Franklin Stage Company Announces 27th Summer Season

The Franklin Stage Company, Delaware County's renowned classical summer theater, has announced their 27th season, from June 30th through August 20. "We're thrilled to bring this fantastic season of performance to the Western Catskills" said Patricia Buckley, Artistic Director. "We've got some returning favorites and some completely new and exciting programming."

The season opens with David Lindsay-Abaire's comedy Good People, a funny and powerful play about trying to make the American dream a reality. "It's a tale about scrappy characters trying to get out of difficult circumstances, and the results can be very funny," said Buckley, "but it's also a heartfelt story of the little guy." Good People runs June 30--July 16 with 5 shows per week. Then on July 21-23, FSC presents A Palo Seco Flamenco Dance Company, directed by Rebeca Tomás. "People loved Rebeca's work last year with Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana," said Buckley, "and when we found out she had her own company performing modern, contemporary flamenco, we just knew we had to get her back." Founded in 2010, A Palo Seco has been described as employing "lightning fast footwork" and has performed throughout the US at such prestigious venues as Jacob's Pillow. The next weekend, July 28-30, FSC will feature a return engagement of Julian Fleisher and Band. Fleisher, an FSC audience favorite, brings his 4-piece band who perform both original tunes and classics from the Great American Songbook.

FSC's final production of the season is a world premiere play by Kyle Bass, which FSC commissioned in 2022. Set at the start of the American Civil War, Toliver and Wakeman dramatizes the experiences of two actual historic characters who lived locally. Toliver Holmes was a young black man born into slavery in Virginia who escaped to New York, changed his name to avoid capture, and mustered into the Union Army's 26th Regiment of Colored Troops (NY), later settling in Delhi, NY. He is also the playwright's great-great grandfather. Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, a young woman born in Bainbridge, New York, disguised herself as a man and mustered into the Union Army-the 153rd New York State Volunteers-using the alias Lyons Wakeman.

Franklin Stage Company's 27th season runs from June 30 through August 20 at Chapel Hall, 25 Institute Street in Franklin, NY. Please note all evening shows have a curtain time of 7:30 pm. Sunday shows are at 5:00 pm. Good People and Toliver and Wakeman will also have 3:00 pm Saturday matinees. General Seating. Admission is free-suggested donation is $25 per person. Audiences are not required, but always encouraged, to wear masks. Any updates to FSC Covid policy can be found on their website.

For reservations, visit www.franklinstagecompany.org or call 607-829-3700. Programming at the Franklin Stage Company is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

Photo Credit: Maly Blomberg

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