By Mary Ann Bourbeau
OCEAN GROVE – The Asbury Park Theater Company will present Thornton Wilder’s 1938 play “Our Town” from May 21 to 31 at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove. Often referred to as one of the greatest American plays, the story centers around the fictional small town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, between 1901 and 1913, as experienced through the everyday lives of its citizens.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning story aims to depict human life in its simplicity and profoundness. Through these ordinary characters, the audience witnesses the beauty of everyday experiences, capturing the ordinary moments that shape our existence, such as life, love, death and eternity. The play premiered Jan. 22, 1938, at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton before moving to Broadway the following month. It was an experimental production featuring minimal scenery and a play-within-a-play format.
“I was in a high school production of ‘Our Town,’ ” said Bailey Dumlao, who is directing this production. “I find myself coming back to it again and again and finding something new every time. It’s a simple story about growing up, the milestones in life, both big and small.”
Wilder once said the story is an attempt to find a value above all price for the smallest events in our lives. He intended it as a universal meditation on the human experience, focusing on the beauty hidden in everyday life – marrying, living and dying. “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it – every, every minute?” Wilder once asked, speaking of his play.
When “Our Town” opened on Broadway, its form was experimental for the time – a play-within-a-play set in a theater where actors were the residents of the small town. It broke the fourth wall, with a stage manager/narrator who spoke directly to the audience, even at times participating in the play. It has been revived on Broadway numerous times since then, most recently in 2024 starring Jim Parsons, Katie Holmes and Richard Thomas. Previous productions in 1969 and 2002 featured Henry Fonda and Paul Newman, respectively, as the stage manager.
The Asbury Park Theater Company cast includes 12 actors who fill the 30 roles. Dumlao, a Memphis native, has added some music played by the actors to “incorporate Asbury Park’s rich music history into the show.” Dumlao also made the unusual move of casting a woman in the role of stage manager.
“Contrary to tradition, we have a woman serving as the steward of the story and the town,” said Dumlao, who has worked as assistant director for numerous productions at the Two River Theater in Red Bank. “It was important to me to elevate the role of motherhood in this community. While it’s typically a man in the role, casting a woman gives us a real sense of empathy and intelligence.”
“Our Town” stars Desiree Lara (Mays Landing) as the stage manager, Aren Duffy (Marlton) as George Gibbs, Sophie Cox (Howell) as Emily Webb, Evelynn Knox (Highlands) as Rebecca Gibbs, RoseMarie Franklin (Ocean Grove) as Mrs. Julia Gibbs, John Durazzo (Highlands) as Simon Stimson, Jess Pace (Howell) as Howie Newsome, Meg Whalen (Asbury Park) as Mrs. Myrtle Webb, Anthony Cea (Howell) as Wally Webb, Denise Sobotka (Interlaken) as Louella Soames, Jim Watson (Toms River) as Editor Webb and Jeff Parsons (Teaneck) as Doc Gibbs.
“This cast is a joy to work with,” Dumlao said. “It’s been a real gift watching them build relationships with each other. With such a small cast, there are lots of quick changes of character, which also is a blessing. It makes everyone depend on each other more than other productions. And they bring so much talent to the table, it’s kind of like letting a bird fly. They’re bold, unafraid and moving, which is what this play really wants.”
A special Sunday, May 24, matinee will include light post-show refreshments and a discussion with Mary English, professor of classics and general humanities at Montclair State University and executive director of the Thornton Wilder Society.
“It’s exciting to bring in experts and other people who love his work as much as we do,” Dumlao said. “This play still matters in 2026. Thornton Wilder had an aspirational sense of America and a perfect community. It reminds us that in a world of constant news updates and feed posts, it’s OK to slow down and enjoy where you are. It’s a nice reprieve from the speed of life.”
The Jersey Shore Arts Center is located at 66 S. Main St., Ocean Grove. “Our Town” is 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission. There are seven performances from May 21 to 31. General admission tickets are $45; seniors are $40 and students are $30. To purchase tickets, visit asburyparktheatercompany.org.
The article originally appeared in the May 7 – 13, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
