OUTSIDE MULLINGAR, LEND ME A TENOR & More Set for Peninsula Players' 80th Season

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theater and Door County's theatrical icon, announces its 80th season, running June 16 through October 18, 2015. Nestled along Door County, Wisconsin's scenic shore, the Peninsula Players has been enthralling generations of audiences in its 600-plus seat, all-weather pavilion since 1935, presenting hundreds of pre-Broadway tryouts, world premières, classic dramas, comedies and musicals.

The Peninsula Players season will open June 16 with the world première of "A Real Lulu" by Paul Slade Smith, creator of "Unnecessary Farce." Nervous Ned Newley received a battle-field promotion amid a political scandal and his first day as the new Governor of Vermont is teetering on calamity. While media cameras await, can Ned or his aides pull him out of the fire and back into the governor's seat? "A Real Lulu" will have a three week run closing July 5.

We've done a whole bunch of readings of Paul's play the past couple years and all can agree it's a wonderfully funny comedy!" said Peninsula Players Artistic Director Greg Vinkler. "Ned Newley is the Lieutenant Governor. He's an honest guy, loves his job and does it really well, but he knows nothing about politics. Unfortunately (and unexpectedly), he just became the Governor of Vermont. Enter a high-profile political advisor, a professional pollster and an amazingly inept assistant to try to get Ned ready for prime time. The question is - can Ned Newley survive all this? Can Vermont? I'm really excited we're doing this comedy - it's very funny and has a lot of heart. I'll be playing Ned, and Kristine Thatcher, who played the mother in last season's 'The Tin Woman,' will direct."

From July 8 through July 26 the Peninsula Players presents "Dial M for Murder," Frederick Knott's tingling, suspense-filled thriller. Knott's intense and darkly mesmerizing mystery is laced with passion and betrayal. Set in 1950s London, ex-tennis pro and house husband, Tony is convinced his wealthy socialite wife, Margot, is having an affair. Between cocktails, a cat and mouse game of intrigue, blackmail and treachery begins as Tony plots the murder of his wife.

"'Dial M for Murder' is a remarkably written duel of wits between Tony Wendice, who has arranged the perfect murder of his wife, and the indefatigable and perceptive Inspector Hubbard," Vinkler said. "It was made into a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock with Grace Kelly and Ray Milland, and is a completely absorbing whodunit. I envision a very polished and stylish production under the direction of Joe Foust, who directed the Players' production of Knott's 'Wait Until Dark.'"

Next up from July 29 through August 16 is Ken Ludwig's "Lend Me a Tenor," a hilariously funny, door-slamming comedy. Mayhem ensues when opera sensation Tito Merelli inadvertently passes out on opening night and hapless Max, the general manager's assistant and aspiring singer, is pushed by his boss to don Otello's costume. It is a madcap romp filled with mistaken identities that hits all the high notes. "Lend Me a Tenor" is the winner of two Tony Awards, four Drama Desk Awards and one Outer Critics Circle Award.

"'Lend Me a Tenor' was actually the first play I directed at the Players," said Vinkler. "It's on my list of all-time favorite shows and it tickles me that we're able to do it again. It's won tons of awards and is a delight to watch. It's set in 1934 on the day the Cleveland Grand Opera Company is to feature the great Tito Merelli, Il Stupendo, in 'Otello.' Early on we get to hear a beautiful duet from Verdi's 'Don Carlo' sung by Tito and our hero Max, but then absolutely everything goes wrong and nothing but nothing can stop this hilarious roller coaster ride from careening to its wild finish!"

John Patrick Shanley's sweet and prickly love story "Outside Mullingar" was a 2014 Tony Award nominee for Best Play and will be on stage August 19 - Sept. 6. The Wisconsin Première features Anthony and Rosemary, 40-ish next-door neighbors and homebodies in rural Ireland, who are caught in their families' land dispute. Shanley, whose other works include "Doubt" and the film "Moonstruck," has crafted a lyrical Irish romantic comedy that tenderly reminds us it's never too late to take a chance on love.

"'Outside Mullingar' was on Broadway last year and I got a copy as soon as I could," Vinkler said. "Well, when I finished reading the last word, I put it down and knew I wanted to put it into this season. It is poetic, wistful, uplifting and funny. Anthony, a 42-year-old introverted farmer, and Rosemary, 36, who runs the farm next door, should be together, but family eccentricities, land feud and they themselves get in the way. With his father and her mother along the way it's a funny and lovely journey I'm pretty sure you'll be happy to take."

Closing the season Sept. 9 through Oct. 18 is the frolicking musical comedy "Nunsense" with book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin. The zany Little Sisters of Hoboken are lifting their voices and kicking up their heels! Join Reverend Mother, a former circus performer, and her four sisters as they take over the 8th grade production of "Grease" and stage a riotous variety show filled with comic misadventures that are sure to be habit-forming! "Nunsense" is the winner of four Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Off-Broadway Musical.

"I haven't been able to get this show with its singing, dancing, silly nuns out of my head," Vinkler said. "All of them are trying to do good work for a worthy cause by putting on a very lively variety show - they just can't get show biz out of their blood - or their feet! It's irresistible and a ton of fun. Karen Sheridan, who played Sister Amnesia for us before and also directed the incredibly sweet and funny 'Fools' by Neil Simon, will be at the helm, helping the Little Sisters of Hoboken kick up their heels!

"The Peninsula Players 80th season will abound with humor, thrills, lots of heart and toe-tapping fun with nuns - a light-hearted comic romp through the eyes of a political innocent, a suspense-filled mystery, a madcap glimpse into the world of opera, a lyrical journey to an Irish farm and a comedy-variety show packed with dancing and singing nuns. I am pretty sure our audiences will find at least a gem or two they'll get a kick out of in this, our 80th season."

Peninsula Players has been entertaining and exciting audiences since 1935. Peninsula Players was founded by a brother and sister team, Caroline and Richard Fisher, who dreamed of an artistic utopia in the north woods where actors, designers and technicians could focus on their craft while being surrounded by nature in a contemplative setting.

Peninsula Players location along the shore of Green Bay provides a serene location for patrons as well. Prior to performances, patrons relax and picnic on the grounds while watching the setting sun over the waters of Green Bay from the cedar-lined shore and enjoy the ambience of the beer garden and other gardens.

The Fishers' dream lives on as professional actors, directors and designers work side-by-side with college interns while living on the Players 16-acre campus as they bring audiences a variety of works including dramas, mysteries, comedies and musicals. In fall, 2005, the troupe closed its season early to build a new stage house and all-weather audience pavilion.

The Peninsula Players performs Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. in the summer. With the opening of the fall show Sept. 9 curtain times are Tuesday through most Sundays at 7 p.m. The closing Sunday performance of each show will have a 4 p.m. matinee, July 5, July 26, Aug. 16, Sept. 6 and Oct. 18.

Discount tickets are now available for season ticket holders and groups. Individual tickets are currently available by phoning the Box Office. Individual tickets will be available online mid-May following the completion of the season renewal process. Individual ticket prices range from $36 to $45. There are no performances on Mondays. For more information or to reserve tickets phone the Peninsula Players' box office at 920-868-3287 or visit the website at www.peninsulaplayers.com.

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