Dear friends,
We have made the difficult, but necessary decision to cancel our planned 2026 summer season and suspend regular operations effective June 1, 2026. Since re-opening from the pandemic closure in 2021, we have faced steadily rising costs in an increasingly challenging philanthropic environment. The professional non-profit regional theater model is built on a healthy balance of both ticketing and contributed income. For WHAT, like many organizations across the country, this model has proven unsustainable.
We recognize how disappointing this decision will be for many of you. We are proud to be a summer tradition, a cultural leader, and to serve as a community gathering place throughout the year. We are grateful for everyone who has joined us for a performance, made a contribution, or spent some time with us over the past 42 years. We hope that this will be a brief intermission while we work to set the stage for WHAT and The Julie Harris Stage’s next act.
All scheduled events in April and May will continue as planned, along with Payomet Performing Arts Center’s circus camp and circus performances this summer.