The Peterborough Players, one of the oldest professional summer theaters in the country, has announced an ambitious eight-show season to celebrate its 90th anniversary, featuring a mix of classic revivals, new works, and a world premiere by a New Hampshire playwright.
The 2026 season, running from June through September at the company’s intimate 250-seat barn theater in Peterborough, opens with a production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” — an especially meaningful choice, as Wilder wrote portions of the play while living in the Monadnock region.
“Starting our 90th season with ‘Our Town’ in the shadow of Mount Monadnock feels exactly right,” said artistic director Gus Kaikkonen. “The play is about paying attention to the beauty of ordinary life, and that’s what this theater has been doing for nine decades.”
The world premiere, “Granite,” by Concord-based playwright Sarah Batchelder, is a drama set in a fictional New Hampshire mill town dealing with the aftermath of an economic crisis. Batchelder developed the play through the Players’ new works program over the past two years.
“Having my play premiere at the Peterborough Players is a dream,” Batchelder said. “This theater has a tradition of taking risks on new work, and I’m honored to be part of that legacy.”
The season also includes productions of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” and a jazz-infused revue celebrating the Great American Songbook. A special gala performance in August will mark the official 90th anniversary with appearances by notable alumni.
Founded in 1933, the Peterborough Players has launched the careers of numerous actors, directors, and designers who went on to work on Broadway and in film. The theater draws approximately 15,000 audience members each season from across New England.
Single tickets and season subscriptions go on sale April 1 through the theater’s website. The company is also offering a special 90th anniversary membership that includes priority seating, backstage tours, and invitations to post-show discussions with artists.
