Lost Nation Theater Presents Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” at Montpelier’s City Hall Arts Center

Lost Nation Theater is set to stage Thornton Wilder’s timeless American classic, Our Town, from April 16 to April 26, 2025, at the City Hall Arts Center in Montpelier, Vermont. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Each evening, with additional matinee shows scheduled for select weekends. The production marks a significant cultural event for central Vermont, bringing one of the most frequently performed plays in American theater to an intimate, community-focused venue.

First premiered in 1938 and awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Our Town explores the universal themes of love, mortality, and the quiet beauty of everyday life in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners. Wilder’s minimalist staging and meta-theatrical narration—guided by the Stage Manager—invite audiences to reflect on the profound significance of ordinary moments. Lost Nation Theater’s interpretation aims to honor the play’s enduring relevance while connecting it to contemporary Vermont audiences.

About Lost Nation Theater

Founded in 1989, Lost Nation Theater is a professional equity theater company based in Montpelier, dedicated to producing bold, thought-provoking works that challenge, and inspire. The company has earned a reputation for artistic excellence, having received multiple Vermont Arts Council grants and recognition from the New England Theatre Conference. Known for its commitment to accessibility and community engagement, Lost Nation Theater frequently offers talk-backs, educational workshops, and pay-what-you-can performances to broaden audience access.

The theater operates year-round from its home at the City Hall Arts Center, a renovated municipal building that combines historic architecture with modern performance technology. The venue features a flexible black-box theater space, allowing for innovative staging approaches that enhance productions like Our Town, where minimal sets and imaginative lighting play a crucial role.

Production Details and Creative Team

This production of Our Town is directed by Kathleen Keenan, Lost Nation Theater’s founding artistic director, who brings over three decades of experience in classical and contemporary theater to the project. Keenan has previously directed acclaimed productions of works by Shakespeare, Miller, and Wilson, and her approach to Our Town emphasizes emotional authenticity and ensemble cohesion.

The cast features a blend of seasoned Equity actors and emerging local talent, reflecting the theater’s mission to foster artistic growth within Vermont’s creative community. Notable cast members include:

• Michael Price as the Stage Manager – a veteran actor with extensive regional theater credits.
• Emily Carter as Emily Webb – making her debut with Lost Nation Theater after training at the Boston Conservatory.
• David Langston as George Gibbs – a returning performer known for his work in Vermont Stage Company productions.

Design elements are led by longtime collaborators: set design by Peter Briggs, lighting by Maria Torres, and original sound composition by Julian Reed. The creative team has opted for a stripped-down aesthetic, using suggestive props and lighting shifts to evoke time and place, allowing Wilder’s language and themes to take center stage.

Performance Schedule and Ticket Information

Performances of Our Town will run from Wednesday, April 16 through Saturday, April 26, 2025. Evening shows begin at 7:30 p.m., with matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. On April 19, 20, 26, and 27. All performances take place at the City Hall Arts Center, located at 39 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.

Ticket prices are as follows:

• General Admission: $28
• Seniors (65+): $25
• Students: $18
• Youth (under 18): $15

Tickets can be purchased online through the Lost Nation Theater website (lostnationtheater.org) or by calling the box office at (802) 223-6789. Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more, and the theater offers a limited number of pay-what-you-can tickets for each performance to ensure accessibility.

Why Our Town Resonates Today

Nearly a century after its debut, Our Town remains one of the most produced plays in the United States, according to data from Theatre Communications Group. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to transcend time and place, inviting audiences to contemplate the fleeting nature of life and the importance of presence in relationships and community.

In an era marked by digital distraction and social fragmentation, Wilder’s call to “realize life while we live it” feels particularly urgent. Lost Nation Theater’s production seeks to amplify this message by fostering a shared, communal experience—one that encourages audience members to leave the theater not just entertained, but more attentive to the quiet miracles of their own daily lives.

Community Engagement and Educational Outreach

As part of its commitment to arts education, Lost Nation Theater is offering a series of complementary events alongside the Our Town run:

• Pre-show talks: Held 45 minutes before select evening performances, featuring discussions with the director and cast about the play’s themes and historical context.
• Student matinees: Special performances for middle and high school students from across Vermont, accompanied by study guides aligned with state English and theater arts standards.
• Post-show discussions: Facilitated conversations exploring how the play’s ideas apply to modern life, including topics such as grief, mindfulness, and civic belonging.

These initiatives are supported in part by a grant from the Vermont Arts Council and contributions from local businesses and individual donors.

Final Thoughts

Lost Nation Theater’s staging of Our Town offers more than a theatrical performance—it provides an opportunity for reflection, connection, and renewal. By presenting Wilder’s masterpiece in the heart of Montpelier, the company reinforces the vital role of live theater in fostering empathy, dialogue, and a shared sense of humanity.

Whether you are a lifelong admirer of Our Town or experiencing it for the first time, this production promises a moving and memorable encounter with one of America’s greatest literary works. As the Stage Manager reminds us in the final act: “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute?” Lost Nation Theater invites Montpelier and beyond to answer that question—not just in the theater, but in the living of each day.