THE PLAYGROUND THEATRE CO.
at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts
ABOUT THE PLAYGROUND
The Playground Theatre Co. (est. 2022) is a Chelmsford-based community theatre group. Led by co-heads Donna DeWitt and Lauren Cochran, The Playground is dedicated to providing a wide variety of programming, mounting original shows by local playwrights, as well as established works. The Playground encourages local actors from Chelmsford and surrounding towns to share their talents on the CCA stage.
AUDITIONS
FOR THE 2026 TEN-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
April 12th and 13th from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm in the auditorium.
Performances June 5th - 7th in the auditorium.
THE FOURTH ANNUAL
TEN-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
The Book Club by Marcy Rose
I, Phone by Tom Moran
37 Origami Bees by Philip Middleton Williams
Brief Exchange by Matthew Heftler
Time Table by Jeff Perlman
The Vampires of Brooklyn by Deb Nagan-Lee
The Ultimate Rebrand by Kevin Flaherty
Ups and Downs by Cam Eickmeyer
Crowbar by Sara Freedman
Bargain Barn by James Kelsey Nelson
Harken To Me by Alexander Wilkie
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS
AN EVENING OF NONSENSE
A Side-Splitting Showcase of Original Comedies
May 8th at 7:30 pm and May 9th at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
in the auditorium.
Regular tickets $20,
$15 for students and seniors.
Featuring eight original one-act comedies written and directed by local talent.
TITLES INCLUDE:
Geriatric Millennial, Where Did We Go Wrong?, Stockholm Syndrome, Man Cave, Un Film Verte, 3 Franken Street and Spare (all by Charlie Smith), as well as Ugh! I Should Have Known That, written by Timmy Chase,
and Pending Pick Up by Glenn Pierce.
THE 25TH ANNUAL
PUTNAM COUNTY
SPELLING BEE
October 16th – 18th, 2026 in the CCA auditorium.
Directed by Donna DeWitt | Music Direction by Judy Hayward
A charmingly witty and touching story of a quirky group of competitors in a middle school spelling bee, ...Spelling Bee has entertained audiences across the world since its Tony–winning Broadway debut in 2005.
AUDITIONS JUNE 7TH & 8TH
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFO!
Music and Lyrics by WILLIAM FINN Book by RACHEL SHEINKIN Conceived by REBECCA FELDMAN
Additional materials by JAY REISS
Originally directed on Broadway by JAMES LAPINE
Originally Produced on Broadway by DAVID STONE, JAMES NEDERLANDER, BARBARA WHITMAN, PATRICK CATULLO, Barrington Stage Company, Second Stage Theatre.
This amateur production is presented by arrangement with MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL.
PAST
PRODUCTIONS
The CHS Alumni Talent Show
(November 2022-2025)
Santi and Perch:
Countdown to Christmas
Written by Eloise Hoffman, Donna DeWitt, Kaitlin Self-Aris, Dan Adamsky and Eliza Duggan
(December 2023 & 2024)
The Ten-Minute Play Festival at the CCA
(June 2023-2025)
Audience
Written by Michael Frayn (April 2024)
The 39 Steps (Abridged)
Written by Patrick Barlow (October 2024)
A Funny Thing Happened on
the Way to the Litterbox
Written by Erin Enwright (March 2025)
Family Album
Written by Eloise Hoffman (September 2025)
Audience (April 2024), dir. Lauren Cochran and Donna DeWitt
Santi and Perch (Dec. 2024), dir. Lauren Cochran and Donna DeWitt
