ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Playhouse Stage Company has announced its musical theater lineup for the upcoming summer season. The company, which is headquartered in Cohoes, will be performing four different productions from June through August at several locations around the Capital Region.
The organization’s 37th summer season will kick off with a world premiere production of “The Waiting: A New Folk Musical.” Written by Capital Region native and former Playhouse Stage Academy student Maria Andreoll and EmmaLee Kidwell, the musical features a guitar-heavy composition that follows a widowed mother on a journey to find her missing daughter. The production will run from June 12 through June 15 at Cohoes Music Hall.
As the season continues, Playhouse Stage Co. will move to Park Playhouse in Albany’s Washington Park for its annual free, outdoor summer musical series. This year, the company will perform the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein’s production, “Oklahoma!” The musical was last played at the company’s outdoor venue in 2001.
“There is a reason ‘Oklahoma!’ has stood the test of time,” said Owen Smith, Playhouse Stage Company’s producing artistic director. “It is a musical masterpiece, and one of the shows that audiences most frequently request to see back on our outdoor stage.”
The musical will be directed by managing director Chuck Kraus with choreography by Playhouse Stage Academy graduate Alexis Papaleo. Musical direction and original Bluegrass-inspired orchestrations will be provided by Brian Axford.
The production will be presented with support from the city of Albany, which has traditionally provided use of the outdoor venue, police officers for crowd control and additional support from the Department of General Services. This year, however, the city will also provide direct financial support for the first time since 2010.
“Park Playhouse is a vital cultural resource in our Capital City, welcoming tens of thousands of residents and guests to enjoy accessible, free musical theatre each summer,” Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said in a press release. “I am proud to provide city support to the Playhouse to ensure that this Albany tradition continues and flourishes for generations to come.”
“Oklahoma!” will play at Park Playhouse from July 1 through July 27, with performances Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. An encore weekend of shows will also be held at Guilderland Performing Arts Center in Tawasentha Park from July 31 through Aug. 2. Free seating will be available at both venues.
The company will return to Cohoes Music Hall again in July and August for two Disney musical adaptations. First, from July 17 through Aug. 11, the theater will perform “Disney’s The Little Mermaid.” Directed by Michael LoPorto and choreographed by AshleySimone Kirchner, the production will feature the company’s advanced teen students alongside professional performers.
Finally, the summer season will close with “Moana Jr.,” an adaptation of Disney’s 2016 animated film “Moana.” With original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show will spotlight Playhouse Stage Academy’s younger students. The production will run from Aug. 20 through Aug. 24.
Individual tickets for the summer season will go on sale later in 2025. Season 37 memberships are now on sale for $50 per household and include early access to ticket sales and 30% off ticket purchases. To register, visit the Playhouse Stage Co. website.
