Port Jefferson’s Theatre Three, which occupies the historic Athena Hall, will be reopening in July with many productions, events, and classes planned.

Having temporarily closed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the nonprofit theatre has been busy creating several online shows. These can be found on their Youtube as well as Vimeo, and have amassed thousands of views.

Theatre Three is one of Long Island’s premier theatre houses. Having opened at Athena Hall in the late 1960s, they have dedicated themselves to bringing an appreciation of the theatre to Long Island residents. While the global pandemic has affected their schedule, the theatre typically houses up to seven major productions a year among a variety of other events.

To commemorate their re-opening, as well as the multitude of productions scheduled throughout July, we asked Executive Creative Director Jeffrey Sanzel about the variety of programs, classes, and more that will be offered by Theatre Three in the coming year. The Long Island Comedy Festival, which will be held for its 15th year, is an exciting Theatre Three event to begin on July 9, 2021, and will last for two nights. When asked if there were any hurdles to overcome, Jeffrey Sanzel had this to say: “Actually, this was the easiest thing to get together. Paul Anthony, the founder-director of the LICF, is a great friend to the theater and took on coordinating everything. Literally, we made one phone call to Paul, and he took care of everything.”

The Long Island Comedy Festival will host many notable comedians, including Joe Devito,  Leighann Lord, Rich Walker, and plenty more. You can find the full roster, including ticket-purchasing information here.

July will also bring The Fantasticks, the world’s longest-running musical, to Theatre Three. 

“In trying to think of a show to reopen with, we wanted something small but that had meaning,” Sanzel explained, mentioning that this was a production he has both taken part in and directed previously. Now that he is older, Sanzel, who will be directing and acting within the production, says that he has a “better understanding of it.”

As far as meaning is concerned, The Fantasticks, according to Sanzel, “Teaches that ‘without hurt the heart is hollow,’” and that, “Together, we tell our stories, we find the joy in day-to-day life. We plant our gardens and watch them grow.”

The play will be set in “...the stage of a theatre—this theatre, in this moment—that has been closed for a year,” bringing thematic charm to what promises to be a refreshing take on a musical classic. This rendition of The Fantasticks will be unique in that actors will be playing musical instruments themselves.

Sanzel also mentions that the production will be welcoming back a Theatre Three alumnus, Steve McCoy, to head the cast as El Gallo. Steve McCoy has an extensive resume, partaking in several national tours, such as his role as King Arthur in Spamalot and Grandpa Joe in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

There were three notable Theatre Three Undertakings that went on during the pandemic. First, Off-Stage/On-Line was a Zoom-recorded series that, as mentioned before, can be found on Youtube and Vimeo. Through this format, they produced 86 plays, utilizing 150 actors, and have amassed over 30,000 views. While the series will be closing out on June 20, Off-Stage/On-line will remain on Youtube after the series ends.

Theatre Three is well known for their annual presentation of A Christmas Carol. Due to their closure, it could not be done conventionally this year. However, Jeffrey Sanzel wrote and directed A Carol for This Christmas, performed virtually, and offered as a gift for the community on their Vimeo.

There was also their children’s series, StoryTime at the Playhouse. This virtual production featured Dougie J. and the Puppet Brigade, and spanned three episodes: “...one for Halloween, one for Christmas, and one about bullying. Each features an original score, a guest star, and an original thematic story,” said Sanzel.

Finally, Theatre Three Dramatic Academy is introducing The Collaborative Playwriting Workshop for those ages 12-17. “The class features a range of group and individual exercises, all working towards creating a vignette play based on a single theme,” said Sanzel. There will also be five acting classes for those ages 5-17.

This is not to mention their Musical Theatre Factory. Here, students will rehearse and perform a musical by the end of a session. There will be two sessions this year. One for Matilda Jr., running from June to July, and the second is Shrek Jr. in August. Both their Musical Theatre Factory and Dramatic Academy are home to numerous, experienced staff. You can learn more about these programs here.

The Adventures of Peter Rabbit, a popular family musical, will also be presented from July 10 to July 14. This musical adds more to a summer that already promises to be an amazing comeback for the theatre. Their calendar is hoped to be released soon, detailing their full 2021-2022 season. There are also plans to host a 50th Anniversary Celebration, which was originally intended for June of 2020, in June of 2022.

Theatre Three is located at 412 Main St. in Port Jefferson in the historic Athena Hall. Be sure to visit their website for further information. Check out their Facebook for updates on events and more. You can see Jeffrey Sanzel and the entire talented cast of The Fantasticks starting on July 16, running through to August 15, 2021.