Andy’s 56th Season
Working Eye-to-Eye
June 22 - August 16, 2026
This summer, Andy’s doubles down on a core tenet of our mission: working eye-to-eye. Throughout this summer, our young artists will be empowered to create new plays, try different roles within a theatrical production, learn new skills, step outside their comfort zones, engage with the community in new ways by performing in those communities, and have a great deal of fun collaborating with our professional artists.
Our Mainstage Productions will feature the rebranded Welcome to the Hilltop (open to ALL young artists), where young artists will write, direct, act in, and design up to SIX new plays in just four days, culminating in a one-night-only event. Our Mainstage Season will also feature the first-ever full-length Mime Play, the return of both the Teen Play AND The Touring Play, and wrap up with a brand-new Musical!
Our Apprenticeship Program will look a little different this year. Apprentices will sign up for productions they would like to work on and learn every aspect of technical theater (lighting, sound, projections, scenic, props, and costumes) through workshops and dedicated time designing with our professional designers. Apprentices will also learn skills on how to read scripts and watch rehearsals with a designer’s eye. Apprentices will gain insights from being in the rehearsal room and working together to solve technical challenges presented by our exciting premieres. Design opportunities for one-night-only events may arise.
Our Andy’s Studio Series will feature three workshops, including The John C. Russell Playwriting Lab. Two more workshops, including The Andy’s Mime Academy and Music & Dance, will be offered for ALL young artists. Those who don’t wish to participate in the Mainstage Productions, but want to learn new skills & gain confidence in performance, this option is for you!
Our Greenhouse Initiative will feature a new script by an exciting NYC-based playwright. This week of development will culminate in a public staged reading! The Greenhouse will also produce the John C. Russell Playwriting Festival, featuring new plays written by the talented young artists in our community.
We will also hold different Community Events like the return of Andy’s-Stock (a talent show), Bingo Night, and more!
Additional programming may be announced at a later date.
In 2020, Andy’s committed to a tuition-free summer program, and we have celebrated, including the upcoming season, six completely tuition-free summers. We ask for a summer registration fee, which allows your young artists full access to all of Andy’s programming all season long. Registration fees for families with a single young artist are $175. We offer a registration fee of $150 per child for families with multiple young artists!
If our registration fee is a financial barrier for you and your family, please reach out to Executive Director, SMJ, directly at smj@andyssummerplayhouse.org. We can work out payment plans, deferred payments, and more! No matter your situation, you are always welcome at Andy’s.
Explore our season below, and register HERE!
MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS &
THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Young artists must be available for all dates listed. Our productions are ensemble-based, making each young artist critical to the performances of others and attendance at all rehearsals and performances essential.
Official titles, artists, & synopses will be announced in late Spring 2026.
MAINSTAGE 1
Welcome to the Hilltop
Open to ALL Andy's Kids, WELCOME TO THE HILLTOP will feature two days of workshops that will allow folks to learn more skills in their specific areas of interest. The last two days will feature rehearsals for each new play. All of the plays will be written by Andy's Kids. This program culminates in a one-night performance, resembling some similarities to the 24 Hour Plays.
DATES
Rehearsals: Wednesday, June 24 - Friday, June 26 from 10:00am - 1:30pm / Saturday, June 27 from 8:30am - 5:30pm
Performance: Saturday, June 27 at 7:00pm
MAINSTAGE 2
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
An investigation of paranormal activity at a mysterious mansion spins into a web of lies that Nancy Drew must find her way through in order to help her friends and rescue her family. Told through mime, movement, and text, this bold reimagining explores the classic novel in a way you have never seen before.
DATES
Rehearsals: Monday, June 22 - Friday, June 26 from 3:30pm - 6:00pm / Monday, June 29 - Friday, July 3 from 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Tech Rehearsals: Monday, July 6 - Thursday, July 9 fro 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Performances: Friday, July 10 at 7:00pm, Saturday, July 11 at 7:00pm, Sunday, July 12 at 2:00pm, Thursday, July 16 at 7:00pm, Friday, July 17 at 7:00pm, & Saturday, July 18 at 7:00pm
MAINSTAGE 3
it’s literally the end of the world, like, for real this time
In the aftermath of environmental catastrophe, survivors mourn the lives they used to have: Lacrosse practice. Dunkin' Donuts. Penicillin. Indoor plumbing. TikTok. Love. Under the threat of fire and flood, they set about rebuilding a new world, one barbecued squirrel dinner at a time.One of the Teen Plays. The Teen Play is only available for Andy's Kids ages 13-18.
This program rehearses at the same time as the Touring Play. If you are free and interested, you must choose between THE TEEN PLAYS and THE TOURING PLAY.
There will be a participation cap. Once that cap is reached, we will start a waitlist.
DATES
Rehearsals: Monday, July 6 - Friday, July 10 from 2:00pm - 5:30pm / Monday, July 13 - Friday, July 17 from 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Tech Rehearsals: Monday, July 20 - Thursday, July 23 from 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Performance: Saturday, July 25 at 7:00pm, Sunday, July 26 at 2:00pm, Thursday, July 30 at 7:00pm, and Saturday, August 1 at 2:00pm
MAINSTAGE 3
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED
Heather's in love with Billy. Billy's really into Dina. Dina liked Shaun, but not so much anymore. Shaun's gonna "kill" PJ. PJ thinks Remy is cute. Remy can't stop laughing. Erica can't stop reading. Liam can't stop looking at Erica. It's the last week of Camp Minnetonka, Summer of 2004, no one has a date for Banquet, and Color War's about to begin.
One of the Teen Plays. The Teen Play is only available for Andy's Kids ages 13-18.
This program rehearses at the same time as the Touring Play. If you are free and interested, you must choose between THE TEEN PLAYS and THE TOURING PLAY.
There will be a participation cap. Once that cap is reached, we will start a waitlist.
DATES
Rehearsals: Monday, July 6 - Friday, July 10 from 2:00pm - 5:30pm / Monday, July 13 - Friday, July 17 from 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Tech Rehearsals: Monday, July 20 - Thursday, July 23 from 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Performance: Friday, July 24 at 7:00pm, Saturday, July 25 at 2:00pm, Friday, July 31 at 7:00pm, and Saturday, August 1 at 7:00pm
MAINSTAGE 4
The Touring Play
This program will travel to different libraries throughout the Monandock Region. There are three guaranteed performances for general audiences & families at Andy's.
This program takes place at the same time as the Teen Plays and is open to all ages 8-18. If you are free and interested, you must choose between THE TEEN PLAYS and THE TOURING PLAY.
There will be a participation cap. Once that cap is reached, we will start a waitlist.
DATES
Rehearsals: Monday, July 6 - Friday, July 10 from 10:00am - 1:30pm / Monday, July 13 - Friday, July 17 from 10:00am - 1:30pm
Tech Rehearsals: Monday, July 20 - Wednesday, July 22 from 10:00am - 1:30pm
Performances at Andy's: Saturday, July 25 at 11:00am, Sunday, July 26 at 11:00am, Saturday, August 1 at 11:00am, and Sunday, August 2 at 11:00am
Performances at libraries: PLEASE HOLD mornings of July 23-24 & July 27 - July 31
MAINSTAGE 5
The Forest Knows (a musical)
Torn between earthly romance and mystical destiny, a young Irish woman must confront fear, power, and the cost of awakening on her quest for spiritual knowledge, love, and self-understanding. The musical blends contemporary folk-pop with choral elements, Brazilian rhythmic textures, and sweeping duets.
DATES
Rehearsals: Monday, July 20 - Thursday, July 23 from 1:30pm - 5:30pm / Friday, July 24 from 1:00pm - 5:00pm / Monday, July 27 - Friday, July 31 from 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Tech Rehearsals: Monday, August 3 - Thursday, August 6 from 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Performances: Friday, August 7 at 7:00pm, Saturday, August 8 at 7:00pm, Sunday, August 9 at 2:00pm, Thursday, August 13 at 7:00pm, Friday, August 14 at 7:00pm, and Saturday, August 15 at 3:30pm
THE ANDY’S STUDIO SERIES
Young artists must be available for all dates listed.
Professional teaching artists will be announced later in Spring 2026.
WORKSHOP 1
The Andy’s Mime Academy
Andy’s Kids will learn and grow skills in mime technique, stage presence, focus, ensemble building, spatial awareness, and physical storytelling! This program has no performance component. Andy’s Kids in the Mainstage Mime Play may use this time to practice or develop new pieces.
DATES
Monday, June 22 - Friday, June 26 from 2:00pm - 3:15pm
WORKSHOP 2
The John C. Russell Playwriting Lab
The lab will begin this year with a week-long writing workshop with a Playwright in Residence. After the workshop, playwrights are encouraged to submit a play for consideration for the 2026 John C Russell Playwriting Festival, which will be held on August 11th. You do NOT have to be a part of the Playwriting Lab to submit for the Festival. All Andy’s Kids are eligible to submit.
DATES
Monday, June 29 - Friday, July 3 from 10:00am - 1:30pm
WORKSHOP 3
Music & Dance
Andy’s Kids will learn, grow skills, and gain confidence in dance, picking up choreography, and singing. Other skills learned include stage presence, focus, ensemble building, spatial awareness, and physical storytelling! This program has no performance component. Andy’s Kids in the Mainstage Musical may use this time to practice their numbers for the show.
DATES
Monday, July 27 - Friday, July 31 from 12:00pm - 1:15pm
THE GREENHOUSE INITIATIVE
Young artists must be available for all dates listed.
Professional teaching artists will be announced later in Spring 2026.
GREENHOUSE 1
The Staged Reading
Andy’s Kids will collaborate with an emerging professional playwright to develop a new brand-new play through rewrites, staging, and a public staged reading.
DATES
Rehearsals: Monday, June 29 - Friday, July 3 from 10:00am - 1:30pm
Performance: Friday, July 3 at 7:00pm
GREENHOUSE 2
John C. Russell Playwriting Festival
The lab will begin this year with a week-long writing workshop with a Playwright in Residence. After the workshop, playwrights are encouraged to submit a play for consideration for the 2026 John C Russell Playwriting Festival, which will be held on August 11th. You do NOT have to be a part of the Playwriting Lab to submit for the Festival. All Andy’s Kids are eligible to submit.
DATES
Rehearsals: Tuesday, August 11 from 2:00pm - 5:30pm
Performance: Tuesday, August 11 at 7:00pm