Franklin Stage Company Announces 2018 Season

The Franklin Stage Company, Delaware County's renowned classical summer theater, announces the roster for their 22nd season, presenting and producing performances from July 4 weekend through Labor Day.

"We're looking forward to bringing a wildly diverse mix of theater to Franklin," said Leslie Noble, Co-Artistic Director of the theater, "filled with color, music, drama, debate, and a healthy dose of silliness, there's something for everyone." She and collaborator Patricia Buckley took over the company in 2017.

The season will open July 6th with Bitter Banquet: A Euripidean Song Cycle, composed and performed by songstress Annie Lewandowski that fuses lush music and immersive projection design to portray the ancient poet's tragic and heroic women characters."We're so thrilled to have Annie Lewandowski bring her amazing work to FSC, and to partner with The Cherry Arts Space in Ithaca," added Buckley.

For its second offering, FSC will stage Lee Blessing's A Walk in the Woods, a Tony-nominated tale of cold war diplomacy that examines Russian - American power dynamics with wit, humor and surprising insight. Next up is a concert by NY cabaret sensation Julian Fleisher and his band, and on the same weekend, Kevin O'Keefe's family show, Circus Minimus will delight kids of all ages. FSC's second full production will be the 2005 Pulitzer Prize winning play, Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley. Set in a Catholic grammar school in 1964, Doubt is a taut drama that confronts faith, power, and its abuses. The season closes with an encore production of Off-Broadway hit Cry Havoc!, a captivating tour de force, written and performed by actor and veteran Stephan Wolfert, that weaves Shakespeare's war speeches into a deeply personal account of his own journey through war, trauma and healing.

the company will also produce 2 visual art shows by international photographer Wijnanda Deroo and Broadway scenic designer Marjorie Kellogg.

The Franklin Stage Company season will run from July 6 through September 2 at Chapel Hall, 25 Institute Street in Franklin, NY. Please note all evening shows have a new curtain time of 7:30pm and this year FSC will add a 3:00pm Saturday matinee for most shows. Free admission. General Seating. For reservations, visit www.franklinstagecompany.org or call 607-829-3700.

Programming at the Franklin Stage Company is made possible by the New York State Council and the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Photo: Annie Lewandowski in Bitter Banquet