The Sharon Playhouse, in Connecticut’s Northwest Corner, proudly opens its 2026 MainStage Season with the beloved musical Swingtime Canteen, a rousing celebration of the songs, spirit, and resilience of World War II. Timed to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary and the Fourth of July holiday, this exhilarating production runs June 19 through July 5, with a special 4:00 PM performance on Independence Day. Filled with unforgettable music and all-American charm, Swingtime Canteen promises to be one of the summer’s most joyful theatrical events. Tickets are available at http://www.sharonplayhouse.org.
Created by Linda Thorsen Bond, William Repicci and Charles Busch, the production features a cavalcade of popular hit songs from the 1940’s and is directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Carl Andress (Annie, The Prom at the Playhouse), with choreography by Krystyna Resavy (Annie, The Prom at the Playhouse) and music direction by Eric Thomas Johnson (Playhouse season music director since 2024).
Swingtime Canteen is a joyful salute to the women who lifted soldiers’ spirits during World War II, featuring an extraordinary all-female cast of performers who sing, dance, act—and play the instruments too!
Audiences will be transported back to 1944 to join MGM star Marian Ames and her all-girl band for the rip-roaringest USO-style canteen show of them all. The glamorous movie legend has gathered her instrument-playing gal pals from the Hollywood Canteen and headed to London, the first stop on their tour of front-line bases, to entertain American troops stationed abroad. Joining her are Jo Sterling, her drum-playing Hollywood stand-in; her skittish niece Katie Gammersflugel; solid-as-a-rock, piano-playing riveter Topeka Abotelli; and leggy chorine Lilly McBain.
With more than 30 beloved songs from the war years, Swingtime Canteen promises an unforgettable evening of music, laughter, nostalgia, and heart. Laughs, tears, emotional fireworks, air raids, and a stirring celebration of courage and friendship are woven throughout this hilarious and heartwarming story.
Audiences will delight in timeless favorites including “Don’t Fence Me In,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “How High the Moon,” “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You,” “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,” “Sentimental Journey,” “Apple Blossom Time,” and a fast-paced, 14-song Andrews Sisters medley—plus many more unforgettable classics.
The cast features Margaret Dudasik (Roundabout Theatre Company’s Cabaret) in her Sharon Playhouse debut as MGM star Marian Ames; Michelle Lemon (Something Rotten! at Sharon Playhouse, My Fair Lady National Tour) as Lilly McBain, playing saxophone, guitar, and banjo; Sarah Beth Palmer (Sharon Playhouse debut, No More Dead Dogs at The Tank) as Jo Sterling, on drums; Claire Marie Spencer (Sharon Playhouse debut, My Fair Lady at Ivoryton Playhouse) as Topeka Abotelli, on piano; and Lucy Rhoades (Million Dollar Quartet at Sharon Playhouse, Mean Girls National Tour) as Katie Gammersflugel.
The company is rounded out by three talented musicians portraying members of the Women’s Army Corps: Mallory Kokus as Lt. Eleanor Fuchs, on clarinet and saxophone; Kim Bonsanti as Lt. Muriel Kravis, on trumpet and flugelhorn; and Lauren Seery as Lt. Jeannie Pielmeier, on bass.
“Swingtime Canteen is the perfect way to celebrate the start of summer and the spirit of America’s 250th anniversary,” said Sharon Playhouse Artistic Director Carl Andress. “It’s a joyous, exhilarating evening filled with great music, laughter, and heart, brought to life by an astonishing cast of women who sing, dance, act, and perform as their own swing band. I couldn’t be more excited to welcome audiences to the Sharon Playhouse for this warm and wonderful celebration of resilience, community, and the very best of the American spirit.”
Swingtime Canteen is produced by Phillips “Pete” Hathaway in association with Amy Danis.
The Swingtime Canteen design team includes Christopher Swader and Justin Swader (scenic design), Kathleen DeAngelis (costume design), Aidan English (lighting design), Graham Stone (sound design), and Bobbie Zlotnik (wig and makeup design). Casting is by Judy Bowman Casting, CSA. The production team is led by Izzy Dillon (technical director) and Perseis J. Grant (production manager). Kristine Schlachter (production stage manager) and Amelia Heastings (assistant stage manager) serve as the stage management team.
Next up is the ultimate Broadway fairy tale, 42nd Street (July 25–August 9), featuring music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. Set during the Great Depression, this dazzling tap-dancing spectacular celebrates dreams, determination, and the magic of show business, featuring beloved classics including “Lullaby of Broadway,” “We’re in the Money,” and “42nd Street.” Filled with unforgettable music and breathtaking choreography, this timeless musical reminds us that even in challenging times, Americans find ways to create joy.
The MainStage season concludes with the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away (September 11–27), with book, music, and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. One of the most acclaimed musicals of the 21st century, this inspiring true story follows 7,000 stranded airline passengers and the small Newfoundland town that welcomed them in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Funny, moving, and uplifting, Come From Away is a powerful celebration of kindness, generosity, and the strength of community.
The 2026 YouthStage season continues the Playhouse’s commitment to arts education and young artists with productions including Pooh’s Parade (June 27), Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical Jr. (July 10–11), Big Bad (July 18), Shrek The Musical KIDS (August 7–8), and the second annual Launchpad Company production, Zombie Prom (August 21–23). Together, these productions provide performance opportunities for young people of all ages while showcasing the creativity, talent, and enthusiasm of the next generation of theater artists.
Special events throughout the season include a one-night-only staged reading of the outrageous comedy The Divine Sister, written by and starring Charles Busch, on Friday, August 28, and the return of the sixth annual Writers Playground festival of ten-minute plays by local playwrights on Friday, September 4.
The 2026 season concludes in December with the 6th Annual Holiday YouthStage Production, a new adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland (December 11–20), adapted and directed by Andrus Nichols and Drew Ledbetter.
The Sharon Playhouse urges all ticket buyers to be cautious of third-party ticket sellers. The safest and only reliable source for tickets is at SharonPlayhouse.org. Tickets are $25–$55 for all performances and are now on sale.
The Sharon Playhouse is a professional, nonprofit theater producing high-quality performances with Broadway-caliber actors as well as talented local community members serving thousands of patrons annually. Its mission is to entertain the community of Northwest Connecticut and beyond, while also serving as a teaching theater to encourage aspiring actors and other theater artists of all ages to develop their craft.