The Road Back: What's New in 2024

The season starts in less than two weeks, which means APT is nearly back! So, for this final regular installment of the pre-season, The Road Back offers a roundup of NEW things you'll see and experience at APT this summer.

New on the Grounds

The Gateway Shop (adjacent to the parking lot across from the Box Office) got a big refresh over the winter and now has more space for all your favorite APT gifts and gear. The Shop staff has been working hard all winter and has gathered a lot of fun new items. Stop in and check it out.

Speaking of Gateway, we've installed a lower, accessible window at the Box Office to be more inclusive to patrons who use wheelchairs.

Look for new maps in the picnic area, with those handy "You are Here" designations. We're also working on new and improved wayfinding signs, but that work in progress won't be complete until sometime in July.

And, finally, we're excited to unveil a new installation we've dubbed Pleasant's Place. Designed and built in honor of APT friend and extraordinary philanthropist Pleasant Rowland, it's both art installation and resting place. Look for it to the right of the path about 2/3 of the way up. If you're riding the shuttle, look to your left on the way to check in out. Special thanks to APT's incredible Properties Director and Scenic Designer Nathan Stuber for designing this very special piece.

New People and New Titles

We're happy to welcome more than 50 new staff members who are spending their first season with us in the woods. The group includes people in all departments, from the acting company to the shops to the house and concessions staff.

Alys Dickerson, an acting company member form 2019 to 2022, has moved into a new offstage role as APT's Artistic Associate. Alys works on casting and season planning in the off-season, and joins David Daniel in the classroom from time to time for APT Education. During the season, she has the massive job of making sure the understudies are ready to go as soon as possible if called upon. And she's also hosting the live music for the 45th Anniversary Party, along with her band, Alys and the Ark.

As you may have read in the spring, we welcomed four brand new Core Acting Company members this season: Phoebe González, Josh Krause, Samantha Newcomb and Laura Rook. We can't wait for you to see what they have in store this season. Phoebe and Laura square off in Ring Round the Moon in the first half of the season and in the second half Laura will be featured in Dancing at Lughnasa and Phoebe in Constellations. Josh Krause is playing not one, but two fools in the season (in King Lear and The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool), and Samantha is doubling down on Shakespeare playing Hero in Much Ado About Nothing and Cordelia in King Lear.

And One Very New Play

APT isn't really known for producing world premieres, but we're very excited to produce the World Premiere of The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool by Michael Hollinger. Funny story: Brenda didn’t know it hadn’t yet been produced when she chose it for the season. Aaron Posner – who is directing the production -- sent the script to Brenda, saying it would be perfect for APT. The artistic staff read it and agreed it was a great match for our company. It was only when we were pursuing the rights with the playwright that they realized APT’s production would be the very first. Michael Hollinger was able to join the cast and Aaron for a few rehearsals, and he’ll be back for a performance and a play talk this summer.

The audience seems to be excited about this one also. Though we've added three performances, tickets are still pretty scarce. your best bet currently is August 27 at 2 PM. We're scouring the schedule to see if we can fit in a couple more, but not quite sure yet if we can. We'll keep you posted on that.

We're so excited about these new additions, and about the return of the stories and traditions we've been nurturing for the past 45 seasons. And, of course, our favorite piece of every season is when our audience arrives in these woods. I look forward to seeing you up the Hill or in the Touchstone soon.