The First Lady as you’ve never seen her before.
Eleanor
DATES September 24 - October 19, 2025
RUN TIME tbd
PRICE $20-$75
PLAYWRIGHT Mark St. Germain
DIRECTOR David Ellenstein
A tour-de-force solo show brings the dynamic First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, to life. As Eleanor weaves the tale of her public and private lives we see her at times both strong and vulnerable. Learn more about the passionate and unforgettable woman at the heart of her husband’s presidency whose impact on history cannot be understated.
“Brilliant and emotionally resonant” – The Wall Street Journal
Eleanor is a peek into the life of one of the most influential women in American History. Eleanor spins a tale of politicians, society, and the small moments between historical giants. Taking us from childhood through the presidency, and from affairs of the heart to affairs of state. This stunning portrait of the first lady we think we know explores quiet, private memories that made Eleanor who she was, an advocate for the underdogs, a paragon of fairness, and, above all, the heart of the country. Eleanor was originally commissioned by Florida Studio Theatre, Richard Hopkins, Producing Artistic Director. The first production of Eleanor was at Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA. Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director and Branden Huldeen, Artistic Producer.
Industry Night
- Wed. Oct 1, 7:30pm
On sale 12pm until show time, day of show, in person only..
Pay-What-You-Can
- Wed. Sep 24, 7:30pm
- Sat. Oct 04, 8:00pm
- Thu. Oct 09, 2:00pm
- Thu. Oct 15, 2:00pm
On sale 12pm until show time, day of show, in person only..
Discussions
- Script Club @ Portland Public Library
Sat. Sep 13, 1:30-2:30pm - Artistic Perspective
Sun. Sep 28, post show - Curtain Call
Sun. Oct 05, post show
Mark St. Germain has written the plays Freud's Last Session (Off Broadway Alliance Award), Camping with Henry and Tom (Outer Critics Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award) Forgiving Typhoid Mary, (Time Magazine’s “Year’s Ten Best”) and Becoming Dr. Ruth, the story of Dr. Ruth Westheimer. He also wrote the play, Best of Enemies (adapted from the novel by Osha Gray Davidson), Ears on a Beatle, Scott and Hem and Out of Gas on Lover's Leap.
His play Relativity, starred Richard Dreyfuss at Theaterworks in Hartford and Mike Nussbaum at Northlight, in Chicago and broke both theaters’ box office records. It was selected for the National New Play Network Rolling World Premieres award and produced across the country.
In 2019 Mark’s adaptation of John Updike’s novel Gertrude and Claudius premiered in repertory with Hamlet at the Orlando Shakespeare Festival and was presented this at Barrington Stage Company in the Berkshires. A second premiere was Wednesday's Child at the Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota.
With Randy Courts, he has written the musicals The Gifts of the Magi, Johnny Pye and the Foolkiller, Award” (Lamb’s Theater) and Jack's Holiday. Mark’s musical, Stand by Your Man, The Tammy Wynette Story was created for Nashville’s Ryman Theater (under option for touring). With John Markus wrote the comedy with music, The Fabulous Lipitones.
Mark co-wrote the screenplay for Carroll Ballard’s Warner Brothers film, Duma. He directed and produced the documentary, My Dog, An Unconditional Love Story, featuring Richard Gere, and Glenn Close among others. Television credits include The Cosby Show and for Dick Wolf’s Crime and Punishment. He wrote the award winning children’s book Three Cups and is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Writer’s Guild East and an Associate Artist at the Barrington Stage Company. In 2010, Barrington Stage named their second stage “The St. Germain Stage.”
Eleanor Roosevelt Kandis Chappell *
________________________
* Member, Actor's Equity Association
** Member, United Scenic Artists
*** Member, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
Director David Ellenstein ***
Scenic Designer Anita Stewart **
Costume Designer Anita Stewart **
Lighting Designer Mary Lana Rice
Sound Designer Seth Asa Sengel
Stager Manager Myles C. Hatch *