(Dorset, VT – March 30, 2026) Dorset Theatre Festival has announced that film, television, and stage stars Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro have joined the cast of the upcoming New England premiere of Advice by Brent Askari, part of Dorset’s 49th Main Stage Summer Season playing July 31-August 15, 2026.
Additionally, the Festival has announced that Broadway star Desi Oakley will headline the annual fundraising gala, the fifth annual Dance Party Ball, to be held at the Old Gray Barn on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Lowes and Shapiro will also be special guests at the event, along with other guests of honor and artists involved in the 2026 season.
The previously announced season also includes Deceived, a chilling new adaptation of the classic thriller Gaslight, by Johnna Wright & Patty Jamieson (June 19 – July 4); The Understudy by Theresa Rebeck (July 10 – July 18); and Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan (August 21 – September 5). All performances will take place at the historic Dorset Playhouse.
About the Stars of Advice
Katie Lowes (Joy) is best known for playing Quinn Perkins on ABC’s Scandal, Rachel on Netflix’s Inventing Anna, and Jill on The Hunting Wives. She’s appeared in shows including Grey’s Anatomy and Law & Order, as well as in films including Transformers 2, Super 8, Wreck It Ralph, and Zootopia. Katie made her Broadway debut opposite her husband as Dawn in Waitress. Adam Shapiro (Gary) is recognized for roles in The Bear, Never Have I Ever, The Lincoln Lawyer, Grace & Frankie, Scandal, and Grey’s Anatomy, as well as stage performances and films including Mank and Steve Jobs. Together, married couple Lowes and Shapiro bring real-life chemistry and comic precision to this explosive dinner party comedy.
The Dance Party Ball
Broadway’s Desi Oakley will headline this year’s Dance Party Ball, the Festival’s signature fundraising gala hosted for a second year at the Old Gray Barn. Oakley is best known for her leading roles on Broadway and in National Tours, including starring as Jenna in Waitress, Roxie Hart in Chicago, and appearing in Les Misérables, Wicked, and Annie.
The event is billed as a night to get dressed up and party with friends, dance the night away, and help keep the tradition of professional theatre alive in Southern Vermont by supporting Dorset Theatre Festival. Admission to the event includes an open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, delicious yet casual dining, a full bar, unique prizes, bespoke auction items, and dancing (only if you want). Reserved premium tables and single tickets are available for purchase. The event will also feature a DJ, photobooth, and acclaimed auctioneer, Chris Ward, who will auction off once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
“Desi Oakley is the perfect vibe for this really fun event, and having a talent like hers perform at our gala makes the whole season feel extra special,” said Will Rucker, Dorset’s executive artistic director.
About the Play
This new pointed comedy recently completed its National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere and now makes its New England debut at Dorset.
Ron and Joy’s anniversary dinner implodes when Gary—recently divorced, chronically chaotic, and newly self-declared life coach—arrives with a surprise: a self-help book he’s written called How To Maximize The Most Successful You. The catch? His life is a mess. As they try to stop him from quitting his job, wine flows, “team-building” begins, and brutal truths spill. Brent Askari’s sharp, fast-paced comedy skewers marriage, friendship, and the danger of asking the wrong question at exactly the right time.
Playwright Brent Askari’s work has been developed at leading theaters across the country. A former member of HBO’s New Writers Project and an Associate Artist at Portland Stage Company, Askari has established himself as a prominent voice in contemporary American theater. He is best known for his play Andy Warhol in Iran, which won the Berkshire Theatre Critics Award for Best New Play. His other acclaimed works include The Refugees (winner of the NNPN Smith Prize for Political Theater) and American Underground. Beyond the stage, Askari is an ensemble member of Mad Horse Theatre Company and has written for major studios including Paramount Pictures and Marvel Films.
Directed by seven-time Festival director, Adrienne Campbell-Holt, whose previous Dorset World Premieres, Downstairs (2017) by Theresa Rebeck starring Tim and Tyne Daly, and Still (2023) by Lia Romeo starring Tim Daly and Jayne Atkinson, went on to acclaimed Off-Broadway productions in NYC.
“I’m so excited for Katie and Adam to bring their unmatched chemistry and comedic timing to this community that they already love,” said Will Rucker, Dorset Theatre Festival’s executive artistic director.
Subscription sales for the 2026 season are on sale now. Single tickets will be available April 15, 2026. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
About Dorset Theatre Festival
Now in its 49th year, Dorset Theatre Festival produces a professional Main Stage season at the historic Dorset Playhouse in Dorset, VT, highlighting both new plays and classic works. Enlightening, entertaining, and inspiring audiences since 1976, the Festival’s annual celebration of great plays runs June through September and features top theater-makers from around the country.
Increasingly known for producing high quality world and regional premieres, the Boston Globe dubbed the Festival, “Just north of the Berkshires, a new destination for playwrights” (2017). In addition to Main Stage productions of new plays, the Festival’s new play development programs showcase works-in-progress and provide Southern Vermont audiences with an opportunity to play a key role in the evolution of new plays in consideration for future productions at the Festival and beyond.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT
WWW.DORSETTHEATREFESTIVAL.ORG