The Players at The Barker Playhouse

The Players at The Barker Playhouse America's Oldest Little Theatre!

Perfect Arrangement Auditions:
https://forms.gle/xdR4AZYi53xpwrkj8

Info on season, auditions, & tickets/membership: www.playersri.org (or call 401-273-0590 10am-2pm, Mon-Fri)

Auditions are just five days away for "Perfect Arrangement" by Topher Payne, directed by Tyler John . Sign up at link i...
06/17/2026

Auditions are just five days away for "Perfect Arrangement" by Topher Payne, directed by Tyler John .

Sign up at link in our bio!

Show dates: September 25-October 4, 2026

Coming soon to the J.W. Riker Greenroom! Join us for an evening of short plays written by Fall River native and familiar...
06/12/2026

Coming soon to the J.W. Riker Greenroom! Join us for an evening of short plays written by Fall River native and familiar face to RI Theater- Cam Torres. This is a free J. W. Riker Greenroom event- no reservations needed! See you at the Barker Playhouse :)

Audition sign ups now open for our first show of our 118th season! Perfect Arrangement by Topher Payne, directed by Tyle...
06/09/2026

Audition sign ups now open for our first show of our 118th season! Perfect Arrangement by Topher Payne, directed by Tyler John , is a play that blends comedy and drama to explore the "Lavender Scare" of the 1950s, where the U.S. government purged suspected homosexuals from federal jobs. The plot centers on two closeted State Department employees, Bob and Norma, who are tasked with rooting out "sexual deviants" while maintaining their own cover by pretending to be a heterosexual couple married to each other's partners.

Audition link in bio.

Dates for all the season auditions on the final slide.

*Cue Dramatic Movie Trailer Voice* - In a world, where the generation gap stretches further and further, one Providence ...
05/27/2026

*Cue Dramatic Movie Trailer Voice* - In a world, where the generation gap stretches further and further, one Providence community theater is using their 118 years of experience to bring people back together.

We are so excited to announce Season 118 at Barker Playhouse! This year, we're bringing together stories that speak across generations, because in our community it is just as important to learn from each other as it is to take center stage. Each show this season merges something old with something new, whether it be perspectives, problems, values, vices, or style and slang.

Keep an eye out for membership and audition announcements to join us for what is sure to be a season to remember!

1️⃣"A Perfect Arrangement" by Topher Payne, directed by Tyler John
2️⃣"Catch Me If You Can" book by Terrence McNally, score by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, directed by Greg Geer with musical direction by Tim Sauer
3️⃣"H*tler's Tasters" by Michelle Kholos Brooks, directed by Lynne Collinson
4️⃣"Clue" based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, written by Sandy Rustin, directed by Elizabeth Peterson and Jeff Davis
5️⃣"How to Transcend a Happy Marriage" by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Kelli Noonan

The reviews for Talk Radio are all glowing! Only one more weekend to see this show and tickets are almost sold out. Don'...
05/15/2026

The reviews for Talk Radio are all glowing! Only one more weekend to see this show and tickets are almost sold out. Don't miss your chance to see this one.

05/09/2026

Opening night was a full house and our audience loved the show!

It's opening night for Talk Radio! Based on a true story, Talk Radio is even more prescient today, where podcasts have b...
05/08/2026

It's opening night for Talk Radio!

Based on a true story, Talk Radio is even more prescient today, where podcasts have become the primary medium for what used to be AM/FM radio shock jocks (mostly). The play walks the edge between exploring the boundaries of free speech and the consequences of exploring that right.

Directed by Terry Shea

Talk Radio preview night tonight and opens tomorrow!Here is a review from tech preview audience member Ryan Leverone: “I...
05/07/2026

Talk Radio preview night tonight and opens tomorrow!

Here is a review from tech preview audience member Ryan Leverone:

“I would like to talk to you about jerks. Why do we love them?

Talk Radio, the stunning pitch-black comedy rounding out the 117th season at The Players is a show about being a jerk. Primarily, it is a show about being a performer and performing as a jerk.

Where does the performance end and where does the person begin? Or is it the other way around? Either way, this Pulitzer finalist that perfectly portrays its birth year of 1987 feels more pertinent than ever.

The Players take on this modern classic works impeccably in so many ways. I’ll begin with the first thing you see: the set. It simply beggars belief. It is a fully working radio station on stage, lumps and all. The set alone is worth your admission price.

Speaking of lumps and all, yes, our loudmouth is the central focus of the piece, but the world around him is vibrant and buzzing with electricity straight from the third rail of humanity.
Our radio jock’s coworkers have the hapless task of living with him on the day to day, doing their best to recon with the fact that they’ve hitched themselves less to a wagon and more to something trying to break the land speed record.

The show’s callers are the sea of humanity, ready to swallow you up. They oscillate between the mundane and the startling. Their problems are of their time and, alarmingly, still of ours. It is a dark and fascinating mirror.

Then there is our jerk: both the ringmaster of this circus and the organ grinder’s monkey. It is a character study that you love to hate and fully pity. It walks that delicate line where it is both hard to know what’s honest, but also feels harrowingly human.

You can tell that director Terry Shea had a goal in mind for this show and fought hard for that goal. He saw the grand vision but also sweat the small stuff. Talk Radio is a dark comedy that is the one thing that is so hard to be in 2026, it’s shocking.

RJ”

MAY we suggest that you reserve your seats for our final play of the season asap?! This month at the Players is all abou...
04/29/2026

MAY we suggest that you reserve your seats for our final play of the season asap?! This month at the Players is all about celebrating theater with our community and friends like ( and ). From the mainstage to the greenroom to community events, we're closing season 117 with great theater of all shapes and sizes!

Before podcasts, there were radio shows. And before you could skip an ad or listen on 2x speed, you could pick up the ph...
04/17/2026

Before podcasts, there were radio shows. And before you could skip an ad or listen on 2x speed, you could pick up the phone and call the host directly to tell him what you thought.

Rehearsals are underway and we cannot WAIT for you to meet Barry Champlain. Talk Radio is hilarious, electric, and uncomfortably familiar.

Directed by Terry Shea
Show dates: May 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17, 2026
Ticket link in bio!

NewEnglandTheatre ComingSoon TalkRadioPlay BarkerPlayhouse

Address

400 Benefit Street
Providence, RI
02903

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 2pm
Tuesday 10am - 2pm
Wednesday 10am - 2pm
Thursday 10am - 2pm
Friday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+14012730590

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Players at The Barker Playhouse posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to The Players at The Barker Playhouse:

Shortcuts

Share

Category