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New Faces at Pen Players

Peninsula Players Theatre announces company members for its 80th season, running June 16 through Oct. 18. The mix of plays includes a world premiere comedy, a classic thriller, a madcap comedy, a sweet and prickly Irish love story and a nun habit-forming musical comedy.

The season and casts were selected by the Players’ Artistic Director Greg Vinkler who returns to Peninsula Players for his 27th season. He says, “The 2015 company includes the welcome return of familiar faces as well as fresh talent new to Players audiences…a great mix of talent for a great mix of shows.”

Jay Whittaker

The world premiere A Real Lulu by Paul Slade Smith opens the season June 16. “Ned Newley is the Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. He’s an honest guy, loves his job and does it really well, but he knows nothing about media relations and has as much personality as a potted houseplant. Unfortunately (and unexpectedly), he just became the Governor of Vermont. Enter a high-profile political adviser, a professional pollster and an amazingly inept assistant to try to get Ned ready for prime time.”

Tom Mula will direct with cast members Vinkler, Brad Armacost, Linda Fortunato, Sean Fortunato, Neil Friedman, Erin Noel Grennan and Katherine Keberlein.

The Players’ second offering is Frederick Knott’s classic thriller, Dial M for Murder from July 8 – 26. Set in 1950s London, this mesmerizing thriller is laced with passion and betrayal and features Players Friedman, Keberlein, Matt Holzfeind, Tim Monsion and Jay Whittaker, directed by Joe Foust.

Ken Ludwig’s hysterically funny, door-slamming comedy Lend Me a Tenor is featured from July 29 – Aug. 16. Mayhem ensues when opera sensation Tito Merelli inadvertently passes out on opening night and the panic-stricken general manager pushes his hapless assistant Max, an aspiring singer, into Otello’s costume. The cast features Sean Fortunato, Foust, Holzfeind, Keberlein, Monsion, Peggy Roeder, Maggie Kettering and Ashley Lanyon. Linda Fortunato directs this fast-paced comedy.

Outside Mullingar, a sweet and prickly Irish love story by John Patrick Shanley, makes its Wisconsin premiere at the Players from Aug. 19 through Sept. 6. Anthony, a 42-year-old introverted farmer, and Rosemary, 36, the very plucky heroine who runs the farm next door, should be together, but family eccentricities, and a land feud get in the way.”

Vinkler directs a cast that includes Whittaker, Kettering, Roeder and William J. Norris.

Closing the Players 80th season is Nunsense, a frolicksome, habit-forming musical comedy with book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin, performing Sept. 9 through Oct. 18. The zany Little Sisters of Hoboken are under the direction of Karen Sheridan, who directs a cast including Lanyon, Christine Mild, Cassie Slater, Liz Pazik and Stephanie Wahl.

The Peninsula Players perform Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 7:30 pm in the summer. With the opening of the fall show Sept. 9 curtain times switch to Tuesday through Sunday at 7 pm. The closing performance of each show will have a 4 pm matinee, July 5, July 26, Aug. 16, Sept. 6 and additional matinees for Nunsense, Sept. 20, 27 and Oct. 18.

Discount tickets are available for season ticket holders and groups. Individual tickets, ranging from $36 – $45, are also available. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 920.868.3287 or visit peninsulaplayers.com.