Our Town

A classic American drama that still resonates with audiences today, OUR TOWN is the definition of a masterpiece. Set in the fictional neighborhood of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, Thornton Wilder’s 1938 Pulitzer Prize winning opus concerning the triumphs and struggles of everyday life in a “town” worthy of your frequent flier miles. It should not come as a shock that Mr. Wilder’s prose has stood the test of time, as he has flawlessly woven an intricate band of commonplace characters into a heartbreaking story that lifts the human spirit, and soothes the soul. There isn’t a falling chandelier or a flying helicopter necessary to pack the emotional punch that Mr. Wilder has already provided with his beautiful display of two families facing the hopes and hardships that go hand in hand with faith, marriage, loss and the prospect of a better tomorrow. The audience is invited to follow Emily Webb and George Gibbs as they grow up and fall in love in a town that is more than likely not too dissimilar from your own neck of the woods. Mr. Wilder’s poignant dialogue and topical discussions of how we cultivate as a community are key players as to why OUR TOWN will continue to endure and inspire amongst productions around the world. Don’t you think it’s time you made the trip?

Thornton Wilder’s timelessly moving play is an undeniable hallmark of American dramatic literature. Set in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, the play begins as a simple examination of daily life. Through the guidance of the Stage Manager, the facilitating central character, the play follows the life of Emily Webb as she successes through the normal stages of life, from her early school days all the way up to her marriage to her childhood neighbor George Gibbs. While the first two acts serve as a simple but intimate portrait of human interaction, the third act truly prompts a great deal of introspection. Emily returns to life after death, only to realize that she had not fully cherished every beautiful detail of her life on earth.

Emily’s question, “Does anyone ever realize life while they live it- every, every minute?” rings inherently and eternally true. Wilder has the remarkable ability to transform an intimate, microscopic lens into a wider, telescopic lens that broadens our perspective and urges us to consider our interaction with the world around us. For that reason, Our Town will continue to be an ever relevant, formative American play.

Set in the idyllic Grover's Corners, Thornton Wilder's masterpiece weaves together the tragic and aching tale of small town life at the turn of the century. Narrated by the sardonic and wholly omniscient Stage Manager, Our Town focuses on the life and death of Emily Webb, a typical Northeastern woman whose days are cut short. It's a simple story and far from noteworthy, but Our Town focuses on the beauty in the mundane, taking simple observations of everyday life and making them poetic and mystical.

Once considered an ancient relic doomed to a life of poor recitations in sophomore English classrooms, this tantamount play is once again getting the accolades it deserves. Featuring an ever present stage manager and limited set and props, Our Town was a fairly avant-garde production in its day. The slightly cynical and captivating view of the afterlife in act three is of grave importance, distancing the play from the folksy, saccharine reputation it undeservedly receives.