One Day Left For WHAT Season Deal

April 1 is the deadline for a great deal from the Wellfleet Harbor Actors' Theater. Sign up today and see all five shows for $125. Premium seating when you purchase now. The parking lot was full yesterday, which reminded me preparation for Dan Lombardo's first season as artistic director is under way. Check here for information on auditions, taking place Monday, by appointment.

WHAT Announces New Season

With snow on the way, it's a good day for a wood fire. Think summer by ordering a $125 subscription for WHAT's new season (call 508.349.WHAT). Artistic Director Dan Lombardo and Executive Director Mark Hough have just announced the plays that will be performed at the Julie Harris Stage, starting Memorial Day weekend:

May 26 - June 9: References to Salvador Dali Make me Hot by Jose Rivera
June 16 - July 7: The Consequences, A musical by Nathan Leigh and Kyle Jarrow (World Premiere)
July 14 - 28: Saving Kitty by Marisa Smith (World Premiere)
August 4 - 25: Hysteria: Or, Fragments of an Analysis of an Obsessional Neurosis by Terry Johnson
September 1 - 22: Oblomov by Wellfleet playwright Kevin Rice (American Premiere)

Sun Sets on Harbor Stage & Other WHAT Sparks

When summer guests arrive at Chez Sven, I always do orientation. One of the things I say is, “Wellfleet has great theater. You might want to look into seeing a show. Tickets cost around $25. WHAT prides itself on ‘edgy drama’ ...” This description never fails to pique the interest of guests from Britain, who smile politely, unwilling to believe a seaside resort could really have theater of the caliber they are used to in London. But, since Wellfleet does not offer all that many activities for tourists in summer, they usually take me at my word and return delighted to have enjoyed off-Broadway-worthy performances.

For years, W.H.A.T. (Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater) slept in the off-season. But recently, with the recession and new mortgage bills to pay, the new Julie Harris Stage became busier in winter, with opera broadcast on the big screen and a sweet little selection of independent films, as well as Yule For Fuel in December. Then, last August, Jeff Zinn, its founder, suddenly left. I have a lot of respect for what Jeff accomplished and was sorry to see him go, whatever the reasons. He did put Wellfleet on the theatergoers map, a fact we should all remember.

This fall it was possible to find last-minute seats through Twitter.

For the last couple months WHAT has been acting like a dormant volcano, releasing steam from time to time, when in the past the sparks only flew in summer. The latest puff brings news Wellfleet lawyer Bruce Bierhans has been named CEO. (Read this report in the Barnstable Patriot.) Bruce has already proved his competence working with Outer Cape Health Services and Prez. Hall. (When does this man sleep? He also maintains a full schedule as a trial lawyer and even takes time to read this blog!)

WHAT began modestly, by the harbor.
Expansion created the magnificent Julie Harris Stage on Route 6 and a summer program for kids in a tent nearby. Now come more sparks, word that the harbor venue will be eliminated since the landlord wants to recover the space. (Did someone say rent increase?) I can imagine how nostalgic many old-time theatergoers feel about this decision, but frankly, the peanut-gallery type seating left much to be desired. Elimination of the harbor stage presents a way of cutting costs. What will happen to the sign on the roof of the building? Can this Wellfleet landmark please be saved somehow?

Do you attend plays at WHAT in summer? What play did you enjoy the most?

What's Happening this Weekend?

There's an interesting event going on in Wellfleet today, in case you happen to be around, the Annual State of the Harbor Conference, which offers a lot of specific information about Wellfleet Harbor and is always worthwhile. (I attended last year's conference but do not know whether I will be able to make it this morning or not.)

I also want to mention the buzz about "Promise," performed as a world premiere at WHAT, added at the last minute and outside the regular season. Here's a chance to see a play before it goes to Broadway. Read about how this production came about and why Wellfleet was chosen here.

Who Is Really Celebrating this Oysterfest?

I know, I know. The photo above does not show crowds of revelers, but rather Long Pond in all its fall glory. Sven and I were not able to go to Oysterfest yesterday because we had guests arriving. That, too, is the life of the innkeeper. Let's hope we get down later today. The sun parted the clouds around noon for a couple hours of magnificent blue sky. No doubt many oysters were consumed as the town celebrated the end of tourist season. There was one person who much have been celebrating a bit more intensely than others: Jeff, yes, you! Congratulations to Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater on receiving an anonymous gift of one million dollars, divided into $250,000 for four separate years, which will allow Jeff's baby to grow and develop in marvelous new ways ...

Guests Rave about WHAT’s Born Yesterday

We had the most amazing guests from Great Britain, filmmakers of science documentaries, who had recently retired and crossed the ocean on the QE2. I was sorry Sven missed meeting them. These folks packed a lot into their two days on the Outer Cape with a trip to Provincetown, dinner at Wicked Oyster and The Juice, cocktails at Pearl (“Cape Cod margaritas”). And, what they considered the pearl of their stay, an evening of theater at WHAT. Over breakfast yesterday, the two could not stop raving about Dan Lombardo’s Born Yesterday: “Just fantastic!” Jackie said. “You are so fortunate to have that theater. The actors were excellent. The theater’s a gem. Well-directed, well produced, well-acted. ” Martin joined us at the breakfast table and picked the thread right up: “Great play. Really, really good. Acting was excellent. The actress was brilliant. It stood up very well to metropolitan theater. Should have been full but it wasn’t. Really good for foreigners, too. About American greed …” Born Yesterday is playing through the end of July. Sounds like an interesting play, one that is very pertinent to what's going on in our world today …