Done To Death

January 16 - February 21, 2025

by Fred Carmichael

Directed by Van Rockwell

In this crowd-pleasing comedy, once-famous mystery writers are brought together to collaborate on a new murder mystery TV show! The five eccentric writers include a couple who write sophisticated murder mysteries, a young author of the James Bond school, a retired writer of hard-hitting thrillers, and an aging queen of the logical whodunit. Each applies their unique methods, alternating between reality and imagination, to solve the murders occurring all around them. An ingenious parody of every mystery plot, hero and villain created in the past 50 years, the author plays a skillful, fast-paced and clever game of ‘Guess Again’ with the audience!

The Rainmaker

March 20 - April 26, 2025

by N. Richard Nash

Directed by Diedra Celeste Miranda

A classic story of faith, hope and dreams. Set in a time of a paralyzing drought in Depression-era America, The Rainmaker tells the story of a pivotal hot summer day in the life of plain Lizzie Curry, whose father and two brothers are worried as much about her marriage prospects as they are about their dying cattle. Lizzie Curry finds herself falling, against her better judgment, for a sweet-talking traveler who promises to bring rain to her family's ever-dry Texas town. The rainmaker also turns his magic on the girl as he persuades her that she has a very real beauty of her own. A warm, funny, touching romp.

Awards, Accolades, Adaptations

The Rainmaker was adapted into the popular 1956 film starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn.

Leading Ladies

May 15 - June 21, 2025

by Ken Ludwig

Directed by Cheryl Schaar

In this hilarious comedy, two English Shakespearean actors, Leo and Jack, find themselves so down on their luck that they’re performing "Scenes from Shakespeare" on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. But then, what luck! They hear that dear old Florence of nearby York, PA is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews whom she has never seen. For Jack and Leo it is the work of an instant to turn themselves into nephews Max and Steve and grab the cash. And that’s when the complications set in… Romantic entanglements abound, as Some Like It Hot meets Twelfth Night in this screwball comedy filled with bad behavior, high heels and a world of comedy.

Fast-paced and bursting with mistaken identities and clever plot twists, Leading Ladies is a highly combustible and increasingly raucous farce!

Heaven Can Wait

July 10 - August 16, 2025

by Harry Segall

Directed by Diedra Celeste Miranda

As guardian angel Mr. Jordan is checking passengers who are to depart for the Hereafter, the routine is interrupted by the arrival of Joe Pendleton, an attractive prizefighter, who refuses to admit he is dead! Joe induces Jordan to look up the "records," which reveal that Joe is not scheduled to arrive for another 60 years! As he starts to return to earth, he discovers that his body has been, inconveniently, cremated and he must inhabit the body of wealthy financier Jonathan Farnsworth who is about to be murdered by his wife. The comedy begins when the pompous "Farnsworth" unaccountably goes into training as a fighter. This romantic sports fantasy-comedy explores how the resulting increasingly complex complications from this mistake can be undone, including Joe’s loss of memory of his previous existence and his true love Bette. Will Heaven wait for love, after all?

Awards, Accolades, Adaptations

Harry Segall's play Heaven Can Wait has been adapted into multiple films that have won and been nominated for numerous awards, including the 1941 film Here Comes Mr. Jordan and the hit Warren Beatty 1978 film Heaven Can Wait.

Crazy For You

September 5 - October 17, 2025

Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin

Book by Ken Ludwig

Co-Conception by Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent

Inspired by Material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan

Director To Be Announced

City slicker falls for hometown girl in this zany, ebullient romantic comedy featuring cowboys, showgirls, high-energy production numbers, and a glorious score from George and Ira Gershwin. Crazy For You tells the story of young New York banker Bobby Child, who is sent to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a rundown theatre. In Deadrock, Bobby falls for spunky Polly Baker, the theatre owner’s daughter. But Polly takes an instant dislike to the city slicker, so Bobby vows – through cunning, razzmatazz, and a hilarious case of mistaken identity – to win Polly’s heart and save the theatre. Memorable Gershwin tunes from the score include “I Got Rhythm,” “Naughty Baby,” “They Can't Take That Away from Me,” “Embraceable You,” “But Not for Me,” “Nice Work If You Can Get It” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

Awards, Accolades, Adaptations

Winner - Three 1992 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Winner - Two 1992 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical Winner! Three 1992 Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding Broadway Musical

It's A Wonderful Life

November 13 - December 23, 2025

A DBFRT annual tradition!

Based on the film by Frank Capra which is based on the 1943 short story "The Greatest Gift" by Philip Van Doren Stern

Directed by Cheryl Schaar

The beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life on the DBFRT stage. Based on the 1946 Frank Capra film, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds one fateful Christmas Eve. George is the Everyman from the small town of Bedford Falls, whose childhood dreams of escape and adventure have been quashed by family obligation and civic duty. His guardian angel Clarence descends on Christmas Eve to save him from despair and to remind him—by showing what the world would have been like had he never been born—that his has been, after all, a wonderful life. This theatrically staged adaptation overflows with warmth, humor, and Christmas joy. 

Awards, Accolades, Adaptations

DBFRT has won the 2017/18 ariZoni Awards for Best Play and Best Direction of a Play (Cheryl Schaar); and over a dozen ariZoni Award Nominations in the past 4 years. The 1947 Frank Capra film starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed is now considered to be one of the greatest films of all time and among the best Christmas films. It has been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made.