SUMMER FAMILY FUN SHOW
Tinker Bell
June 28, July 5 at 10 a.m.
June 29, 30, July 6, 7 at 3 p.m.
June 29 and July 6 at 7 p.m.
Everyone thinks they know Peter Pan. But until you have heard Tinker Bell’s side of the story, you really have not heard it at all. Our 2024 Summer Family Fun show shines a light on all the characters you love as J.M. Barrie’s story is reborn from this feisty fairy’s point of view. When all the fairies in Neverland start dying, Tinker Bell comes to London to find a friend. There she meets a young boy named Peter Pan who has just run away from his family so he can be a little boy forever and have fun. When Tink takes Peter to Neverland, all sorts of wonderful and amazing things happen: flowers grow, animals appear and pirates arrive. But as Peter brings more Lost Boys and the Darling children back to her island, Tink finds she doesn’t like sharing her friend with anyone else. Especially that Wendy girl. This fresh and intensely theatrical adaptation of the classic story emphasizes play and fun as well as the complicated nature of friendship.
MAINSTAGE SEASON EVENT
A Christmas Carol
December 5-7 and 12-14 at 8 p.m.
December 8 and 15 at 3 p.m.
A brand new adaptation of the Dicken's classic written specifically for The Sauk!
MAINSTAGE SEASON SHOW
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Music by Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman
Book by David Greig, based on the Roald Dahl novel
July 25-27 and August 1-3 at 8 p.m.
July 28 and August 4 at 3 p.m.
The Sauk will present the regional premiere of the new Broadway musical adaptation of Ronald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the summer of 2024! Based on the famous novel by Roald Dahl, the musical features an original score composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman (HAIRSPRAY) and a book by David Greig. The score also pays homage to the Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley score from the 1971 film with songs from the motion picture including "Candy Man," "I've Got a Golden Ticket," "Oompa Loompa Song," and "Pure Imagination." The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory…but only to a lucky few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination including chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka's army of curious Oompa-Loompas.
SPECIAL EVENT
24-Hour
Theatre Project
April 13 at 8 p.m.
Join us as directors, designers, playwrights and actors come together to create an evening of short plays in only 24 hours.
MAINSTAGE SEASON SHOW
The Last
Lifeboat
May 9-11, 16-18 at 8 p.m.
May 12 and 19 at 3 p.m.
J. Bruce Ismay was an upper-crust Englishman who always did what was expected of him. He went to the best schools, married the right society girl (even though he was in love with someone else) and vowed to his staunch, unfeeling father on his deathbed that he would take over the family shipping business and build the biggest, most opulent ship the world had ever seen: the RMS Titanic. What an accomplishment! We all know the story of how the ship sank…or do we? Ismay saved as many people as he could on that fateful night, and finally, with no women and children in sight, he stepped into the last lifeboat…and was branded a coward and a traitor forever. The world needed a scapegoat for the sinking of the Titanic and Ismay became the perfect target. He had a powerful enemy in the United States—newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Hearst condemned Ismay nationwide before the rescue ship Carpathia even landed in New York. Hearst's cause was aided by William Alden Smith, a ruthless senator with presidential aspirations, who led a "witch-hunt" investigation into this high-profile disaster. Although there was no solid evidence against Ismay, Senator Smith managed to drag the hearings on for months. More than 3,000 passengers brought lawsuits against the White Star Line for loss of life and property, which only fueled Ismay's intense survivor's guilt. When he was forced to resign from the White Star Line, he spent the rest of his days as a recluse at his estate in Ireland, haunted by the ghosts of that fateful night to the point of near insanity.
SAUKSECONDS SEASON SHOW
Icarus &
Pandora and
The Sickle Moon
Two Greek One-Acts by Jessica Chipman
June 6-8 at 8 p.m.
June 9 at 3 p.m.
Act One - ICARUS
This Greek myth follows inventor and architect Daedalus, who commits a crime in Athens and is banished to Crete to serve King Minos. Determined to right the wrong of his crime, Daedalus becomes a father to Icarus, a daring and precocious boy whose eyes are on all the glories of the world around him – the sky, the sea, the stars – while Daedalus buries himself in his work, attempting to save the people of Crete from King Minos' shrewd plans, which include sacrificing humans to a ravenous minotaur. Complicating things further, Icarus falls in love with Ariadne, the daughter of Minos. After adventures involving sea god Poseidon, the Labyrinth, the slaying of the minotaur, and a broken heart, Daedalus and Icarus find themselves in a locked tower, surrounded by Minos' ships. Daedalus makes wings made of feathers, wax, and wood – their only hope for escape from the tower. With his eyes on the sky, Icarus soars and hollers with joy. Daedalus watches in horror as his son flies too close to the sun, which melts the wax in his wings. Icarus falls into the sea and perishes. A grieving Daedalus flies on to Athens, honoring his son by keeping his eyes on the beauty of the world around him. Approximately 45-50 minutes.
Act Two - PANDORA AND THE SICKLE MOON
Pandora, the first woman created by Greek gods, has opened a box releasing all the evils of humanity. She can't undo the deed so she decides her penance must be to observe the evil play out in the world. She serves as the audience's narrator in this tragic fairy tale told out of time and place. Pandora tells of Freya, a young princess who has been captured in a battle that killed her family. A classically evil queen, Skadaas, is plotting a way to stay in power. Her first-born son, Brono, does not speak and, therefore, cannot be king. Her second-born son, Vol, is an explorer who has no kingly aspirations, though his mother wishes otherwise. Both sons fall for Freya. Pandora frets about not being able to stop evil and considers her situation hopeless, yet through a climactic and surprising sacrifice, she realizes that Freya has taught her that hope will always remain. About 35 minutes.
MAINSTAGE SEASON EVENT
Anastasia: The Musical
Book by Terrence McNally
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Inspired by the Twentieth Century Fox Motion Pictures
by special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatrical
From the play by Marcelle Maurette as adapted by Guy Bolton
October 10-12, 17-19 at 8 p.m.
October 13 and 20 at 3 p.m.
From Tony winners Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, creators of such Broadway classics as Ragtime and Once on This Island, this dazzling show transports its audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family. Inspired by the animated film of the same name.
SAUKSECONDS SEASON SHOW
The Lifespan of a Fact
By Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell & Gordon Farrell
Based on the book by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal
August 22-24 at 8 p.m.
August 25 at 3 p.m.
Jim Fingal is a fresh-out-of-Harvard fact checker for a prominent but sinking New York magazine. John D’Agata is a talented writer with a transcendent essay about the suicide of a teenage boy—an essay that could save the magazine from collapse. When Jim is assigned to fact check D’Agata’s essay, the two come head to head in a comedic yet gripping battle over facts versus truth. This production contains strong language.
SPECIAL EVENT
Plays-in-Development
Titles TBA
September 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m.
OUR TENTH ANNIVERSARY SEASON! The Sauk is dedicated to the development of new theatrical works. Each year, we present staged readings of new plays still in the process of being written. After the readings, we invite the audience to respond to what they have heard. The playwrights spend a week on-site at The Sauk attending rehearsals, making changes to their scripts, attending the staged readings and joining the post-reading discussions. These works may include adult themes and/or strong language. This is a 'Pay What You Can' event.
SAUKSECONDS SEASON SHOW
Sauk Shorts
March 21-23 at 8 p.m.
March 24 at 3 p.m.
Sauk Shorts usually consists of 8-12 short plays. Each play tells a complete story in 8-15 minutes. The plays will make you laugh, touch your heart and entertain you with their originality. Perhaps the most unique and original production in any Sauk season, Sauk Shorts guarantees something for everyone. Titles TBA.
MAINSTAGE SEASON SHOW
Criminal Mischief
By William Cameron
February 1-3 and 8-10 at 8 p.m.
February 4 and 11 at 3 p.m.
Freddy’s in love with Angie and she’s in love with him. The problem? Angie’s married to Spencer, Freddy’s older brother. This sets off a series of comical yet criminal misadventures, putting the whole family in the sights of Detective Lieutenant Alice Ford, who’s got issues of her own. Criminal Mischief takes a humorous look at love and sex, family and forgiveness, crime and punishment. This production is part of the AACT - American Association of Community Theatre NewPlayFest!