The Thanksgiving Play at Hampton Theatre Company

Hampton Theatre Company Launches Jane Stanton Celebrating Women in Theatre Project with Larissa FastHorse’s “The Thanksgiving Play”

A new chapter is beginning at the Hampton Theatre Company with the launch of Celebrating Women in Theatre, a three-season initiative made possible by a generous grant from a private charitable foundation. The project will spotlight plays written and directed by women, addressing the longstanding gender imbalance in American theatre—and especially on Long Island stages.

Kicking off the initiative is “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa FastHorse, the first female Indigenous playwright to be produced on Broadway. Directed by Mary Powers, the biting satire opens on October 16 at the Quogue Community Hall and runs through November 2.

Through Celebrating Women in Theatre, the Hampton Theatre Company is committing to feature a female-led production as the first show of each of the next three seasons—shining a light on voices too often marginalized. While HTC has staged works by women in the past, recent seasons have lacked this representation. In fact, of 11 shows produced by three East End theaters in 2024, only one was written by a woman.

“This initiative is about more than programming—it’s about equity and opportunity,” said HTC President Rosemary Cline. “We’re excited to bring audiences dynamic work from female playwrights and directors whose voices need to be heard.”

Ms. FastHorse’s “The Thanksgiving Play” is the perfect opening to this series: a sharp, hilarious critique of well-meaning efforts to create culturally sensitive art, and the missteps that can occur when privilege and performative wokeness go unchecked. Following a group of educators trying (and failing) to craft a politically correct Thanksgiving pageant, the play blends humor and hard truths in equal measure.

The New York Times praised the play as “an uproarious comedy that also serves as a much-needed critique of American holiday traditions,” while Time Out New York hailed it as “entertaining and thought-provoking.”

Performances run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., with an additional Saturday matinee on June 7 at 2:30 p.m. Two post-show talkbacks will take place following the October 24 and October 31 Friday night performances, offering deeper insight into the social issues raised in the play.

Tickets:

• Adults: $40
• Seniors (65+): $36
• Students (25 and under): $25
• Veterans and Native Americans: $30

Tickets available at hamptontheatre.org or by calling 631-653-8955.

Join us this fall as we celebrate women’s voices in theatre and kick off a new era of storytelling in Quogue.

Authors

• Larissa FastHorse