Gaslight is celebrating our 15th anniversary this September, and what better way to do so than with Shakespeare! Gaslight is proud to present our 2018-19 season THE YEAR OF THE ‘SPEARE: a year-long celebration of the Bard laced with original concepts and titles! Full show descriptions and information can be found below! Please note that some dates are subject to change and more events will be added, so we strongly encourage you to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or subscribe to our mailing list below to stay up to date on auditions, performances, and other events! Tickets for all six mainstage productions will go on sale in August and can be purchased online at www.ticketfly.com.
Playroom: Dining Room
Performances: August 17-19 & 24-26
Conceived seven years ago by Matthew S. Hinton, the Playroom series is a collection of one acts written by a group of commissioned playwrights based on a single set description, which changes each year (as do some of the playwrights). The result is an evening of short-form theatre that quickly ebbs and flows through sometimes thought provoking and laugh-out-loud moments. The series had its world premiere with Playroom: Kitchen and has since moved through the Bathroom, Attic, Master Bedroom, Garage, and Back Porch. Gaslight is proud to continue this tradition of supporting original work and the voices of the many talented playwrights in our region. This year, the Company moves to the Dining Room for six captivating stories written by some of the region’s most talented playwrights, including:
Horseplay by Dane Bower; directed by Jason Alfano
Foreign by Emily Halbing; directed by Mollie Dooley
Sisters by Rachel Strayer; directed by Andrew Martinez
Happy Enough by Michael Pavese; directed by Jon Vojkto
Dinner with Osmina by Matthew S Hinton; directed by Dave Reynolds
Counter Counter by B. Garett Rogan; directed by Dave Reynolds
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Performances: October 19-21 & 26-27
Auditions: August 20 & 21
One of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies is now adapted for younger audiences. Performed by a cast of adult actors, with children as assistant designers, A Midsummer Night’s Dream tells the classic story of Theseus and Hippolyta, the adventures of four young Athenian lovers, and a troupe of amateur actors who are all caught in the crossfire of the King and Queen of the fairies for youth audiences to have their first introduction to the Bard. Directed by Christina Reynolds.
KidScripts: Very, Merry, Happy, Holiday Tales
Performances: December 7-9 & 14-15
Gaslight sits down with kindergarten and first grade classes and asks them for their help crafting a series of holiday stories. Later, a company of adult playwrights and actors turn the stories into plays, which are staged live, prefaced by the classroom recordings. Directed by Dane Bower.
The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris
Performances: December 14-15
Written by David Sedaris and adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello, The Santaland Diaries is a brilliant evocation of what a slacker's Christmas must feel like. Out of work, our wonderfully snarky narrator takes a job as one of Santa’s elves at Macy’s for the Christmas season. As the season goes on hilarious accounts of the exploits of children, parents, and co-workers combine to make our narrator battle weary and bitter. In the end, the true magic of Christmas arrives in the form of a Santa that startles our narrator into an uncharacteristic moment of goodwill and holiday cheer. "A satirical brazenness that holds up next to Twain and Nathanael West." —The New Yorker. "The Santaland Diaries is quite possibly the thirty-one funniest pages of text published in the past quarter century…David Sedaris slays me." —Seattle Weekly. Gaslight is thrilled to announce that we’ve already found the perfect elf…our very own Tim McDermott. Join us for this limited two night only holiday treat.
shakesBEER’s Romeo + Juliet
Performances: March 1-3 & 8-10
Auditions: January 14 & 15
What happens when the Bard’s most famous tragedy meets a pint (or three) of ale? Inspired by other popular productions and the Comedy Central series Drunk History, Gaslight’s shakesBEER features a small cast of actors, one of which will consume extra libations at the top of the show, who drink and attempt to perform an abridged version of this classic tale of star-crossed lovers. Directed by Brandi George.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
Performances: June 14-16 & 21-23
Written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield (Reduced Shakespeare Company), Complete Works is a saucy, fast-paced play that parodies Shakespeare’s tragedies, comedies, and histories with comically-shortened pieces. By breaking the fourth wall, actors, director, crew, and audience become one for a side-splitting evening of madcap, improv-filled knavery. Gaslight is excited to revive their 2006 production with the original cast of Jason Alfano, Matthew Hinton, and Sean McKeown under the direction of Dave Reynolds. You’ve never seen Shakespeare done this quickly and this quirky.
Shakespeare on the River
Summer 2019
Due to the great success of the inaugural Shakespeare on the River's Taming of the Shrew presented by the Riverfront Parks Committee, Gaslight is thrilled to return to the River Common next summer! More details to come!
Trivia Nights
Aug. 11, Sept. 21, Oct. 12, Nov. 16, Jan. 11
Grab a group of up to 5 friends for Gaslight Trivia Night! Sometimes general bar trivia, other times themed (TV, the 90’s, Movies…), Trivia is a great excuse to get out the house, challenge your brain, and maybe take home the grand cash prize of $100! This event is BYOB. More dates may be added.
Readers Theatre
August 3, October 5, April 13
It is our belief that great theatre should be accessible and more frequently consumed, no matter the presentation. Gaslight's Readers Theatre series gives you the opportunity to experience outstanding plays that are not often produced due to their availability or production limitations and is an amazing resource for discovering celebrated, groundbreaking, and thought-provoking titles. With light guidance from one of our directors, both actors and volunteers alike are invited to read or listen in an informal setting. This series also encourages post-reading discussion about the play's themes, characters, or relevance to audience experiences. More dates may be added.
Bard Day
April 23
It is widely believed that Shakespeare was born and died on the same day: April 23. Naturally, we we will celebrate him reverently! More details to come!
Playroom: Dining Room
Performances: August 17-19 & 24-26
Conceived seven years ago by Matthew S. Hinton, the Playroom series is a collection of one acts written by a group of commissioned playwrights based on a single set description, which changes each year (as do some of the playwrights). The result is an evening of short-form theatre that quickly ebbs and flows through sometimes thought provoking and laugh-out-loud moments. The series had its world premiere with Playroom: Kitchen and has since moved through the Bathroom, Attic, Master Bedroom, Garage, and Back Porch. Gaslight is proud to continue this tradition of supporting original work and the voices of the many talented playwrights in our region. This year, the Company moves to the Dining Room for six captivating stories written by some of the region’s most talented playwrights, including:
Horseplay by Dane Bower; directed by Jason Alfano
Foreign by Emily Halbing; directed by Mollie Dooley
Sisters by Rachel Strayer; directed by Andrew Martinez
Happy Enough by Michael Pavese; directed by Jon Vojkto
Dinner with Osmina by Matthew S Hinton; directed by Dave Reynolds
Counter Counter by B. Garett Rogan; directed by Dave Reynolds
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Performances: October 19-21 & 26-27
Auditions: August 20 & 21
One of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies is now adapted for younger audiences. Performed by a cast of adult actors, with children as assistant designers, A Midsummer Night’s Dream tells the classic story of Theseus and Hippolyta, the adventures of four young Athenian lovers, and a troupe of amateur actors who are all caught in the crossfire of the King and Queen of the fairies for youth audiences to have their first introduction to the Bard. Directed by Christina Reynolds.
KidScripts: Very, Merry, Happy, Holiday Tales
Performances: December 7-9 & 14-15
Gaslight sits down with kindergarten and first grade classes and asks them for their help crafting a series of holiday stories. Later, a company of adult playwrights and actors turn the stories into plays, which are staged live, prefaced by the classroom recordings. Directed by Dane Bower.
The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris
Performances: December 14-15
Written by David Sedaris and adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello, The Santaland Diaries is a brilliant evocation of what a slacker's Christmas must feel like. Out of work, our wonderfully snarky narrator takes a job as one of Santa’s elves at Macy’s for the Christmas season. As the season goes on hilarious accounts of the exploits of children, parents, and co-workers combine to make our narrator battle weary and bitter. In the end, the true magic of Christmas arrives in the form of a Santa that startles our narrator into an uncharacteristic moment of goodwill and holiday cheer. "A satirical brazenness that holds up next to Twain and Nathanael West." —The New Yorker. "The Santaland Diaries is quite possibly the thirty-one funniest pages of text published in the past quarter century…David Sedaris slays me." —Seattle Weekly. Gaslight is thrilled to announce that we’ve already found the perfect elf…our very own Tim McDermott. Join us for this limited two night only holiday treat.
shakesBEER’s Romeo + Juliet
Performances: March 1-3 & 8-10
Auditions: January 14 & 15
What happens when the Bard’s most famous tragedy meets a pint (or three) of ale? Inspired by other popular productions and the Comedy Central series Drunk History, Gaslight’s shakesBEER features a small cast of actors, one of which will consume extra libations at the top of the show, who drink and attempt to perform an abridged version of this classic tale of star-crossed lovers. Directed by Brandi George.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
Performances: June 14-16 & 21-23
Written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield (Reduced Shakespeare Company), Complete Works is a saucy, fast-paced play that parodies Shakespeare’s tragedies, comedies, and histories with comically-shortened pieces. By breaking the fourth wall, actors, director, crew, and audience become one for a side-splitting evening of madcap, improv-filled knavery. Gaslight is excited to revive their 2006 production with the original cast of Jason Alfano, Matthew Hinton, and Sean McKeown under the direction of Dave Reynolds. You’ve never seen Shakespeare done this quickly and this quirky.
Shakespeare on the River
Summer 2019
Due to the great success of the inaugural Shakespeare on the River's Taming of the Shrew presented by the Riverfront Parks Committee, Gaslight is thrilled to return to the River Common next summer! More details to come!
Trivia Nights
Aug. 11, Sept. 21, Oct. 12, Nov. 16, Jan. 11
Grab a group of up to 5 friends for Gaslight Trivia Night! Sometimes general bar trivia, other times themed (TV, the 90’s, Movies…), Trivia is a great excuse to get out the house, challenge your brain, and maybe take home the grand cash prize of $100! This event is BYOB. More dates may be added.
Readers Theatre
August 3, October 5, April 13
It is our belief that great theatre should be accessible and more frequently consumed, no matter the presentation. Gaslight's Readers Theatre series gives you the opportunity to experience outstanding plays that are not often produced due to their availability or production limitations and is an amazing resource for discovering celebrated, groundbreaking, and thought-provoking titles. With light guidance from one of our directors, both actors and volunteers alike are invited to read or listen in an informal setting. This series also encourages post-reading discussion about the play's themes, characters, or relevance to audience experiences. More dates may be added.
Bard Day
April 23
It is widely believed that Shakespeare was born and died on the same day: April 23. Naturally, we we will celebrate him reverently! More details to come!
Gaslight Theatre Company is located here!
200 East End Centre • Heinz Drive • Wilkes-Barre Township
When entering East End Centre from Kidder Street (by Red Lobster), follow the road straight through the center of the parking lot towards Gabes. When you reach the building, Gaslight Theatre will be located just to the left (next to Suds Be Gone Laundromat).
When entering East End Centre from Mundy Street (by La Tolteca), follow the road into the shopping center and turn left at the stop sign. The Theatre will be located a few shops down (past Serpicos Pizza and the laundromat).
When entering East End Centre from Kidder Street (by Red Lobster), follow the road straight through the center of the parking lot towards Gabes. When you reach the building, Gaslight Theatre will be located just to the left (next to Suds Be Gone Laundromat).
When entering East End Centre from Mundy Street (by La Tolteca), follow the road into the shopping center and turn left at the stop sign. The Theatre will be located a few shops down (past Serpicos Pizza and the laundromat).