by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Cynthia Topps
Sat Matinee 2pm | Sat 3/14
A joyous, heart-warming story.
When two strangers meet by letter during World War II, a love story begins. Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig tells the joyous, heartwarming story of his parents’ courtship and the results are anything but expected.
Dear Jack, Dear Louise is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals, on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. concordtheatricals.com
Intelligent and savvy.Associated Press
CP2 Readers Theatre is an exciting series at County Players which offers an opportunity for actors, directors, and audience members to experience theater in a fresh way: selected plays with full dramatic readings, no costumes, no sets, no props, and the actors perform with scripts in hand. These shows are an incredible opportunity to experience great theater stripped to its essence: the playwright’s words.
Season 68 Show Sponsors:
View/Print/Download the Dear Jack, Dear Louise program (40.67MB)
SYNOPSIS:
TIME: June 1942 – May 1945
THERE WILL BE A SHORT INTERMISSION.
PRODUCTION HISTORY:
After a staged reading at the Folger Theatre in Washington, DC on March 27, 2018, DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE premiered at Arena Stage in Washington, DC on November 21, 2019.
WHO’S WHO:
CAST (in alphabetical order)
is excited to help bring this beautiful story to life! Favorite past productions include Calendar Girls, Urinetown, and Seussical (Creative Theatre – Muddy Water Players). By day, Kayla teaches mathematics and spends her free time with her two teenagers, Kaia and Kellen. Kayla is so proud to be a part of this cast of strong, talented people both on and off stage. She sends a special thank you to her family and friends for supporting her, the theater people in her life that make every show and stage exciting, and to Cindy for trusting her with Louise. County Players debut!
is thrilled to be back yet again on the County Players stage. Last year he made his County Players debut in Big Fish (Don Price) and then appeared in Dracula (Dr. Seward) and A Few Good Men (LTJG Daniel A. Kaffee). He also acted in two readings with Round the Bend Theatre last summer: Let’s Misbehave and I for an I. Prior to 2025, he performed on stage 20 years ago in the national tour of Dancing Henry Five (David Gordon/Pickup Productions). Some of his other favorite roles were in Lend Me a Tenor, Move to Exit, A Winter’s Tale, Carousel, Grease, The Nutcracker, Tom Sawyer, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He has appeared in more than 50 other musicals, plays, and musical reviews. Aaron would like to thank the entire County Players community including you, the audience members!
is an actor who has appeared in numerous stage productions throughout New York City, where he is based, as well as in commercial work. He is thrilled to be making his return to the stage after a brief hiatus, with this production marking his first step back since 2019. Henry is excited to be joining County Players and is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a talented and passionate group of artists. He looks forward to continuing his creative journey both on stage and on screen. County Players debut!
(Louise)
(Jack)
(Narrator)
CREW
started volunteering at County Players in 2017 and has since been involved in several productions including Bullshot Crummond (Otto Von Brunno), Into the Breeches! (Stuart), Perfect Arrangement (Jim), Silent Sky (Peter), Constellations (Roland), Calendar Girls (Lawrence), The Drowsy Chaperone (Man in Chair), and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Freddy). Local credits also include Braille Garden and The Covid Confessions at The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, The Weekend People and Let’s Misbehave at Round the Bend Theater, Into the Woods and Tough Love at New Deal Creative Arts Center, and Ex-Gay Bar with both Howl Playwrights and ArtsWestchester. He also directed for and performed in the Hudson Valley Theatre Festival. Dylan holds a bachelor’s degree in Food Science from the Culinary Institute of America and works for an ice cream manufacturer in Congers, NY. He also serves on the County Players Board of Governors.
is thrilled to return to support two talented casts for the final CP2 Readers’ Theatre festival of this season. They’ve previously stage managed The Dining Room and was assistant stage manager on Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson – Apartment 2B. You can catch them on stage in County Players’ production of Something Rotten! in May. “Special shout outs to Karen, Molly, Aidan, and Chris. Break a leg to everyone this weekend!”
has had six productions on Broadway and eight in London’s West End. His 34 plays and musicals have been produced in over 20 languages in more than 30 countries. His first play, Lend Me a Tenor, won two Tony Awards and was called “one of the classic comedies of the 20th century” by The Washington Post. Crazy For You was on Broadway for five years, on the West End for three, and won the Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Musical. In addition, he has won the Edwin Forrest Award for Contributions to the American Theatre, two Laurence Olivier Awards, two Helen Hayes Awards, the Charles MacArthur Award, and the Edgar Award for Best Mystery of the Year. His other plays include Moon Over Buffalo; Leading Ladies; Baskerville; Sherwood; Twentieth Century; A Fox on the Fairway; A Comedy of Tenors; The Game’s Afoot and Shakespeare in Hollywood. KenLudwig.com
CREATIVE TEAM & PRODUCTION CREW
- Sound and Lighting Design
- Mark Weglinski
- Publicity/Marketing/Ads
- Christine Crawfis, Stacy Greenspan, Joe Pettignano, David J. Ringwood
- Production and Publicity Photography
- Louisa Vilardi
- Postcards/Programs/Brochure
- Thomas G. Byrne, Christine Crawfis, Stacy Greenspan, Joe Pettignano, Louisa Vilardi
- Box Office
- Julie Eads Woolley
Information in “Who’s Who” is provided by those listed. Any opinions expressed are of the players and not necessarily of County Players.
Season 68 Sponsors and Supporters
We would like to extend our thanks to the following foundations, businesses, institutions, and individuals who have provided invaluable support.
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The long history and success of County Players is rooted in the people who believe that our work is worthy of their support. Subscribers/Members may choose to support our ongoing work in many ways, including donations. We wish to express our special appreciation to the following contributors of $25 and more.
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Donors may also choose to support our work by making an individual contribution (not associated with a subscription) during our fiscal year. We wish to express our special appreciation to the following individual contributors of $50 and more.
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COUNTY PLAYERS BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Michael A. Boden
President
Christine E. Crawfis
1st Vice President
Kit Colbourn
2nd Vice President
Jody Coleman
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Michael J. Frohnhoefer
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NOTES
NO RECORDING: The use of any audio or video recording device, and the taking of photographs, with or without flash, is strictly prohibited. Violators may be punished by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for monetary damages.
FIRE NOTICE: Fire exits are indicated by illuminated signs above the exit doors. In the event of fire or other emergency, please WALK to the nearest exit door.
TURN OFF ELECTRONIC DEVICES: The use of cellular phones, pagers, and other audible or light-emitting electronic devices is an annoyance to your fellow theater-goers and can interfere with our wireless lighting and sound systems. If you are in possession of any of these devices, please ensure they are TURNED OFF, not merely silenced, throughout the performance.
NO SMOKING: County Players At The Falls Theater is a smoke-free building. Smoking is prohibited anywhere on the premises and within 50 feet of any of the entrances.
Guests expecting EMERGENCY MESSAGES should notify the house manager upon their arrival at the theater.
LATECOMERS will be seated at the discretion of the management at the first appropriate interval on a space available basis.
RESTROOMS are located in the back of the theater.
EMERGENCY RESUSCITATION EQUIPMENT (AED) is located behind the refreshment counter in the lobby. County Players is designated a Heartsafe Location by the Dutchess County Commissioner of Health.
PARKING is at your own risk. County Players is not responsible for parking tickets, towing fees, or damage incurred to vehicles of patrons. Please obey all parking signs and regulations.
TICKETS are non-refundable. We do not accept unpaid reservations. Purchases may be made in advance or call the Box Office or online at countyplayers.org using your MasterCard, VISA, or Discover, by mailing a check at least two weeks prior to a performance.
COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS are welcomed by County Players. Please direct them to the House Manager who can be located through the Box Office. Policies are subject to change without notice.
Just for Testing
Title = Dear Jack, Dear Louise
by Ken Ludwig
This show is a Play
This show is a Comedy
Book by
Music by
Lyrics by
Based on
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Main Stage or CP2?
Directed by Cynthia Topps
Musical Direction by
Choreography by
Program file URL = https://countyplayers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CP2-Dear-Jack-Camping-Program-WEB.pdf
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Fri & Sat 8pm | Fri 3/13
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Sun Matinee 2pm |
Sat Matinee 2pm | Sat 3/14
CAST (in alphabetical order)
is excited to help bring this beautiful story to life! Favorite past productions include Calendar Girls, Urinetown, and Seussical (Creative Theatre – Muddy Water Players). By day, Kayla teaches mathematics and spends her free time with her two teenagers, Kaia and Kellen. Kayla is so proud to be a part of this cast of strong, talented people both on and off stage. She sends a special thank you to her family and friends for supporting her, the theater people in her life that make every show and stage exciting, and to Cindy for trusting her with Louise. County Players debut!
is thrilled to be back yet again on the County Players stage. Last year he made his County Players debut in Big Fish (Don Price) and then appeared in Dracula (Dr. Seward) and A Few Good Men (LTJG Daniel A. Kaffee). He also acted in two readings with Round the Bend Theatre last summer: Let’s Misbehave and I for an I. Prior to 2025, he performed on stage 20 years ago in the national tour of Dancing Henry Five (David Gordon/Pickup Productions). Some of his other favorite roles were in Lend Me a Tenor, Move to Exit, A Winter’s Tale, Carousel, Grease, The Nutcracker, Tom Sawyer, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He has appeared in more than 50 other musicals, plays, and musical reviews. Aaron would like to thank the entire County Players community including you, the audience members!
is an actor who has appeared in numerous stage productions throughout New York City, where he is based, as well as in commercial work. He is thrilled to be making his return to the stage after a brief hiatus, with this production marking his first step back since 2019. Henry is excited to be joining County Players and is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a talented and passionate group of artists. He looks forward to continuing his creative journey both on stage and on screen. County Players debut!