Spring has sprung and Pendragon Theatre of Saranac Lake has officially announced their summer line up of shows. This summer’s showcase offers a little something for everyone, including a new, dark play for mature audiences only, and a fun twist on a favorite children’s tale presented by Camp Pendragon. See below for details on the performances.
Circle Mirror Transformation, Obie Winner for Best New Play, runs June 21 thru 26, 2022
From Pulitzer Prize Winning Annie Baker comes a subtle, sincere, exquisitely written comedy, Circle Mirror Transformation. In Shirley, Vermont, Marty, an acting teacher, holds an “Adult Creative Drama” class at the local community center. The people who sign up for the class are Schultz, a recently divorced carpenter; Lauren, a reserved high school junior; Teresa, a former actress; and Marty’s husband James. Marty takes the “students” through various acting and dramatic exercises; they act like trees, beds and baseball gloves. In one exercise, they act as one another and tell their life stories. As a possible romance begins each of the group slowly reveal themselves. In a final exercise, Lauren imagines herself meeting Schultz in 10 years and they tell each other what has transpired.
Spelling Bee: A Hilarious, unique and heart-felt musical runs August 9 thru 21, 2022

An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter: one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box.Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, this musical has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius.

Since its creation, the United States National Park Service has been tasked with preserving, arguably, this country’s most stunning monuments to the “American Dream” – majestic swaths of untamed land, symbolizing the unbridled American spirit that forged a world power; a birthright theoretically available to all Americans, regardless of race; this land was made for you and me! However, dwindling Park attendance nationwide has sent the NPS scrambling to ensure its survival. The mission? To engage those they’ve traditionally left out of the narrative of the great outdoors — people of color. But how do you excite people—specifically Black people—about exploring, celebrating and (NPS hopes) eventually investing in environments that for many, are not at all symbolic of majesty, but misery? *For mature audiences. Contains sexually explicit content

Auditions: TBD
Camp rehearses:
June 27 thru July 21
June 27 thru July 21
Live performances will run July 22 thru 31
Young Anna, Middle Anna, and Anna – are all the young Princess of Arendelle at different ages. Filled with a tremendous amount of light, energy, and love, Anna is a hopelessly optimistic extrovert at all ages, but as she grows older, she longs for connection with others, especially her sister, Elsa. Each version of this warm and determined princess requires a strong singer with great comic timing.
More information here: https://www.pendragontheatre.org/camp-pendragon.html
The Pendragon Theatre is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. For more information about the theatre please visit: https://www.pendragontheatre.org/
All photos courtesy of Pendragon Theatre.