Touchstone Theatre
All Plays
A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur
By Tennessee Williams
Directed by Robynn Rodriguez
Tennessee Williams may have succumbed to fits of optimism in his later years. Case in point, this story about women stepping beyond youth, and the friends they choose to take with them on that tricky path. They’re a rare delight, the divergent ladies at the heart of this play — funny and flawed, with iron wills eclipsing their circumstances. You can’t help but pull for people so deserving of a happy ending. Even when they’re exasperating, they’re so endearing, each with her own shining moments of grace. Life, after all, has a way of defying expectations. It helps if someone’s got your back. But it may not be the someone you expect
Runs June 14 – September 26.
Directed by Robynn Rodriguez
Tennessee Williams may have succumbed to fits of optimism in his later years. Case in point, this story about women stepping beyond youth, and the friends they choose to take with them on that tricky path. They’re a rare delight, the divergent ladies at the heart of this play — funny and flawed, with iron wills eclipsing their circumstances. You can’t help but pull for people so deserving of a happy ending. Even when they’re exasperating, they’re so endearing, each with her own shining moments of grace. Life, after all, has a way of defying expectations. It helps if someone’s got your back. But it may not be the someone you expect
Runs June 14 – September 26.
When & Where
More Info
- CC
- 4100
Recommended Events (8)
The Man of Destiny
By George Bernard Shaw
Directed by James Bohnen
Nobody’s born great. Not even the people who populate history books. Take this tale of a young Napoleon Bonaparte, as imagined by one Mr. George Bernard Shaw. Sure, it’s not a true tale. Probably. But it is a smart and funny peek at a future-famous leader while he’s still wet behind the oreilles; his burgeoning experience as yet outranked by his boundless ego. And better still, we get to see this conqueror of worlds conquered by a woman. We can’t wait for you to see how they spark as they spar in this irresistible and rarely produced comedy.
Runs June 8 – September 21.
Directed by James Bohnen
Nobody’s born great. Not even the people who populate history books. Take this tale of a young Napoleon Bonaparte, as imagined by one Mr. George Bernard Shaw. Sure, it’s not a true tale. Probably. But it is a smart and funny peek at a future-famous leader while he’s still wet behind the oreilles; his burgeoning experience as yet outranked by his boundless ego. And better still, we get to see this conqueror of worlds conquered by a woman. We can’t wait for you to see how they spark as they spar in this irresistible and rarely produced comedy.
Runs June 8 – September 21.
Next event8/22/2019 7:30 PM
Twelfth Night
By William Shakespeare
Directed by John Langs
A charming young woman proves to be equally charming disguised as a young man, throwing Illyria’s collective love life into wild disarray. Not that the denizens of that town were well-arrayed to begin with. In fact, on an island where everyone’s in love with someone, but no one’s in love with the someone who loves them back, Viola may be just the soul to set them all aright. As Shakespearean comedies go, this is one of the greats; a fun and funny celebration that embraces the insanity of love.
Runs June 8 – October 6.
Directed by John Langs
A charming young woman proves to be equally charming disguised as a young man, throwing Illyria’s collective love life into wild disarray. Not that the denizens of that town were well-arrayed to begin with. In fact, on an island where everyone’s in love with someone, but no one’s in love with the someone who loves them back, Viola may be just the soul to set them all aright. As Shakespearean comedies go, this is one of the greats; a fun and funny celebration that embraces the insanity of love.
Runs June 8 – October 6.
Next event8/22/2019 7:30 PM
August Wilson's Fences
Directed by Ron OJ Parson
Troy Maxson’s yard is his refuge. A sanctuary where, at long last, the grass is finally green. But it can always be greener, right? Troy’s story is both unique and universal — a portrait of the unsteady bridge between fathers and sons, and the wives and mothers who stand cheering for both sides while hanging their own dreams out to dry. A story strong enough to bear the weight of injustice and yearning and love, at its best and its most destructive. And it’s bigger — it’s more — than all of that. Yet it fits snug on our Hill stage, the perfect platform for a could-have-been-great man. A lyrical, heartbreaking love song sung in August Wilson’s unparalleled poetry, about characters whose hearts beat vast and deep.
Runs August 2 – September 28.
Troy Maxson’s yard is his refuge. A sanctuary where, at long last, the grass is finally green. But it can always be greener, right? Troy’s story is both unique and universal — a portrait of the unsteady bridge between fathers and sons, and the wives and mothers who stand cheering for both sides while hanging their own dreams out to dry. A story strong enough to bear the weight of injustice and yearning and love, at its best and its most destructive. And it’s bigger — it’s more — than all of that. Yet it fits snug on our Hill stage, the perfect platform for a could-have-been-great man. A lyrical, heartbreaking love song sung in August Wilson’s unparalleled poetry, about characters whose hearts beat vast and deep.
Runs August 2 – September 28.
Next event8/23/2019 8:00 PM
A Doll's House
By Henrik Ibsen
In a version by Simon Stephens
Directed by Keira Fromm
Nora’s world is sheltered beneath a shiny bell jar, with plenty of satin and little substance. And yet, there are hints of something darker just beneath her carefree veneer. It seems this little lark may have some skeletons in her nest, and those bones don’t rest easy. So what begins as a family drama quickly reveals itself to be a life-or-death thriller, exquisite in its portrayal of humanity’s more complex and messy bits, and offering no clear villains. Or escape routes. Nora’s story is one for the ages — shocking for its time, and offering a cliffhanger that still haunts our collective psyche after all these years.
Runs August 10 – October 6.
In a version by Simon Stephens
Directed by Keira Fromm
Nora’s world is sheltered beneath a shiny bell jar, with plenty of satin and little substance. And yet, there are hints of something darker just beneath her carefree veneer. It seems this little lark may have some skeletons in her nest, and those bones don’t rest easy. So what begins as a family drama quickly reveals itself to be a life-or-death thriller, exquisite in its portrayal of humanity’s more complex and messy bits, and offering no clear villains. Or escape routes. Nora’s story is one for the ages — shocking for its time, and offering a cliffhanger that still haunts our collective psyche after all these years.
Runs August 10 – October 6.
Next event8/23/2019 8:00 PM
She Stoops to Conquer
By Oliver Goldsmith
Directed by Laura Gordon
It’s not summer at APT without a fit-to-split comedy, and this is among the best of its brand. A particularly witty young lady takes her marital future in hand, using all the creative misdirection at her disposal — and there’s a lot. Including, but absolutely not limited to, an inn that’s not an inn, a maid that’s not a maid and a noble or two who might be a little less than noble. Subterfuge aside, these suitors are pretty new to this whole love thing, and their aching attempts at wooing leave them looking rather ridiculous. And absolutely adorable. A raucous British comedy in the hands of APT’s actors is the equivalent of a full-length showstopper.
Runs June 14 – September 20.
Directed by Laura Gordon
It’s not summer at APT without a fit-to-split comedy, and this is among the best of its brand. A particularly witty young lady takes her marital future in hand, using all the creative misdirection at her disposal — and there’s a lot. Including, but absolutely not limited to, an inn that’s not an inn, a maid that’s not a maid and a noble or two who might be a little less than noble. Subterfuge aside, these suitors are pretty new to this whole love thing, and their aching attempts at wooing leave them looking rather ridiculous. And absolutely adorable. A raucous British comedy in the hands of APT’s actors is the equivalent of a full-length showstopper.
Runs June 14 – September 20.
Next event8/24/2019 2:00 PM
Macbeth
By William Shakespeare
Directed by James DeVita
Dunsinane’s emerging power couple develops a spiraling lust for dominion, losing their humanity inch by inch until they’re numbed to the taste of blood. Yet for all the savagery that comes with stealing a kingdom, their story is a tragic one. A tale of friendship betrayed. Of a great love wasted. It’s haunting and fluid; poetic and gritty, more a staged psychological journey than a play. It’s been 13 years since this thriller came our way. With this cast, its return will be nothing short of spectacular.
Runs June 21 – October 4.
Directed by James DeVita
Dunsinane’s emerging power couple develops a spiraling lust for dominion, losing their humanity inch by inch until they’re numbed to the taste of blood. Yet for all the savagery that comes with stealing a kingdom, their story is a tragic one. A tale of friendship betrayed. Of a great love wasted. It’s haunting and fluid; poetic and gritty, more a staged psychological journey than a play. It’s been 13 years since this thriller came our way. With this cast, its return will be nothing short of spectacular.
Runs June 21 – October 4.
Next event8/24/2019 8:00 PM
The Book of Will
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Tim Ocel
The King’s Men are getting the band back together. The goal: to gather the Bard’s scattered masterpieces and bind them to each other, and to history. It’s a grand feat, to be sure. Especially for a community of actors who may know all the ins and outs of iambic pentameter, but next to nothing about binding books. Even so, they undertake their mission with pluck and wit and hearts full of joy. It’s a theatrical, beat-the-clock race to save a legacy, offering some of Shakespeare’s greatest hits spoken by your favorite players. A play that feels custom made for APT. And for you.
Runs August 9 – October 5.
Directed by Tim Ocel
The King’s Men are getting the band back together. The goal: to gather the Bard’s scattered masterpieces and bind them to each other, and to history. It’s a grand feat, to be sure. Especially for a community of actors who may know all the ins and outs of iambic pentameter, but next to nothing about binding books. Even so, they undertake their mission with pluck and wit and hearts full of joy. It’s a theatrical, beat-the-clock race to save a legacy, offering some of Shakespeare’s greatest hits spoken by your favorite players. A play that feels custom made for APT. And for you.
Runs August 9 – October 5.
Next event8/25/2019 6:00 PM
A Doll's House, Part 2
By Lucas Hnath
Directed by Brenda DeVita
With a knock at the door, Nora is launched back into a household she helped burn to the ground 15 years before. But even after all this time, family ties cinch tighter than expected, and she discovers that confronting people she hurt in the past takes courage. Also helpful: a good sense of humor and a strong sense of self. A provocative and surprisingly funny debate about the roles people choose to play, and those they feel forced into; a conversation with 140 years of momentum behind it.
Runs October 24 – November 17.
Directed by Brenda DeVita
With a knock at the door, Nora is launched back into a household she helped burn to the ground 15 years before. But even after all this time, family ties cinch tighter than expected, and she discovers that confronting people she hurt in the past takes courage. Also helpful: a good sense of humor and a strong sense of self. A provocative and surprisingly funny debate about the roles people choose to play, and those they feel forced into; a conversation with 140 years of momentum behind it.
Runs October 24 – November 17.
Next event10/24/2019 7:30 PM