Princeton Summer Theater Announces 2026 Season

Published by New Jersey Stage
05/15/2026

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton Summer Theater has unveiled its 2026 subscription season which will run from June 11th to August 1st, featuring an exciting lineup of three mainstage pieces and a family-friendly musical. Productions include Barefoot in the Park, The 39 Steps, True West, and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.

"At Princeton Summer Theater, we believe in collaborative storytelling and theater as a unifier of community," says Artistic Director, Lucy Shea. "One of the best parts of PST is its intergenerational community, and this season uniquely brings together a youthful spark and mature sensibility, venturing from witty adventures and childhood joys, to thrilling mysteries and familial reckoning. This season will be full of unforgettable moments and artistic achievement -- not one to miss!"

The season begins with Neil Simon's warmly nostalgic and hilarious Barefoot in the Park, a delightful 1960's romantic comedy. The original musical received four Tony nominations and won for "Best Direction", and was soon after adapted into the highly popular 1967 film featuring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.

Next, step into a world of mystery and laughter with Patrick Barlow's The 39 Steps, a 1930s farcical whodunnit adaption of the well-received 1935 Hitchcock film. Opening on July 2nd and closing the 18th, this noir comedy is a theatrical feat of four actors playing over 150 characters.

Closing out the season is the American classic True West by the Pulitzer Prize winning and 10-time Obie Award winner Sam Shepard, which opens July 23rd and closes August 1st. A volatile and psychological drama, the piece is a brilliant investigation of brotherhood and American identity, attracting acclaimed actors over the years including Tommy Lee Jones, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John Malkovitch, and Ethan Hawke.

This year's season also includes a special musical for its children's show: You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, by Clark Gesner and John Gordon, based on Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. Whimsical and full of heart, the Drama Desk winning musical will run from June 20th to August 1st at 11:00am matinees.

"We're so excited to invest in a beloved musical this year for our children's show," says Executive Director, Orion Lopez-Ramirez. "Everyone from our board of trustees to our wonderful interns grew up on the Peanuts characters, and we look forward to sharing that love and such a brilliant family piece with our audiences this year."

Subscriptions to the season are open at princetonsummertheater.org/subscribe, which provides patrons the opportunity to save over 25% and reserve their preferred seats in advance.

Since its inception more than fifty years ago, Princeton Summer Theater has produced great works of theater created by the stars of tomorrow. PST is dedicated to training the up-and-coming leaders of the theater world, offering young artists the opportunity to hone their craft in every area of theater production, from performance and direction to marketing and design. Housed in the charming, historic Hamilton Murray Theater on Princeton Campus, PST is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to training up-and-coming theater professionals while offering high-quality, affordable theater to New Jersey.

PST has launched the careers of hundreds of young artists. Some of PST's notable alumni include Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth (Damn Yankees, Chicago), TV and Broadway playwright Winnie Holzman (Wicked, My So-Called Life), lighting designer and Broadway assistant designer Alex Mannix (Hadestown, Lempicka), associate Broadway director (Ragtime, Into the Woods) and Hollywood veteran William Hootkins (Star Wars, Batman).

Orion Lopez-Ramirez returns for his second year as Princeton Summer Theater's Executive Director. Graduating this Spring from Princeton University, he will earn an A.B. in Public and International Affairs with minors in Urban Studies and Theatre. An actor, designer, and administrator from Los Angeles, his recent acting credits include his theatrical thesis How to Live at the End of the World and A Thread of Golden Ashes. His recent work at Hamilton Murray included his performance in The Game's Afoot and the sound design of Yaga, and he was the General Manager of Theatre Intime. Outside of theater, his policy research focused on urban housing and equitable development, including a senior thesis examining Los Angeles's Transit Oriented Communities program.

Lucy Shea is honored to be serving as Artistic Director for Princeton Summer Theater's 56th season. A current Princeton Undergraduate, Shea is pursuing a degree in English with minors in Theatre and Teacher Preparation. A director, actor, and arts administrator, Shea's recent directorial credits include Eurydice, Dependence, and last year's children show at PST The Odyssey. Shea's acting credits also span the Murray Theater and Lewis Center for the Arts, including Bridges of Madison County and Manual for a Desperate Crossing. Shea has also spent two terms on Theatre Intime's Executive Board as General Manager and Publicity Director.