Connecticut's Sharon Playhouse Announces 25th-Anniversary Season Lineup

Sharon Playhouse, located in Sharon, Connecticut, has announced the six productions that will make up its 25th-anniversary season.

The Tony-winning musical Les Misérables, based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, will open the season, running from June 18-29 on the Mainstage. Featuring music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, and a book by Schönberg and Alain Boubil, Artistic Director John Simpkins will helm the production, with choreography by Nathaniel Shaw and music direction by Eric Kang.

The 1992 musical Falsettos will be next on the Mainstage, running from July 10-20. Set against the backdrop of the beginning of the AIDS crisis, Falsettos tells the story of Marvin, who leaves his wife and son to live with another man, after which, his ex-wife marries his psychiatrist. The nontraditional family later reunites for his son's bar mitzvah. The musical features a Tony-winning score by William Finn and a Tony-winning book by Finn and James Lapine. John Simpkins will direct, with choreography by Lee Wilkens and music direction by Joshua Zecher-Ross.

Disney's The Little Mermaid will be the final Mainstage production of the season, running from August 13-24. Originally adapted from the 1989 animated film, the production includes hit songs such as "Part of Your World," "She's in Love," and the Oscar-winning "Under the Sea," featuring music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a book by Doug Wright. Jennifer Werner will direct and choreograph, with music direction by Eric Kang.

Tuesdays With Morrie will come to Sharon Playhouse's Stage 2 from July 3-6. Based on the best-selling memoir by Mitch Albom and adapted by Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher, the play follows Albom as he makes weekly visits to his former college professor, who is battling Lou Gehrig's disease.

Nine Wives will follow on Stage 2, with a run from July 24-27. Featuring music and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen and a book and lyrics by Dan Elish, the new musical is based on the novel of the same name by Dan Elish. It follows Henry Mann, a 32-year-old bachelor who has been invited to the love of his life's wedding to another man. He thus begins a frantic search for a date to bring in order to prove to his ex that he has moved on.

Sharon Playhouse's annual Youth Theatre production will be the Tony-winning rock musical Spring Awakening, featuring music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater. Based on Frank Wedekind's 1891 play about the exhilaration of the teen years, the musical adaptation follows a group of teenagers in 19th century Germany as they take steps toward adulthood. Direction and musical direction will be by Jason Brantman and Fiona Santos.