Festival 56 season

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PRINCETON — Season six of the acclaimed Festival 56 opened June 26 to begin a run of seven musicals and plays during the summer.

The actors, artists, musicians, designers and members of theatrical trades have arrived and begun their preparation work as Princeton once again welcomes this group of talented and dedicated individuals from all over the country into their hearts and homes. The main venue, the Grace Performing Arts Center, has undergone a renovation of the lobby and bar area and is ready to greet its patrons. Dexter Brigham, the Festival 56 Executive Artistic Director says “the cast and crew are hard at work and we are looking forward to another exciting season in Princeton.”

This year’s summer season is comprised of seven musicals and plays:

Who’s on First?

Four people find themselves reliving one crazy diner party over and over as themselves, as British aristocrats, as gangsters, and as almost anything else you can think of. This fast paced, clever, family fare will leave you rolling in the aisles. June 26-July 2 at Grace Performing Arts Center

Henry IV: The Legend of Bolingbroke

Shakespeare’s epic retelling of the reign of Henry Bolingbroke and rise of his son Hal from reckless youth to the English throne as Henry IV. This tale includes vivid characters and the ferocious battle of Shrewsbury. July 5-Aug. 5 at Soldiers and Sailors Park. Admission is free.

The Wizard of Oz

Hang onto your seats with the newly reimagined production of an American classic. Join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto as they travel the universe of Dorothy’s imagination, singing songs everyone knows by heart. July 7-18 at Grace Performing Arts Center

Steel Magnolias

This heart-wrenching comedy-drama follows the lives and friendships of six colorful and dynamic southern women of different ages and lifestyles who all frequent the same beauty parlor. July 10-17 at PHS Council Auditorium

The Laramie Project

This play reflects a small rural community’s struggle to understand an act of violence committed within it after the brutal murder of a college student makes national headlines. July 21-25 at Grace Performing Arts Center.

Run for Your Wife

A London cab driver has two wives, two lives, and a very precise schedule for juggling them both. In the great tradition of British farces, mayhem and madness are woven together with slamming doors and mistaken identities to create nonstop hilarity. July 24-30 at PHS Council Auditorium

The Sound of Music

The young governess to seven children of a widowed naval captain captures his heart and they marry. The family’s narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland provides one of the most thrilling and inspirational finales ever presented in theatre. July 31-Aug. 9 at Grace Performing Arts Center

To purchase tickets or learn more about this season, stop by the Festival Box Office at 316 S. Main St., Princeton, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call (815) 879-5656 or toll free (866) 806-5656.