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BECKY'S NEW CAR |
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| directed by Kimberly Laberge | ||
| August 20 - September 5, 2026 | ||
| SETTING | ||
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The Present
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| BECKY'S NEW CAR is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com) |
Follow Us:
2026 Season Sponsors
Special Thanks
Lapham Peak Park Rangers; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Carroll University Reservation and Events; Marquette University
Things to Know
Video/Photo: Recording and photography during the performance are prohibited at SummerStage of Delafield due to copyright law.
Cell Phones: Patrons are asked to turn off any noise making device before the show begins. You may use your phone to browse this program.
Concessions: Concessions are available approximately 1 hour prior to the start of the show and then again at intermission. Concessions are not sold when the show is in progress. Yes, you may bring your own drinks and snacks to SummerStage!
Seating: All tickets are general admission. We don't have seats in the forest so be sure you bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets!
Bug Spraying: We do spray weekly to control mosquitos and other insects, but you might want to bring some extra bug spray just in case!
Restrooms: You can either use the portable bathrooms next to concessions or use the plumbed bathrooms in the Lapham Lodge (closes at 9 pm) off the parking lot. The golf cart will run at intermission if you want a ride down.
About the Playwright
Steven Dietz is one of the most widely produced playwrights in the United States. Born in Denver in 1958 and educated at the University of Northern Colorado, he began his career in Minneapolis, where he directed new plays at The Playwrights' Center before establishing himself as a writer whose work moves easily between political drama, comedy, thriller, and adaptation. Over four decades he has written more than forty plays and adaptations, seen at over a hundred regional theatres, Off-Broadway, and in twenty-five countries.
His plays include Lonely Planet, God's Country, Last of the Boys, Fiction, Yankee Tavern, Becky's New Car, Shooting Star, and Bloomsday, along with widely staged adaptations of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure. The range is deliberate: a two-hander about friendship during the AIDS crisis sits alongside a broad comedy about a woman offered a second life, and both share his interest in ordinary people at the moment a choice becomes irreversible.
Dietz has received the Steinberg New Play Citation for Bloomsday, the PEN USA-West Award in Drama for Lonely Planet, two Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays awards for Fiction and Still Life with Iris, and an Edgar Award for Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure. From 2006 to 2018 he taught in the MFA playwriting and directing programs at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also an accomplished director of his own and others' work.
From the Director
I first experienced Becky's New Car nearly a decade ago, and it has been parked in my garage ever since, gathering dust and waiting for the perfect opportunity to get washed up and ready for an audience. When I saw the show all those years ago, I was struck by the uniqueness of the play - audience interaction, a love triangle centered on characters past the traditional "ingenue" window, and a true star vehicle. I remember laughing (and laughing, and becoming sore from laughing some more). As time has gone by, my own perspectives on the story have shifted, and my love for it has only grown.
Who among us has not found themselves buried in stress and dreaming of a parallel life? Becky's New Car gives audiences an opportunity to live vicariously through Becky and experience the road not taken. It's messy and thrilling and illuminating. Instead of teetering on the edge of decisions, it plunges us headfirst into a world of "what ifs", and at the bottom lies a foundation that is remarkably grounded and nuanced.
It's not every day that you get the opportunity to direct your favorite play, and it's been such an honor to bring these characters -- in their charms and their flaws -- to life here at SummerStage. The cast and crew have each brought so much of themselves and their own perspectives into the lens of their roles, bringing truth to even the most heightened, ridiculous moments of Dietz's brilliant play.
I hope you see Becky and the people in her life, and see the people you know and love through their dreams and desires and mistakes. But most of all, I hope you laugh tonight. It is a comedy, after all.
Cast
Creative Team
Kimberly Laberge
Jenn Dobby
Cassie Gherardini
John Gonzales
Scott Fudali
Alex Metalsky
Claire Michels
David A. Robins
Natalie Wanasek
Meet the Company
Eric Boldger
SummerStage: 1st season. Other: Nana’s Naughty Knickers, All Shook Up (Sunset Playhouse); Guys On Ice, A Scrap of Paper, Calico Tiger, The Edwin Booth Company Presents, Threepenny Opera, Inspecting Carol (UW-Whitewater). Training: BA Theatre Performance from UW-Whitewater. Etc: Eric is thrilled to be cast in his first show at SummerStage! This will be Eric’s third show for 2026 and he is loving every second of it. Thank you for supporting the arts!
Stephanie Demyun
SummerStage: 7th season. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Steel Magnolias, Brighton Beach Memoirs, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Anne of Green Gables, The Nerd, Don’t Drink the Water. Other: Measure for Measure (Madison Shakespeare Company); Blithe Spirit, Clue, The Dixie Swim Club, Over the Tavern, Love Sex & the IRS, Under the Yum Yum Tree, Wally’s Café, Hotbed Hotel, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Private Lives, Godspell (Sunset Playhouse); Opal, The Liar, Last Train to Nibroc, Steel Magnolias, John, His Story, The Jeweler’s Shop, Little Women, You Can’t Take it With You (Acacia Theatre); Silent Sky, Communicating Doors, The Foreigner, Lysistrata (Waukesha Civic Theatre); Steel Magnolias, Savannah Sipping Society (Lake Country Playhouse); The Sensuous Senator (Racine Theatre Guild); Baby (Stage West) Etc: Love always to Aiden, Ava, and Noah! “I am my Beloved’s…”
Logan Milway
SummerStage: 5th season. Unnecessary Farce, Crimes of the Heart, Rumors, On Golden Pond, Trip to Bountiful, Tartuffe. Other: A Very Deadly Constructivists Holiday, Bed and Breakfast of the Damned (The Constructivists); The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (Hartford Players); Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer the Musical (First Stage Children’s Theatre); Frankenstein, Tecumseh! (The Scioto Society); Elf the Musical (Sunset Playhouse). Training: BFA, Carthage College; Broadsword, Unarmed, Rapier and Dagger (Dueling Arts International). Etc: Thanks to the cast, crew, and all of our friends and families for their support. Put on your bug spray and enjoy the show!
Mark Neufang
SummerStage: 3rd season. The Odd Couple, Present Laughter. Other: Acting: These Shining Lives, Holmes and Watson, Sense and Sensibility (Acacia Theatre Company); Perfect Arrangement, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Torch Song, Next Fall, The Temperamentals, {title of show}, The Normal Heart (Theatrical Tendencies); Clue, An Inspector Calls, How to Succeed in Business…, Deathtrap, Holiday (Sunset Playhouse); Mothers and Sons (Boulevard Theatre), Dial M for Murder, Blithe Spirit (Racine Theatre Guild); The Full Monty (Greendale Community Theatre); Art (Milwaukee Entertainment Group); Legally Blonde, 12 Angry Men, Big Fish, The Woman in Black, Over the River and Through the Woods, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, The Philadelphia Story, Arsenic and Old Lace, Blithe Spirit, The 1940s Radio Hour, Twelfth Night, The Lion in Winter, The Fantasticks, My Fair Lady (Waukesha Civic Theatre); Glengarry Glen Ross, Rope, Night Must Fall (Off the Wall Theatre). Directing: Steel Magnolias (Falls Patio Players), Enchanted April, Crimes of the Heart (Waukesha Civic Theatre), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Milwaukee Entertainment Group), Stop Kiss (Theatrical Tendencies). Training: BFA in Art/Theatre Arts, Carroll University. Etc: Mark is an avid baker (Neufangled Desserts) and works as Senior Accounting Coordinator for the Chef Ann Foundation. As always, all his love to his family, friends, and most especially, his partner Jake.
Julie Rowley
SummerStage: 1st season. Sweet Delilah Swim Club, Becky’s New Car. Other: Unnecessary Farce, Man Who Came to Dinner, On the Razzle (Sunset Playhouse); Noises Off, Plaza Suite (Falls Patio Players); Psych (The New Theatre on Main); Diary of Anne Frank, Lend Me A Tenor (Waukesha Civic); John: His Story (Acacia Theatre); Dracula: The Musical (Theatre X); Sweet Charity (Habitat Stoughton); To Kill a Mockingbird, A Christmas Carol (Children’s Theatre of Madison). Training: American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). Etc: Seeing the spark of creativity in my daughter has lifted it once again in myself. Thank you, Mags, you are my sunshine. And a shout-out to my family and friends that support my shenanigans and keep me fed and watered while diving back into theater - appreciate you! And last, but not least, thank YOU for coming and supporting live theater!
Amanda Springob
SummerStage: 1st season. Other: The DaVinci Code (Lake Country Playhouse), Now & Then (Sunset Playhouse), Steel Magnolias (Falls Patio Players), Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, Legally Blonde, Greetings From Green Lake, RENT (Waukesha Civic Theater). Etc: Amanda loves to act, write and travel. She works as a copywriter for Hyatt Hotels Corporation as well as a freelance writer.
Matthew Umstot
SummerStage: 1st season. Other: Acting: Rent, Murder on the Orient Express, A Christmas Story, Kinky Boots, Mars Lost, Newsies, The Prom (Waukesha Civic Theater); The Submission, Vultures (Theatrical Tendencies); South Pacific (Forte Theater Company); The Hatmaker’s Wife, Driving Miss Daisy (Lake Country Playhouse), Tartuffe (Trout Theater Company), Charmed: The Musical (Words of the Witches Podcast), We Are the Drum (CAPITA Productions). Directing: The Critics (One Act Play Festival @ Inspiration Studios) Etc: Thank you for coming to support the arts! Nothing could make me happier, enjoy the show!
Kimberly Laberge
SummerStage: 3rd season. Lucrece, The Liar; Little Women, ASM. Other: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Next to Normal, Things I Know to Be True, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, Of Thread and Thorn (Kith & Kin Theatre Collective); Stupid F*cking Bird, Heathers in Concert (Placeholder Players), Cabaret, Making God Laugh (Lake Country Playhouse); Oedipus Rex, Creditors (Fleeing Artists Theatre). Coming next: Come From Away (Greendale Community Theatre). Training: BA Theatre Practices - UW Milwaukee. Etc: By day, Kimberly works with the passionate team of arts fundraisers at UPAF. By night, she serves as the artistic director of Kith & Kin Theatre Collective. She can often be found sawed in half with Glen Gerard Magic & Comedy or screaming obscenities as Columbia with the Milwaukee Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadowcast, Sensual Daydreams. She drives a modest used car but lives a life full of novelty and love.
Jenn Dobby
SummerStage: 3rd Season. Intimacy Director for Anne of Green Gables, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and The Liar. Other: Intimacy Direction residencies at Waukesha Civic Theatre and Outskirts Theatre Company. Training: BFA in Theatre from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; MFA in Writing for the Stage+Screen from Northwestern University; Intimacy training with Theatrical Intimacy Education in the U.S. (TIE) and Intimacy Directors and Coordinators in the U.K. (IDC). Etc: Jenn is a local director, playwright, and intimacy director/choreographer. She teaches at Carroll University, where she recently directed Boeing Boeing, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Rock of Ages this past season. Enjoy the show, and thank you for supporting the Arts!
Cassie Gherardini
SummerStage: 1st season. Other: Hamlet (Summit Players Theatre); All Is Calm (Vanguard Milwaukee); The Prom (Waukesha Civic Theatre); Mamma Mia!, Fiddler on the Roof, 42nd Street (Falls Patio Players), Much Ado About Nothing, Two Rooms (Marquette Theatre) Training: BA Theatre Arts, Marquette University; MA Education, Alverno College. Etc: Milwaukee-based costumer and interdisciplinary artist, Cassie (she/her) is happy to make her SummerStage debut! When not at the theatre, she can usually be found behind the pottery wheel in her attic studio or petting cats. www.cassieg.art
John Gonzales
SummerStage: 1st season. Becky's New Car, The Merry Wives of Windsor. Other: Fiddler on the Roof, Our Town, Newsies, Clue, The Spitfire Grill, Clown Bar, Afterimages, Danstage, Red Velvet, Silent Sky, Lumberjacks in Love, Myth Guided. Training: BA, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Scott Fudali
SummerStage: 7th season. Boeing Boeing (Bernard), Leading Ladies (Rev. Duncan Woolery), The Nerd (Willum), The Odd Couple (Vinnie). Other: Chapter Two, A Few Good Men, Is Murder Tax Deductible (Cream City Theater); The Nerd, Prescription:Murder, Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, Lend Me A Tenor, Barefoot in the Park, Getting Away with Murder (West Allis Players). Etc: Scott has been once again enjoying the challenges of designing and building in the great outdoors with SummerStage for this season. He hopes everyone has an enjoyable night under the stars. Love to his wife and parents, and a special thanks to those who have supported all his theater adventures and pushed him when necessary.
Alex Metalsky
SummerStage: 2nd season. Alcippe, The Liar. Other: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Kith & Kin Collective); Failure: A Love Story, MASTER HAROLD…And The Boys, The Tempest, The Glass Menagerie (Fleeing Artists Theatre); Five-Person Tempest, Hamlet, Twelfth Night (Voices Found Repertory); Death of a Salesman, The Pillowman, As You Like It, To Kill A Mockingbird, Macbeth (Lakeside Players). Training: BA in Theatre, UW-Parkside. Etc. Alex primarily works as the head of the Theatre program at Whitnall High School and Middle School over in Hales Corners. Alex is excited to return to SummerStage for his second season, this time working behind the scenes. When he's not busy with theatre, he enjoys reading and writing. A huge thanks to Kimberly, Dustin, and all the wonderful designers, crew, cast and staff of SummerStage for bringing this show to life.
Claire Michels
SummerStage: 2nd season. Other: Lighting Designer: Calendar Girls (Waukesha Civic Theatre); The Play That Goes Wrong, As You Like It (DSHA); Cowboy vs. Samurai (Lotus Theatre); Miss Holmes (Sunset Playhouse), Assistant Lighting Designer: A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Repertory Theatre); I am my own Wife (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre) Training: BFA Lighting Design and Technology from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Etc: Claire is so excited for her second season at SummerStage. She would like to thank her family and friends as well as her colleagues for an amazing opportunity!
David A. Robins
SummerStage: 4th season. The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Sweet Delilah Swim Club, The Liar, An Inspector Calls, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Steel Magnolias, Unnecessary Farce, Hamlet, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Miracle Worker. Other: Enchanted April, 12 Angry Men, Murder on the Orient Express, Silent Sky, Mamma Mia!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Underpants, But Why Bump Off Barnaby?, A Little Night Music (Waukesha Civic Theatre); Blithe Spirit, Spider’s Web, Clue (Sunset Playhouse); The Addams Family, The Fantasticks, Company, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Sondheim on Sondheim (Broccoli Theatricals); Coraline (Bad Example Productions); Sweeney Todd, Legally Blonde (Lake Country Playhouse); Kiss Me, Kate (UW Waukesha). Training: BFA, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Etc: When I’m not in the booth or backstage, you can usually find me attending a pop culture or gaming convention, or playing an RPG or (some would say overly-complicated) board game. As always, all my love to Steph for her continued support and understanding. And thank you to Corey and Sam for taking the time to see why I’m too busy to hang out. Carpe noctem!
Natalie Wanasek
SummerStage: 1st season. Other: Reefer Madness (Outskirts Theatre), Calendar Girls (Waukesha Civic Center), The Book of Will and Anastasia (Lake Country Playhouse). Etc: Natalie is excited to be designing props for her first SummerStage show! She also performs onstage in a variety of theater productions across Southeast Wisconsin and is a current Board Member at the Lake Country Playhouse.
Donors
Thank you to all of our sponsors, donors, and grantors! It is through the generous support of those listed here that enable us to bring you Great Performances in the Great Outdoors!
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About SummerStage
Board of Directors
| President | Leah Teske |
| Vice President | Joe Lucey |
| Secretary | Marty Malin |
| Treasurer | Michael Fantry |
| Members at Large | Susan Barnhart, William Molitor, Tom Van Gilder |
Staff
| Artistic Director | Dustin J. Martin |
| Office Assistant | Sylvia Murphy |
| Bookkeeper | Stephanie D. Martin |
Seasonal Staff
| Event Managers | Mindy Imig, Tori Jeske, Sylvia Murphy, David Woodford, Lori Woodford |
| Production Photography | Colleen Boehm |
| Social Media Marketing | Sophia Bernhardt |
Committees
2026 Season Selection: Dustin J. Martin (chair), Donna Daniels, Jim Mallmann, Stephanie D. Martin, Josh Scheibe, and Sam White.
Grounds: Susan Barnhart (co-chair), William Molitor (co-chair), Joe Lucey, Deanne Bowman Olson, Deb Peterson, and Rosie Thessin.
Volunteers
Our volunteers are vital to our success! Volunteers are needed throughout the summer to assist with our events, but you could also join one of our committees or the Board of Directors.
If you are interested in joining us to volunteer, let us know at summerstageofdelafield.org/volunteer.
Our 2026 Season
