ALBANY – Harbinger Theatre closes its third season with “Into the Breeches!” by George Brant, directed by Lauren D’Annibale at The Albany Barn. This will be the Harbinger debut of seven new actors and the director’s first time directing. Our play about women taking a position of power for the first time, opens two days after the United States presidential election where Kamala Harris looks to do the same thing.
Patrick White, co-founder of Harbinger Theatre, said, “We pursued the rights for this play for over two years and not to get to woo woo about it, but the story about a woman who takes charge of a community of enthusiastic, heretofore disenfranchised citizens and leads them to an unqualified triumph could not have been timed more exquisitely than by God herself.”
Set in 1942 during World War II, the men of the local theater troupe are off fighting in the war, and the women left behind are determined to keep the theater alive. Led by Maggie Dalton, the determined director, they plan to stage an all-female production of Shakespeare’s Henry V. The play highlights themes of gender roles, community, and the power of art to bring people together during difficult times. Through humor and emotion, “Into the Breeches!” showcases the resilience of women as they step into roles they never expected, both on and off the stage. The playwright encourages companies producing the play to add local references so there will be fun shout-outs to the Watervliet Armory and Steamer No10
“I’ve been a part of theatre in some way shape or form for the better part of the last decade. I love theatre, I love the stories we tell, the lives we get to explore and the magic we make together within this wonderful, colorful community,” said D’Annibale. To work on a show full of such life and love for that magic is something I hold very near and dear to my heart. I see a lot of similarities with Maggie, first time directing a show on this scale, and it really is an honor to get to help bring that story to life.”
“It’s a hilarious and heartwarming story about a group of women actors looking to keep their Boston theater alive while the men are overseas during World War II. These women are aiming to break a notable glass ceiling: Mount the first all-female production of Shakespeare’s “Henry V.” It’s a story about community, perseverance and gender equality all wrapped up in a hilarious love letter to the theater,” said Kana Ruhalter and Arun Rath from GBH.
Our cast will feature: Josephine E. Tracey as “Maggie”, Laura Darling as “Celeste”, Richard Cross as “Ellsworth Snow”, Jackie DeGiorgis as “Winnifred Snow”, Monet Thompson-Young as “Ida”, Crue Steele as “Stuart”, Molly Waters as “Grace”, and Madeline Brogan as “June”.
A FREE preview will be held on Wednesday, November 6 at 7:30 p.m. Performances will be held on November 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 at 7:30 p.m. A talkback with the director and cast to follow after the Friday performances on 11/8 and 11/15 with a Shattered Glass Ceiling Reception on 11/9.
The Albany Barn is located at 56 2nd St, Albany, NY. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased on Harbinger’s Eventbrite here.
$50 Flex Subscriptions for 4 tickets are available by emailing harbingertheatrealbany@gmail.com or making a Venmo payment to @HarbingerTheatre.
The Flex Subscription can be used interchangeably, as you have the choice to use them all for a party to experience a single show or indulge in four plays you’ve never witnessed before!
Harbinger is very involved with building the Capital Region Festival of Theatre which is holding a Cast Party benefit at Cohoes Music Hall 10/27. More info & tickets at