Penfold Theatre Company Announces the 2024-25 Season

The 17th Season & the first in Penfold’s new permanent Round Rock home

AUSTIN, TX – Penfold Theatre Company (Penfold) announces titles and dates for the 2024-25 Season. Season 17 will bring four mainstage productions, all at Penfold’s new Round Rock home, located in the Rock Creek Plaza bordered by I-35 and North Mays Street.

”Moving into a new neighborhood has us thinking about what it means to be a good neighbor,” said Producing Artistic Director Ryan Crowder. “You’ll see that reflected throughout the season, from an exploration into the legacy of “Mr. Rogers;” to stories like It’s a Wonderful Life and Ordinary Days where community becomes the pathway to joy and meaning, to the world premiere of Anton Chekhov is a Tasty Snack, which turns the lens inward on our theatre community – allowing us to laugh at ourselves while celebrating what makes this art form truly magical.”

Planting its roots, Penfold will bring theatre to Central Texans telling intimate stories that nurture empathy and inspire hope through vivid acting, language and imagination.

MAINSTAGE SERIES

Based on the best-selling book, this play chronicles the extraordinary bond between Tim Madigan, a Texas newspaper writer, and Fred Rogers, the iconic TV host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” As Fred gently urges Tim to share his deepest truths, their unlikely friendship blossoms, offering a profound support through life’s trials. From reconciling family rifts to navigating illness, I’m Proud of You paints a poignant picture of the transformative power of genuine connection and the enduring legacy of Fred Rogers’ boundless compassion.

You loved the “It’s A Wonderful Life” radiocasts. Now get ready for a full-scale production! This imaginative take on a beloved classic honors Penfold’s tradition of holiday radiocasts while ushering in an exciting new chapter in their new home. Re-adapted by Penfold co-founder Nathan Jerkins, this fully staged performance features George Bailey, Clarence the Angel, and all your favorite characters, brought to life by a small, virtuosic ensemble of actors. Brimming with Christmas warmth, this tale of despair, redemption and hope is the perfect way to celebrate the season with family and friends.

From one of musical theatre’s most exciting new composers comes Ordinary Days, a refreshingly frank and funny musical about forging real connections in the city that never sleeps. Follow four young New Yorkers searching for fulfillment, happiness, love, and taxicabs. With a vibrant score, their stories capture the essence of finding simple joys in the complex world. This uplifting musical comedy balances humor and poignancy, celebrating the beautiful urban tapestry people call home.

The world premiere of Anton Chekhov is a Tasty Snack, a new play commissioned from the acclaimed Austin playwright Jenny Connell Davis. In this fast-and-loose adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, a small yet ambitious Texas theatre company is determined to stage the most impressive production of this classic play the town has ever seen. However, as rehearsals drag on for months, the boundary between art and life blurs, and the cast finds themselves descending into chaos, mirroring the play’s own themes of passion and folly.

This hilarious new comedy captures the absurdity and challenges of making theater, showcasing Davis’s sharp wit and keen understanding of the human condition. Known for her work as the in-house writer for the Emmy Award-winning Baobab Studios, Davis has screenplays in development with Fox/Disney, Amazon Studios, Sony, and more. Her award-winning plays have been produced nationwide, solidifying her reputation as a significant voice in contemporary American theatre.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Grand Opening Celebration
A Fundraising Gala
September 28, 2024

An unforgettable evening celebrating the grand opening of Penfold Theatre’s new home! Guests will get an exclusive first-look at Round Rock’s new performing arts venue while enjoying elegant hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants, signature cocktails, interactive games, and a champagne toast! Honoring those who made this step possible alongside an exciting preview of what comes next, attendees will not only take part in a historic moment in the life of the community, they make the future possible as all proceeds directly support a cascade of new performances and educational offerings in the coming year.

Your Old Fashioned Die Hard Holiday Radiocast
Adapted by Nathan Jerkins
December 20 – 22, 2024

After years of sincere retellings of beloved, nostalgia-soaked Christmas stories, Penfold’s fictional 1940s radio casters invite you to an “after dark” version of Die Hard, reimagined as the irreverent, “Prairie Home Companion” Christmas Special that never should have existed. Back by popular demand and for one weekend only, don’t miss a night of irreverent holiday fun. Because some nights Christmas just isn’t Christmas until Bruce Willis drops Alan Rickman off a California skyscraper!

Membership and Ticketing Information:

Information about productions and season memberships is available at: penfoldtheatre.org/on-stage/2024-25-season/

2024-25 Season Memberships are available now. Membership is the best way to receive priority seating, flexibility in scheduling, discounts on additional seats, no fees and more all while supporting the arts and Penfold’s many programs.

Memberships start at $99 and are available HERE; benefits include:

• 1 ticket to each of the four 2024-25 Mainstage Season shows to include: I’m Proud of You, It’s a Wonderful Life, Ordinary Days, and Anton Chekhov is a Tasty Snack
• 15% Discount Compared to Single Ticket General Admission
• Reserved Seating
• Complimentary Access to First Saturday Soirees
• Discounts on Additional Tickets to Mainstage Shows
• Discounts on other Penfold Productions and Events, including Your Old Fashioned Die Hard Holiday Radiocast
• No Exchange Fees

Single tickets on sale will be announced at a later date.

About Penfold Theatre Company

After 16 award-winning seasons serving Central Texas, Penfold Theatre Company will open Round Rock’s first professional theatre venue in the fall of 2024. From this new home, Penfold will tell intimate stories of empathy and hope; curate performances by premier local artists; and nurture theatre-makers of today and tomorrow.

Through a range of programs for all ages, Penfold builds community by making a cultural gathering place where we celebrate our diversity and imagine our future together; builds our cultural sector by developing local performing artists through high professional standards, education, mentorship and opportunity; and builds connection through transportive stories that rekindle a sense of shared humanity, empathy and hope. For more information, visit penfoldtheatre.org.

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