What a season it has been for The Vineyard Playhouse! From two World Premieres to our 25th anniversary gala celebration, the Playhouse was a very busy place this summer. Now that the leaves on the trees have begun to turn, we can all take a breath, reflect on jobs well done, and say thank you to everyone who made it possible.
We kicked off this summer with the extremely well received World Premiere of This Island Alone. This play was a special endeavor for The Vineyard Playhouse because it was developed from start to finish at our theater. Workshops led to staged readings which culminated in this summer’s fully staged production about the historic deaf community that existed right here on Martha’s Vineyard in the town of Chilmark. Artistic Director and Producer MJ Bruder Munafo worked closely with playwright Catherine Rush and playwright and director Adrian Blue to bring this one of a kind production to life. With a stellar cast and crew to bring it together, The Vineyard Playhouse could not be prouder to have produced the World Premiere of This Island Alone, and we look forward to the bright future this play has ahead of it.
The shows that followed included a Pulitzer Prize nominee and a Tony Award winner. Both shows were directed by The Vineyard Playhouse’s esteemed Artistic Associates and starred some familiar Playhouse faces as well as some new favorites. Two Rooms, directed by Joann Green Breuer, was an emotional journey of love, the media, and politics. Featuring powerhouse performances and clean, crisp direction and design, Two Rooms was one of the most talked about productions of the summer and stayed with its audiences long after closing night. Next up was Jon Lipsky’s production of Copenhagen. This ensemble production featured acting, direction and design of the high caliber that audiences have come to expect from The Vineyard Playhouse.
Artistic Director and Producer MJ Bruder Munafo took on not one but two shows this summer. Her one-two punch started off with Shakespeare’s The Tempest. And what a special production it was. Not only did it feature a huge cast of talented actors from Broadway to Aquinnah, but it was also the first production in the newly renovated Tisbury Amphitheater. With brand new benches, a handicap accessible path, and fresh plantings, this summer’s Shakespeare out-of-doors experience was definitely kicked up a notch. Next up for MJ was the New England Premiere of Pure Confidence. This witty, fast paced comedy set against a backdrop of horse racing and the Civil War drew fantastic responses from our patrons. Audiences (and Playhouse staff alike) fell in love with this cast and had a great time producing this very special work.
But we didn’t stop there! After a great summer, we extended our season through September with Robert Brustein’s The English Channel. This World Premiere was a co-production with Suffolk University and explored the artistic, sexual and political intrigue surrounding a young William Shakespeare. Theatre luminary Robert Brustein’s original take on the world’s most famous playwright left audiences and the Boston Globe delighted.
In addition to all of the excellent professional theater produced this summer, The Vineyard Playhouse continued in its tradition of producing top of the line theater for and by young people. Our beloved Fabulists performed theater for young audiences every Saturday morning in the Tisbury Amphitheater and our Summer Stars theater arts camp was a smashing success, playing to large crowds of family and Playhouse staff every Friday afternoon.
And let’s not forget our ever popular Monday Night Specials, which ran throughout the summer and featured the talents of Tony Shalhoub, Amy Brenneman , and Jenny Allen Feiffer just to name a few.
Last but certainly not least, The Vineyard Playhouse celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a huge gala event that brought together an amazing group of people who have worked hard to make the Playhouse what it is today. Board members past and present, old friends and new, artists who have graced our stage and the patrons who have made it all possible, gathered for great food, great music, great theater, and one FABULOUS party!
Needless to say, our little theater produced one heck of a season this year. What is most important to all of us at The Vineyard Playhouse is that everyone involved in this last season know just how thankful we are to have you as part of the Playhouse family. Without the talents of our artists and technicians, the support of our subscribers and patrons, and the vision of our community, The Vineyard Playhouse could not have accomplished such an ambitious undertaking as this past season. You’ve also given us the courage to look towards next season and dream even bigger!
Thanks to everyone who made this summer season such a huge success! We’ll see you all next year at The Vineyard Playhouse.

Sincerely,
MJ Bruder Munafo
and
Philisse Barrows
Brian Ditchfield
Kate Hancock
Brooke Hardman Ditchfield
Steve Zablotny