Third Avenue PlayWorks launches its 25th anniversary season tonight with Three Viewings, a darkly funny and emotionally rich trio of monologues by award-winning playwright Jeffrey Hatcher. Directed by Jacob Janssen, the production runs April 30th through May 18th at the TAP theater in downtown Sturgeon Bay.
The play unfolds in the quiet stillness of a Midwestern funeral parlor — a setting that belies the humor, heartbreak, and unexpected twists to come. With a blend of biting wit and genuine poignancy, the play examines how people cling — sometimes desperately — to memory, love, money, and meaning.
Audiences can experience the performance Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. and a special Friday matinee on May 9th at 2:00 p.m. The season kicks off with a Pay-What-You-Will preview tonight, followed by a final preview on May 1st and Opening Night on Friday, May 2nd.
The cast includes Ryan Schabach as Emil, a reserved undertaker whose obsession quietly consumes him; Emma Rosenthal as Mac, an elegant con artist with a penchant for risk; and Karen Moeller as Virginia, a recently widowed woman forced to confront the reality behind her husband’s legacy. These richly compelling characters peel back the layers of grief and humor in three distinct but thematically connected stories.
Each monologue unearths a hidden world of longing, deception, and resilience — illuminating the complicated ways people confront not just death, but the unfinished business of life.
Director Jacob Janssen taps into the play’s delicate interplay between loss and laughter.
"Three Viewings is a funny and thrilling play, with exciting performances from some of Door County's favorite artists," Janssen says.
As Third Avenue PlayWorks celebrates 25 years of storytelling in Door County, Three Viewings promises a bold and thought-provoking start to a landmark season.
Tickets and more information are available at thirdavenueplayworks.org.
Photo Credit: Larry Mohr
