MANSFIELD — What do you do in May between shows when you are the artistic director of the second oldest continuously-producing community theater in Ohio?
In the case of Doug Wertz, you take a breath — and you announce a full, nine-show schedule for the 2024-2025 season at the Mansfield Playhouse.
“We are very happy and excited to announce the new 2024-2025 season,” Wertz said Wednesday.
“Not only will we be offering some great comedies, but we also have a couple of very good classics with a comedy flavor and one classic with a newer take on our Main Stage. This should make for some great entertainment all year long.
“Our Second Stage venue will offer some fun with a parody of fairy tales in ‘Wonderland Wives’ (for adult audiences only) and another round of laughs with ‘Squirrel Lake,’ ” he said.
Youth will also again be served at the Mansfield Playhouse with two productions on the Main Stage — Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” and Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.”
Wertz said the East Third Street theater will also offer the opportunity for outside acts to perform at the Playhouse, such as the show planned Friday night with Nashville comedian Lee Hardin.
“These are truly exciting times for the Mansfield Playhouse,” Wertz said.
Mansfield Playhouse patrons will notice a ticket-price increase next season, according to Wertz.
He said adult ticket prices will rise $2 to $15 for a single show. Senior prices will go up $1 to $13 per show. Tickets for students 17 and under will be $10.
“There is a savings for package purchases as a Flex 5 & Permanent Seat are $70 for an adult, $60 for a senior and $45 for a student. Flex 7 are $95 adult, $81 senior, and $60 student,” he said.
“As we have stayed steady in our ticket prices for many years, the inflation rate has impacted the cost of materials, production costs, etc., coupled with starting over with sponsors and advertisers post COVID-19.
“It is needed,” he said of the increase.
“In following with our mission, however, we have taken this consideration quite seriously and still believe it is quite affordable,” he said.
Below are synopsis for all of the Mansfield Playhouse 2024-2025 schedules shows:
MAIN STAGE ADULT SHOWS
“Caught in the Net” by Ray Cooney
The sequel to “Run for Your Wife” finds bigamist taxi driver John Smith still keeping his two families in different parts of London, both happy and blissfully unaware of each other.
However, his teenage children, a girl from one family and a boy from the other, have met on the Internet and are anxious to meet in person since they have so much in common name, surname and taxi driving dad.
Keeping them apart plunges John into a hell hole of his own making.
His lodger, Stanley, could be a savior, but he is about to go on holiday with his decrepit old father who turns up thinking he is already at the guest house.
The situation spirals out of control as John juggles outrageously with the truth.
Show Dates: Sept. 6, 7, 13, 14 at 8 p.m. and Sept. 15 at 2:30 p.m.
Auditions: July 30 & 31 at 7 p.m.
“Deathtrap” by Ira Levin
Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds.
A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college — a thriller that Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway smash. Sidney’s plan, devised with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student for co-credit.
Or is it?
This show provides twists and turns of devilish cleverness and offers hilariously sudden shocks in such abundance that audiences will be spellbound until the last moment.
Show Dates: Oct. 18, 19, 25, 26 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 27 at 2:30 p.m.
Auditions: Sept. 10 & 11 at 7 p.m.
It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” adapted by Joe Landry
It’s a Wonderful Life is based on the story, “The Greatest Gift,” by Philip Van Doren Stern and is adapted by Joe Landry.
This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast.
With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve.
Show Dates: Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 15 at 2:30 p.m.
Auditions: Oct. 1 & 2 at 7 p.m.
“Said the Spider to the Spy” by Fred Carmichael
Augusta Waycross borrows the identity and the Florida beach home of her friend, a best-selling romance author, touching off one of the funniest mistaken identities comedies ever written.
A cache of Colombian heroin is left in the house by missing guest, attracting various characters to the location.
Show Dates: Feb. 28, March 1, 7, 8 at 8 p.m. and March 9 at 2:30 p.m.
Auditions: Jan. 21 & 22 at 7 p.m.
“Who’s on First?” by Jack Sharkey
Take a husband, wife, lover and friend, add a strange lamp, a gun and a rubber chicken plus a party that begins at 8 p.m., then again at 8 p.m. and then again at 8 p.m. and you have this nightmare comedy.
Four people find themselves reliving one horrible hour over and over as themselves, as Japanese, as British aristocrats, as gangsters, and almost anything else you can think of.
Camille is giving the party. Don shows up in a jealous funk about his wife, Alice, whom he suspects of seeing another man.
When Alice and Ben have arrived, it turns out their relationship is innocent. But by the time Don realizes this, he has already shot Ben, Alice and even Camille.
Camille wishes that things might have turned out differently and that is what happens.
All concerned find themselves back at the party’s beginning again and again doomed to live that same hour over and over again until they get it right.
Is it all an accident?
Or is their dilemma part of someone’s fiendish plan? A labyrinth of hilarity exits to a shocker of an ending.
Show Dates: April 18, 19, 25, 26 at 8 p.m. and April 27 at 2:30 p.m.
Auditions: March 4 & 5 at 7 p.m.
2ND STAGE SHOWS
“Wonderland Wives” by Buddy Thomas
(Note: Wonderland Wives is intended for mature audiences with very immature tastes.)
Cinderella’s Prince Charming is serving 10 years in the pen. Belle’s house is overrun with little monsters.
Alice has been hitting the caterpillar’s pipe a little too hard lately. And Snow White’s husband has shacked up with the three little pigs.
Now she’s keeping up appearances as the fairest in the land with the help of a little girdle and a lot of hair dye, and trying to keep Belle from draining the royal booze reserves and Cindy from inhaling the banquet table.
Show Dates: Nov. 15, 16, 22, 23 at 8 p.m.
Auditions: Oct.1 & 2 at 7 p.m.
“Squirrel Lake” by Brian Mitchell
In a place called Squirrel Lake, you’re bound to meet a nut or two!
Phil, Sally, and Patrick gather at their family’s summer home on the shores of Squirrel Lake, Wisc., to read their recently deceased mother’s will.
A cast of characters, including a nun (or is she?) and her insane brother, a psychic, supposedly sent by Mom from the great beyond, and their own out-of-control children add madness to mayhem as they try to get everything sorted out.
In the end, Squirrel Lake proves that even the unlucky in life can find happiness and contentment if they simply look for the gifts given to them.
Show Dates: May 9, 10, 16, 17 at 8 p.m.
Auditions: March 18 & 19 at 7 p.m.
YOUTH THEATRE
“Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.”
Music & Lyrics by Danny Elfman, Sammy Fain, Bob Hilliard, Oliver Wallace, Cy Coben, Michael Abbott, Sarah Weeks, Mack David, Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston
The musical is based on the 1951 Disney film, “Alice in Wonderland” and the novels, “The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass” by Lewis Carroll.
When young Alice finds herself in a strange world where everything seems upside down, she must find her way home … and find herself along the way.
As she travels through Wonderland, she encounters all of the iconic characters that audiences have come to love: including the ever-tardy White Rabbit, the grinning Cheshire Cat, a cool Caterpillar, the wacky Mad Hatter, and the hot-tempered Queen of Hearts.
“Alice in Wonderland JR.” features Disney favorites such as “The Golden Afternoon,” “The Unbirthday Song,” and “Painting the Roses Red.”
Show Dates: Jan. 17, 18, 24, 25 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 26 at 2:30 p.m.
Auditions: Nov. 19 & 20 at 6 p.m.
“Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr.”
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater; music by Alan Menken; book by Doug Wright
Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard
Ashman and John Musker and written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements.
In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home — and her fins — behind and live in the world above.
But first, she’ll have to defy her father, King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she’s the girl whose enchanting voice he’s been seeking.
Show Dates: June 6, 7, 13, 14 at 7 p.m. and June 15 at 2:30 p.m.
Auditions: April 22 & 23 at 6 p.m.
