Boston, September 30, 2025
News Summary
The Lyric Stage Company of Boston presents a revival of Thornton Wilder’s classic play ‘Our Town’, running through October 19. Directed by Courtney O’Connor, the production connects the early 20th-century themes of love, marriage, and everyday life with contemporary audiences. Minimal props and a modernized set design aim to highlight the human experience in a small town, resonating with the collective experiences of today’s viewers.
Boston — The Lyric Stage Company of Boston is presenting a revival of Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town” that runs through October 19. This revival is currently being performed at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston through October 19.
Top-line summary
Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town” is a classic of American theater. The production onstage at Lyric Stage Company of Boston is directed locally by Courtney O’Connor, and the company’s staging aims to connect the play’s early-20th-century setting with contemporary audiences. The production conveys themes of daily life, love, marriage, and death in a small-town setting and is presented with minimal props and an emphasis on pantomime.
Current production details
Director Courtney O’Connor breathes fresh life into the production. The production’s staging choices include a minimalistic set design and modernized costuming for some roles. Will McGarrahan plays the Stage Manager, deviating from the traditional look with casual modern clothing. The set design, created by Shelley Barish, is minimalistic, focusing on a deep-rooted story represented by the rings of an old tree.
The performances feature minimal props and emphasizing pantomime, with standout performances by Thomika Marie Bridwell as Mrs. Gibbs and Amanda Collins as Mrs. Webb. The cast also includes De’Lon Grant as Mr. Webb, Robert Najarian as Doc Gibbs, and John Kuntz in multiple roles, including Simon Stimson. Josephine Moshiri Elwood and Dan Garcia portray Emily Webb and George Gibbs, respectively.
Production approach and themes
The play is structured to highlight ordinary life and the moments that give it meaning. The play is divided into three acts: Daily Life, Love and Marriage, and Death and Eternity. The story is set in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, during the early 20th century (1901-1914). O’Connor’s direction creates a balance between nostalgia and modernity, ensuring relevance to today’s audiences. The production aims to resonate with the collective experiences of the audience, making it a universal story.
Context and notable history
The play’s production history includes a series of early setbacks and later successes. The play initially had an abbreviated run at Princeton’s McCarter Theatre in New Jersey. It moved to Boston’s Wilbur Theatre for a two-week pre-Broadway engagement. Due to poor ticket sales and negative reviews from critics, it closed after only five performances in Boston. Broadway welcomed “Our Town” warmly, leading to a longer run and Wilder winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1938.
Across decades, notable actors who have starred in high-profile productions include Henry Fonda, Spalding Gray, Paul Newman, and Jim Parsons. The latest revival, directed by Kenny Leon, features Jim Parsons as the Stage Manager, while the Lyric Stage Company production features Will McGarrahan in that role as noted above.
Why this staging matters
The Lyric Stage Company production emphasizes theatrical basics—gesture, presence, and a spare environment—to foreground relationships and life events. The choices by the creative team, including minimal props and a symbolic set, underline the play’s focus on everyday moments and the passage of time rather than spectacle.
Performance run and practical information
The run at Lyric Stage Company of Boston is scheduled to continue through October 19. Audience members should expect an interpretation that mixes traditional elements of Wilder’s text with contemporary directorial and design choices intended to highlight the play’s enduring themes.
FAQ
Q: What is the current production and where is it playing?
A: This revival is currently being performed at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston through October 19.
Q: Who wrote the play and how is it regarded?
A: Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town” is a classic of American theater.
Q: Who is directing the Lyric Stage Company production?
A: Director Courtney O’Connor breathes fresh life into the production.
Q: Who plays the Stage Manager in this production?
A: Will McGarrahan plays the Stage Manager, deviating from the traditional look with casual modern clothing.
Q: What is notable about the set design?
A: The set design, created by Shelley Barish, is minimalistic, focusing on a deep-rooted story represented by the rings of an old tree.
Q: Which actors appear in the Lyric Stage Company cast?
A: The cast also includes De’Lon Grant as Mr. Webb, Robert Najarian as Doc Gibbs, and John Kuntz in multiple roles, including Simon Stimson.
Q: What themes does the production convey?
A: The production conveys themes of daily life, love, marriage, and death in a small-town setting.
Q: How is the play structured?
A: The play is divided into three acts: Daily Life, Love and Marriage, and Death and Eternity.
Q: Where and when is the story set?
A: The story is set in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, during the early 20th century (1901-1914).
Q: What is the production’s larger aim?
A: The production aims to resonate with the collective experiences of the audience, making it a universal story.
Quick reference table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Production | Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town” |
| Venue | Lyric Stage Company of Boston |
| Run through | October 19 |
| Director (this production) | Courtney O’Connor |
| Stage Manager (this production) | Will McGarrahan |
| Set designer | Shelley Barish |
| Structure | Three acts: Daily Life; Love and Marriage; Death and Eternity |
| Setting | Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire (1901-1914) |
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