The Barnstormers Theatre announces its 78th season

The Barnstormers Theatre, the oldest professional summer theatre in the country, has announced its 2008 season. With eight shows in eight weeks, The Barnstormers is unique in its commitment to the stock theatre tradition.The season opens with "Babes In Arms" from July 8 to 12, a Rodgers and Hart classic that captures The Barnstormers' spirit perfectly: a troupe of summer theatre apprentices decides to put on a show of their own, with all the joy, energy and enthusiasm of youth. Here's the show that featured a young Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney on Broadway and introduced such immortal hits as "My Funny Valentine" and "The Lady is a Tramp."C.P. Taylor's bittersweet World War II romance "And a Nightingale Sang" follows from July 15 to 19. Helen, the eldest daughter of the somewhat batty Taylor family, expects little in the way of love. But the appearance of a soldier named Norman causes a seismic shift in the way she sees herself and her world. Does love give us the freedom to be transformed, even in the midst of turbulent times?When a seance accidentally calls up the spirit of his first wife, Charles Condomine calls on a wacky medium to save him, in Noel Coward's comic masterpiece "Blithe Spirit," running from July 22 to 26. A masterwork of 20th century comedy by Britain's genius of laughter and social satire, "Blithe Spirit" is pure fun and sophistication.The beloved Toadalong with kindly Rat, wise Badger, and gentle Molereturn to The Barnstormers Theatre in the perennial favorite "Toad of Toad Hall" from July 29 to August 2."Dial M for Murder," a gripping mystery in the film-noire style by Frederick Knott, runs from August 5 to 9. Tony Wendice's wife is in love with another man, so he plans the perfect murderor so he thinks. Later adapted into a chilling movie by Alfred Hitchcock, this is a brilliant study of greed, jealousy, and deceit that will keep you on the edge of your seat.Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the Academy Award for Best Picture, "Driving Miss Daisy" (August 12-16) is the story of an elderly southern Jewish lady and her African-American chauffeur told over several decades. With writing that is heartwarming, honest, and brilliant, "Driving Miss Daisy" features two of the American theatre's most memorable characters.The one, the only, the original "Dracula" as performed on Broadway by Bela Lugosi appears from August 19 to 23. Bram Stoker's dangerous, romantic villain comes to life in the original staging of this 19th century masterpiece of gothic horror.The Barnstormers' season concludes with "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," Off Broadway's longest running musical comedy, from August 26 to 30. Here is everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit."If there's a theme to the season, it's rediscovering who we are fundamentally and historically," says Bob Shea. "We're doing a lot of classic plays, but we'll be breathing new life into them with innovative designs, lighting, and top-notch professional acting."That means adapting the traditional model, which called for one director and one designer to work with a stock company performing all the roles in the eight shows."We're preserving the spirit of the traditional stock company, but we're bringing a new, reenergized approach to it," says Shea, who is bringing in the best professional talent from New York and other locations to join The Barnstormers' seasoned crew of returning actors. "Over the course of the season, we'll have five set designers and seven directors," says Shea. "These are people who are coming in from all over the country. They're attracted by the historic nature of what we're doing here."For more information on The Barnstormers Theatre or to purchase tickets, call 603-323-8500 or www.barnstormerstheatre.org.