Dorset Theatre Festival Reveals Cast for DECEIVED and THE UNDERSTUDY
Jeffrey Bean and Elizabeth Heflin lead THERESA REBECK's comedy alongside Lucas Dixon and Kelly McAndrew in Vermont
Dorset Theatre Festival has announced the first two casts for its upcoming 2026 season, featuring returning Dorset favorites and acclaimed stage veterans.
Highlights: DECEIVED: a gripping psychological thriller starring Lucas Dixon, Caitlin Clouthier, Kelly McAndrew, and Ellen Grace Diehl. THE UNDERSTUDY: Theresa Rebeck's sharp-witted backstage comedy featuring Jeffrey Bean, David Mason, and Elizabeth Heflin.
"We are thrilled and honored to bring such extraordinary talent to the Dorset stage this year," said Will Rucker, Dorset's executive artistic director. "These ensembles bring a depth and energy that will make these plays truly unforgettable. And the second half of the season promises to be just as exciting!”
The 2026 season opens with Deceived (June 19–July 4), a new adaptation of Patrick Hamilton's classic thriller, Gaslight, by Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson.
Lucas Dixon returns to Dorset after appearing in last season's The Book Club Play. He was recently revealed as young Tobias Fornell on the new series NCIS: Origins, and his extensive stage credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Bucks County Playhouse, Assassins at Yale Rep, and Dial M for Murder at Gulfshore Playhouse. He is joined by Caitlin Clouthier, another Festival alum who appeared in The Book Club Play, Baskerville, and The Norman Conquests trilogy.
Kelly McAndrew returns to Dorset following her acclaimed turns in Misery and the solo play Sidekicked. Her massive resume ranges from Broadway (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) to notable Off-Broadway runs in The Thin Place at Playwrights Horizons and Men on Boats. Her television work includes recurring and guest roles on Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, and The Good Fight. Completing the quartet is Ellen Grace Diehl, who has performed at major regional houses, including Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Cleveland Play House. She is also the creator of the award-winning show Singin' in a Rainstorm, which recently premiered at NYC's 54 Below.
The season continues with The Understudy (July 10–July 18), written and directed by Dorset's Resident Playwright and Pulitzer Prize Nominee Theresa Rebeck.
Jeffrey Bean and David Mason reunite in Dorset after starring in the award-winning world premiere of Theresa Rebeck's Dig, which successfully transferred to an Off-Broadway run at Primary Stages.
Jeffrey Bean is a veteran of the stage with Broadway credits in Amadeus and Bells Are Ringing. A Resident Company member at The Alley Theatre for 25 seasons, his recent screen work includes The Diplomat, Billions, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. He stars alongside David Mason, whose previous Dorset credits include Thirst and The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Mason's Broadway credits include Pictures From Home, and he has appeared on television in The Blacklist, The Leftovers, and Law & Order: SVU.
Elizabeth Heflin rounds out the cast, bringing a storied career that includes Broadway's The Government Inspector and a national tour of The Odd Couple with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. A company member at the REP at University of Delaware and a 13-year Resident Company member at The Alley Theatre, she has appeared in regional productions of August: Osage County and The Taming of the Shrew, and has a long history in television on programs such as As The World Turns and Days of Our Lives.
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