lewis), and Jonathan Hadley (Sam Phillips).
Electrifying Musical Inspired by the Greatest Jam Session in Rock ’n’ Roll History Hits the Depot Theatre Stage August 2025
Westport, NY — The Depot Theatre, a professional Equity theatre located in the Adirondacks, is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the exhilarating jukebox musical inspired by the legendary 1956 recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.
The production, directed and choreographed by Michael Santora, features more than 20 rock ’n’ roll hits performed live on stage—including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Hound Dog.”
The cast features a powerhouse lineup of actor-musicians:
Director Michael Santora has performed MDQ over 300 times in various productions around the country as Sam Phillips and brings deep insight and passion to the story. His directing credits span Shakespeare to jukebox hits, from Hamlet to Forever Plaid.
The production is stage-managed by Lydya Felix, who returns to the Depot Theatre after working on Spamalot, End Days, and What the Constitution Means to Me.
“Musical Fireworks!” – Associated Press
“Wildly Entertaining” – Hollywood Reporter
“Soul-stirring, good-time classic with a surprising amount of grit and soul!” – Chicago Tribune
🎸 Preview Performances – $25 Tickets
Be part of the excitement of experiencing the show before the critics and the crowds:
Regular performances run August 9 –August 24
Audiences looking for a deeper dive into the creative process are invited to attend the Depot Dialogue, a post-show discussion with cast and crew following the Thursday, August 14 performance.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET runs August 7 – 24 at the Depot Theatre, located in a restored 1876 train station in the heart of Westport, NY. Tickets are available at depottheatre.org/tickets or by calling the box office at 518.962.4449.
SPONSORS:
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is sponsored by The Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation. The Depot Theatre’s 47th season is sponsored by the Rogers-Carroll Family Foundation.
See this announcement in the news: BroadwayWorld.
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.
Mission: The Depot Theatre is to entertain, enrich, and educate through professional theatrical arts and related programs based in a historic train station.
Vision: The Depot Theatre will have a robust, regional, and year-round presence by creating the highest of quality programs, building strong partnerships, and enhancing community engagement while promoting diversity in all that we do.
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The Depot Theatre receives funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
With special thanks to the following for their support of the Depot’s ongoing strategic objectives: Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust, Cloudsplitter Foundation, J.M. McDonald Foundation, Inc., Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, Charles R. Wood Foundation, Adirondack Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Rogers Carroll Family Foundation, Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation.
