Princeton Summer Theater will open its 56th season on June 11 with a trio of mainstage shows — a comedy, a thriller and a drama — that revive celebrated period pieces from the 20th century.
“It’s laughter and romance in ‘Barefoot in the Park,’ investigation and witty charm in ‘The 39 Steps,’ and family and the artistic process in ‘True West,’” said 2026 artistic director Lucy Shea, an English major from the Class of 2027 who is pursuing minors in theater and teacher preparation.
Shea is a member of the student-led Theatre Intime and has acted, directed and served as stage manager for productions at the Lewis Center for the Arts.
Princeton Summer Theater is an independent theater troupe that performs at Hamilton Murray Theater on the Princeton University campus. Students and recent graduates from Princeton and elsewhere put on the shows. The 2026 season runs through Aug. 1.
This summer’s children’s show, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” opens June 20.
“Barefoot in the Park”: June 11-27
This Neil Simon romantic comedy from 1964 follows Corie and Paul Bratter, two newlyweds, whose personalities seem at odds with each other. “When they set up Corie’s straight-edge mother on a blind date with their eccentric upstairs neighbor, all of their identities clash, and the evening begins to take one chaotic turn after another,” said Shea, who directs the production.
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”: June 20-Aug. 1
This beloved children’s musical was written by Princeton alumnus Clark Gesner, from the Class of 1960. This production features several recent Princeton alumni, including Radon Belarmino ’26 as Charlie Brown, Griffin Schulman ’26 as Linus, Alison Silldorff ’25 as Lucy, and Kristen Tan ’26 as Snoopy.
Shea will direct the run of Saturday and Sunday morning performances, scheduled for June 20-21 and 27-28; July 11-12, 18, and 25-26; and Aug. 1. Shows begin at 11 a.m., and doors open at 10:30 a.m.
“The 39 Steps”: July 2-18
Patrick Barlow’s stage adaptation of the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock classic is a farcical, fast-paced mystery that follows Richard Hannay, an everyman-turned-vigilante-detective, who is forced to run from the police after a murder occurs in his apartment. “Embracing a unique magic only possible through live theater, this show features four actors performing over 150 different roles over the course of two hours,” Shea said. The production is directed by Erik Bloomquist.
“True West”: July 23-Aug. 1
This classic American drama by Sam Shepard, which had its premiere in 1980, follows two estranged brothers — Austin, a screenwriter, and Lee, a petty thief. “As they reconnect while housesitting for their mother in the stark landscape of the California desert,” Shea said, “a film producer drops in on them, and their relationship is pushed to the brink.” Wasif Sami ’25, a New York-based director, will direct.
Visit princetonsummertheater.org for tickets and performance information.
