A show about family is what Canterbury Summer Theatre has booked to start its 50th anniversary season.
“Graceland” from June 13-16 at Canterbury Theatre in Michigan City contains mature themes and is recommended for high school age and older.
“I was looking for shows that are good for our company and our space and that I feel I’m interested in, that I find something in it that I relate to and that show off the talent of our company right off the bat,” said David Graham, director of “Graceland,” via phone from his Chicago home.
“As the actors will move into musicals and different roles, I wanted a nice comedy-drama to kick off the season to give people a taste of what the rest of the season will be like and what the company is like. I wanted to really introduce our audiences to this show.”
Ellen Fairey wrote “Graceland,” which won a 2010 Joseph Jefferson Award for best new work for a non-Equity production at the former Profiles Theatre in Chicago.
“It’s modern-day, current Chicago. A pair of siblings who are both in their 30s have reunited because their father has died unexpectedly,” said Graham, associate artistic director of Canterbury Summer Theatre.
“A lot of the action of the play takes place in the Graceland Cemetery, which is the oldest cemetery in Chicago. The play picks up right after their father’s funeral. They’ve both had an on-and-off relationship with their father.
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“I love the show because it’s about family. It’s about that relationship between parents and children and things that happen that resonate into adulthood. It’s very funny but also something that resonated with me is it deals with grief and how it affects people.”
The summer Canterbury Resident Company includes Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New Hampshire and Oklahoma actors.
“Ray Scott Crawford, our artistic director, has a magic touch for casting,” Graham said.
“I help with the recruiting. We both look at company members and people we’ve auditioned but ultimately Ray Scott Crawford makes the decision on hiring and casting. He always does a marvelous job so I feel confident I’m going to have a great cast.”
Canterbury Theatre hosts a free season kickoff June 10 with a light meal at 4:30 p.m., a 6 p.m. performance and a preview of the shows. Reservations are available by phone.
“We found some really exciting, fresh scripts that really haven’t been done much in the region,” Graham said.
The 50th anniversary season, which is dedicated to the memories of Canterbury Theatre co-founder John Troyer and longtime board member Connie Bauer, also includes “The Bikinis” (June 20-30), “End of the Rainbow” (July 5-14), “Tick, Tick … Boom!” (July 18-28) and “A Texas Romance” (Aug. 2-4).
“I feel wonderful. I feel very proud,” said Graham about the milestone. “I’ve been associated with the theater for over 30 years. I’ve seen the theater go through many changes.
“Sometimes it has come to the brink and it has always rebounded. It’s a testament to the hard work of the members of the Canterbury Guild who have been with it all these years and the board members, people in town and businesses that have supported us.
“One of the things we always wanted to do is get to this 50th anniversary, so it’s just excitement all around.”
‘Graceland’
When: 2 p.m. June 13-14; 7:30 p.m. June 15; 6:30 p.m. June 16
Where: Canterbury Theatre, 807 Franklin St., Michigan City
Tickets: $16 June 13-14; $17 June 15-16; reduced prices for seniors and students
Information: 219-874-4269; www.canterburytheatre.org