The Colonial Players of Annapolis, Maryland, launch their seven-show Season 73 with Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists, directed by Jennifer Cooper. The Revolutionists takes place in Paris at the height of the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.
It’s 1793, and time to meet four beautiful, badass women: former queen Marie Antoinette, assassin Charlotte Corday, playwright Olympe de Gouges, and Caribbean spy Marianne Angelle. This grand and dream-tweaked comedy is about violence and legacy, art and activism, feminism and terrorism, and compatriots and chosen sisters. The jury’s still out on who really runs the world, but these four ladies sure as hell changed it.
The Revolutionists will run September 10 – October 2, 2021, Thursdays through Sundays, at Colonial Players’ historic theater-in-the-round in the heart of downtown Annapolis, 108 East Street Annapolis, MD. Tickets are $23 for adults; $18 for seniors 65 and older, full-time students with ID, and active military with ID. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Box Office at 410-268-7373 and selecting option 2. Season Subscriptions and Flex Tickets are also available for a limited time.
The Revolutionists will be live-streamed through Broadway OnDemand. Tickets are not yet available, but more information will be shared soon.
Colonial Players 2021–2022 Season
Colonial Players’ Season 73 — Voyages of Discovery — will traverse the globe, exploring locales across North America, Europe and beyond, discovering along the way stories of revolution, redemption, and revelation. Join us on our journeys through time and space, and a season you won’t want to miss.
By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
Written by Lynn Nottage
Directed by Eleanore Tapscott
Performance Dates: October 22 – November 13, 2021
Our second show of the season takes us to the Golden Age of Hollywood and shines the spotlight on Vera Stark, a headstrong African American maid and aspiring starlet. Vera’s life is transformed when she’s cast in a trailblazing role… in a movie starring her boss. Decades later scholars and historians grapple with Vera’s legacy in Hollywood and the impact race had on her controversial career. This spritely, sly satire is a journey through Vera’s 70-year life and a sharp take on race and culture — both in the past and today.
A Christmas Carol
Play and Lyrics by Richard Wade
Music by Richard Gessner
Directed by Sarah Wade
December 2 – 12, 2021
From sunny California we venture to a cold December in London, where we witness Ebenezer Scrooge’s realization of the true meaning of Christmas. Colonial Players is delighted to bring this Dickens classic back to the stage. Written for the Players in 1981 by Richard Wade and Dick Gessner, this year’s production will be directed by Richard’s daughter, Sarah, who has grown up with this phenomenally popular gift to the community.
Written by Ron Paolillo
Directed by Joe Thompson
January 14 – February 5, 2022
From London we head north to Scotland and meet the man behind Peter Pan. This heartwarming, fictionalized story follows author James Barrie and the forces that drove the creation of his many beloved characters. Haunted by the tragic loss of his older brother, James slowly begins to confront his family’s tragic past through storytelling, an unexpected friendship, and the dream of finding Neverland.
Written by John Pielmeier
Directed by Jeff Sprague
February 25 – March 19, 2022
Our next venture takes us on an exploration of faith and memory. Court-appointed psychiatrist Martha Livingstone is tasked with assessing the sanity of a novice accused of murdering her newborn. Livingstone’s suspicions deepen as the mother superior keeps the young nun from the doctor. Who killed the infant, and who fathered the tiny victim? The doctor’s questions force all three women to re-examine the meaning of faith and the power of love, leading to a dramatic, compelling climax.
Freaky Friday
Written by Bridget Carpenter
Music and Lyrics by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey
Directed by Ron Giddings and Kaitlin Fish
April 8 – May 8, 2022
Time to liven things up! When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again. By spending a day in each other’s shoes, Katherine and Ellie come to appreciate one another’s struggles, learn self-acceptance, and realize the immeasurable love and mutual respect that bond a mother and daughter. This joyous Disney musical version of Mary Rodgers’s beloved book is heartfelt, comedic, and unexpectedly emotional.
Based on the book by Mark Haddon
Directed by Eric Lund
June 3 – 25, 2022
For our final destination of the season, we head back to England and meet 15-year-old Christopher. He is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever. Christopher’s story examines what it truly means to love, and the sacrifices it often takes to do so.
Safety Procedures
The Colonial Players requires masks to be properly worn by everyone in all of its facilities at all times, regardless of vaccination status. Patrons who do not wish to wear a mask to attend a performance in person have the option of enjoying a live stream of The Revolutionists from the comfort of home.
The Colonial Players has instituted a variety of enhanced sanitation procedures, including upgraded HVAC systems and frequent sanitization of high-touch surfaces and other areas. Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout the lobby area.
About the Colonial Players: Entertaining, educating, and enriching the community since 1949, the Colonial Players is a welcoming venue to all members of our community. Set in the heart of historic Annapolis, our theater-in-the-round is a must-see destination for all theater lovers.
