SHERMAN, Conn.—The Sherman Playhouse is celebrating its centennial year in 2026 and has announced a jam-packed schedule.
The season opens Thursday, April 9, with a production of “Laughter on the 23rd Floor,” directed by Dan Friedman, which will runs until Thursday, April 26. It will be followed by “Bye Bye Birdie” (Thursday, June 4, through Sunday, June 28), directed by Robin Frome with music direction by Bob Keck.
“Restored to Reason,” directed by Jane Farnol, is scheduled for two weekends, Friday, July 17, through Sunday, July 26, and “Inherit the Wind,” directed by Gus Bottazzi will be produced Thursday, Sept. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 4. “An American Christmas Carol,” again directed by Jane Farnol, is slated for Thursday, Dec. 3, through Sunday, Dec. 20.
In addition to these productions, the Sherman Players are planning more Cold Lemonade—free open-call workshops for new plays—staged readings, Playhouse Karaoke, and a Five-Minute Theatre. Members are also working on a film series.
There will be a special fundraiser in August, and an October Gala to celebrate the centennial.
The Sherman Playhouse has been located in a former church at 5 Route 39 North, since the building—which had fallen into repair and was by then owned by the town—was rescued by Alice and Walter Evans in 1924.
Alice envisioned the building for an entirely new purpose. Their daughter, Marianne Evans, a drama and dance student in New York City, had not been happy about the move to Sherman so finding Marianne a place to practice her drama and dance became a high priority for the family.
With the town’s blessing, Walter Evans financed the materials, and the Evans family and their friends and neighbors transformed the dilapidated building into a theater.
The Sherman Players were incorporated in the summer of 1949. Except for a few “dark years” during World War II, the Playhouse has flourished and seen a steady stream of plays, workshops, films, travelogues and concerts, which have entertained the town of Sherman and the community at large since 1926.
Season tickets are on sale can be obtained here.
