Submitted photo
Members of the cast of ‘Muffed’ include, front row from left, Bill Daup, Deb Shank, Tarah Arnold and Kevin Donahue; and, back row, Kylee Roles, Clay Glenny, Colin Brislawn and Joe Soloski.

HUNTINGDON — Community festivals and small-town traditions take center stage when The Playhouse at McConnellstown opens its 2026 season with the comedy “Muffed,” a recently published play by Pennsylvania playwright Zack Peercy.

The production will run June 12-14 and June 19-21 at The Playhouse, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. A special performance in partnership with the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for June 26.

Officially titled “The Meaningful Action Theatre Company Presents A Workshop Reading of ‘Muffed’: A Recounting of Farmington, Maine’s 43rd Annual Chester Greenwood Day as Devised by the Members of the Meaningful Action Theatre Company,” the play follows a fictional theater troupe as it presents interviews and first-hand accounts from residents preparing for Chester Greenwood Day, a real annual festival held in Farmington, Maine, honoring the inventor of earmuffs.

The comedy features eight performers portraying a variety of local residents and explores the challenges of organizing a community festival, including rivalries between local organizations, rumors of a town curse and the appearance of a ghostly opera singer. Organizers describe the production as both humorous and heartfelt, highlighting the role local traditions play in bringing communities together.

Director Meg Whitesel said she saw similarities between the fictional Maine town and Huntingdon County.

“When I first read this script, I found myself comparing Farmington with Huntingdon. There are a lot of similarities that I believe our audience will appreciate and find humorous,” Whitesel said.

The cast includes Bill Daup, Tarah Arnold, Deb Shank, Kevin Donahue, Clay Glenny, Colin Brislawn, Joe Soloski and junior ensemble member Kylee Roles. The production team includes stage manager Cathy Failor, choreographer Ashley Whitesel, lighting designers Keith Sutton and Colin Brislawn, and sound designer Rick Brown.

Arnold, who is making her Playhouse debut, said audiences can expect plenty of laughs.

“I think our audiences will enjoy the show. It’s really funny, and we have an amazing cast,” she said.

Whitesel noted that The Playhouse is among the first theaters in the country to stage the play since its publication in March 2026.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for seniors, students and military personnel. Reservations can be made online or through The Playhouse box office. Organizers note the production contains mild adult language and mature themes, and parental discretion is advised.