Peninsula Players Theatre, America’s oldest professional resident summer theatre, continues its 91st season with Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo (August 19 – September 6), the hilarious screwball comedy that fills the Theatre’s fourth slot in the season. Directed by Landree Fleming, this fast-paced comedy follows two fading stage stars whose last chance at Hollywood success sends their already chaotic lives completely off the rails.
Sponsored by Tim and Jackie Danis, Moon Over Buffalo performs Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 p.m., except for the closing performance Sunday, September 6, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $54, $56 and $59. For tickets or more information, call the Box Office at (920) 868-3287 or visit PeninsulaPlayers.com.
Set in Buffalo, New York, in 1953, Moon Over Buffalo centers on George and Charlotte Hay, once-celebrated stage actors whose careers, and marriage, have seen better days. Now touring repertory productions of Cyrano de Bergerac and Private Lives, the couple receives unexpected news that could change everything: legendary Hollywood director Frank Capra is coming to their matinee and may be considering them for roles in his next film.
Suddenly, George and Charlotte have one more shot at the big time…what could stand in their way?
George’s wandering eye has created a backstage scandal, Charlotte is ready to walk out, their daughter has unexpectedly returned home, an old flame is hovering nearby, actors are missing and no one seems entirely certain which play they are supposed to be performing when Capra arrives.
What follows is a whirlwind of slamming doors, mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, missed cues and theatrical mayhem as the Hays desperately try to hold their company, and themselves, together.
“This play is a love-letter to Theatre and the classic farce comedy where the characters and the situations they find themselves in, become increasingly ridiculous,” said Peninsula Players Theatre Marketing Director Peter Kelly. “In addition to being just plain fun, this story has a lot of heart at its center with an emphasis on the sense of community found in live, onstage performances amidst a screen-filled world”.
Ken Ludwig is the award-winning playwright of Dear Jack, Dear Louise, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Lend Me A Tenor, The Game’s Afoot, Crazy for You, and many more. Moon Over Buffalo marked Carol Burnett’s triumphant return to Broadway after 30 years, and she and her co-star Phil Bosco (both nominated for Tony Awards for their roles) were followed on Broadway by Lynn Redgrave and Robert Goulet, then in London by Joan Collins and Frank Langella.
Peninsula Players Theatre audiences are well acquainted with Ludwig’s work. The Theatre most recently produced his touching romantic comedy Dear Jack, Dear Louise in 2025, and previous seasons have featured The Game’s Afoot, A Fox on the Fairway, Lend Me a Tenor and other Ludwig favorites.
Landree Fleming is making her directorial debut at Peninsula Players Theatre this season. Her directing credits include Modern Gentleman (About Face Theatre); Little Shop of Horrors and Fun Home (Paramount Theatre); Snow Queen (Marriott Theatre); Never Better, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Once Upon a Mattress (Theo Ubique) and 9 to 5: The Musical (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre). Landree is also a performer, having appeared on many Chicago stages.
Fleming directs an ensemble that includes Aja Alcazar, Joe Casey, James David Larson, and Garrett Lutz, who are carrying over from prior productions in the season. Rounding out the cast are Peninsula Players Theatre alum Karl Hamilton as well as Laura T. Fisher, Isabelle Muthiah, and Susie McMonagle, all making their Peninsula Players Theatre debuts.
In addition to the three prior productions this season (Baggage, The Mousetrap, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash), Aja Alcazar‘s Peninsula Players Theatre credits include I Ought To Be in Pictures, The Angel Next Door, and Million Dollar Quartet. Alcazaris a Chicago-based performer with credits at Northlight Theatre (The Angel Next Door, The Heart Sellers), Drury Lane Theatre (Always…Patsy Cline, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash), The Goodman Theatre (The Penolopiad), and more.
Joe Casey, having debuted at Peninsula Players Theatre in Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash,is a New York-based actor, whose favorite roles include Robert Kincaid in The Bridges of Madison County (Majestic Theater), John Proctor in The Crucible (Great Escape Stage Company), Mil in Billy Baloo (Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse), and numerous productions of Million Dollar Quartet where he appeared as Johnny Cash.
Laura T. Fisher is a Chicago-based actor, having performed at Steppenwolf Theatre Company: Mary Page Marlow; The Goodman Theatre: Seagull, Finishing the Picture, The Shawl; Court Theatre: Cyrano; Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Cymbeline, Kabuki Lady Macbeth; Northlight Theatre: The Mousetrap; Marriott Theatre: The Sound of Music; Paramount Theatre: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and others. She has also performed regionally at Milwaukee Repertory Theater: Good People; Renaissance Theaterworks: Switzerland; and Indiana Repertory Theatre: Arcadia and Morning After Grace.
Karl Hamilton returns to Peninsula Players Theatre’s stage having last appeared in Living on Love. His previous Peninsula Players Theatre shows include The Drowsy Chaperone, The Bridges of Madison County, and Miss Holmes. A native Chicagoan, he has performed at The Goodman Theatre, Court Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Mercury Theater Chicago, Writers Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater, among others. Off-Broadway, he played The Amazing Karnak in Ride the Cyclone.
James David Larson, also having debuted at Peninsula Players Theatre in Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, has performed Off-Broadway in Into the Woods (Roundabout Theatre Company), Atomic (Theatre Row), and the national tours of Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Buddy Holly Story, and Twelfth Night. He also performed in Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash at Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
Garrett Lutz‘s Peninsula Players Theatre credits include The Mousetrap, The Angel Next Door, Million Dollar Quartet, and The Stranger. Chicago credits include numerous titles at Marriott Theatre, including Little Shop of Horrors, Titanic, Damn Yankees; Three Sisters at Steppenwolf Theatre Company; The Music Man at The Goodman Theatre; as well as Macbeth and Twelfth Night at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Isabelle Muthiah‘s credits include Is This A Room (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre), A Christmas Carol (The Goodman Theatre), Dear Jack, Dear Louise (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), A View From The Bridge, which received the 2024 Jeff Award for Best Production – Play, Radial Gradient (Shattered Globe Theatre), and Mr. Dickens’ Hat (Northlight Theatre).
Susie McMonagle has performed on Broadway as Fantine in Les Misérables and in theFirst National Broadway Tours of Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia, Pump Boys and Dinettes, and The Secret Garden. Chicago credits include Diana in Next to Normal (Jeff Award), Gretta in The Dead at Court Theatre,Candida in Rock ’n’ Roll at The Goodman Theatre, Margaret Thatcher in The Audience at Drury Lane Theatre, andDaisy in Side Show at Northlight Theatre.
The creative team includes Kyle Pingel-Hickey, wig design (Steel Magnolias, Little Women The Broadway Musical, Nunsense); Dan Klarer, fight direction (The Mousetrap, Write Me a Murder, The Rainmaker); Kärin Simonson Kopischke, costume design (Steel Magnolias, Little Women The Broadway Musical, Silent Sky); Michelle Lilly, scenic design (Little Women The Broadway Musical, The Angel Next Door); Jason Lynch, lighting design (Baggage, Blithe Spirit, I and You); and Dee Etti-Williams (I Ought To Be In Pictures).
Wig Designer Kyle Pingel-Hickey began his journey with Peninsula Players Theatre as an intern in 2007 and served as Costume Shop Manager from 2013 to 2022. He is now a theatrical wig designer and stylist with over a decade of experience creating custom looks for the stage. His work has been seen regionally and nationally, with credits including Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Lawrence University, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Royal Caribbean, The Goodman Theatre, Marriott Theatre and Paramount Theatre.
Fight Director Dan Klarer is a professional theatre artist living in Door County, working as an actor, fight director, and educator. His past performances at Peninsula Players Theatre include Miss Holmes, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Peter & The Starcatcher. Klarer has performed and choreographed for theatre companies around the Midwest and beyond, including: Third Avenue PlayWorks, Northern Sky Theater, Door Shakespeare, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Artists’ Ensemble Theater, Children’s Theater of Madison, Chicago Kids Company, and The Great American Melodrama in Oceano, CA. Dan is also the Education Coordinator at Third Avenue PlayWorks where he is building programming and opportunities for the Door County community.
Costume Designer Kärin Simonson Kopischke recentlycelebrated the 30th anniversary of her first design for Peninsula Players Theatre. She designs costumes at top professional theaters and operas nationwide, including American Conservatory Theater, Long Wharf Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Minnesota Opera, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Boston Lyric Opera, The Goodman Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Third Avenue PlayWorks and Skylight Music Theater. Kärin was recently honored by the Wisconsin Arts Board in their 50 Artists for 50 Years anniversary celebration.
Lighting Designer Jason Lynch’s recent Chicago credits include work with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Court Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Shattered Globe Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, TimeLine Theatre Company, among others. Recent regional credits include work with Alley Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Denver Center Theatre Company, Geva Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Huntington Theatre Company, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, The Old Globe, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and more.
Scenic Designer Michelle Lilly is a Chicago-based designer whose past Peninsula Players Theatre credits include Little Women The Broadway Musical and The Angel Next Door. Michelle has collaborated with The Alinea Group, Paramount Theatre (The Full Monty, Next to Normal, Billy Elliot, School of Rock), Milwaukee Repertory Theater (Romeo and Juliet, Songs for Nobodies) Writers Theatre, Albany Park Theatre Project, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Timeline Theatre, and many others.
Sound Designer Dee Etti-Williams is a Chicago-based designer/composer whose selected credits include: Girls on Sand (Northern Sky Theater), Emily Song and The Queen of The Night (First Stage), Three Viewings (Third Avenue PlayWorks), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), Covenant (The Goodman Theatre), The Brothers Size (Oklahoma City Repertory Theater), The Island (Court Theatre), Lavender Men (About Face Theatre), and Top Girls (Raven Theatre).
Peninsula Players Theatre is a professional, not-for-profit theatre that employs members of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and stage managers; United Scenic Artists (USA), the labor union and professional association of designers, artists, and craftspeople; and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), the theatrical union of stage directors and choreographers.
The audience pavilion’s side panels, doors, and vents will remain open throughout the summer season. Patrons should dress for the weather and be prepared for shifting temperatures and breezes off the bay. Peninsula Players Theatre is a smoke-free campus. Smoking is prohibited on the grounds at all times. Audience members are invited to come early for a pre-show beverage or snack at the Luna Bar and Canteen. The grounds open 90 minutes before the show.
Peninsula Players Theatre performs Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. except for Sunday, September 6 at 2:00 p.m. Ticket prices for Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo range from $54 to $59, with student and group tickets for parties of 15 or more available. Groups should phone the Box Office at (920) 868-3287 to make arrangements. For more information, visit www.peninsulaplayers.com.