The Brownville Village Theatre (BVT) celebrates 57 seasons this summer as it opens this week.

BVT is proud to produce four plays and one musical, running through August 11. One of Nebraska’s oldest repertory theatres, the Brownville Village Theatre is a true repertory theatre, rehearsing and performing shows simultaneously, and never performing the same show back-to-back. The theatre is in the charming arts and culture village of Brownville, Nebraska, a beautiful escape in rural southeast Nebraska. Make a quick weekend getaway to Brownville!

The Brownville Village Theatre takes pride in producing a variety of shows in repertory. This summer, the season includes “Between The Lines,” book by Timothy Allen McDonald and Jodi Picoult, with music lyrics by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson; “The 39 Steps,” a mystery farce adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan and the movie by Alfred Hitchcock; “Drinking Habits,” a comedy by Tom Smith; “The Shining Lives,” a drama by Melanie Marnich; and “Tuck Everlasting,” a family adventure adapted by Mark Frattaroli from the book by Natalie Babbitt.

“Between The Lines” opened the season on Friday, June 7. A self-proclaimed outcast, 17-year-old Delilah has found refuge from her turbulent life in books. When she finds an escape in a children’s fairy tale book, she walks the line between fiction and reality. When the hero of the story comes to life and she falls in love with him, she finds herself in a chapter of trouble. Based on Jodi Picoult’s New York Times bestseller, Between the Lines is a coming-of-age musical about finding your place and becoming the hero of your own story.

“The 39 Steps” opened Saturday, June 8. A two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning play, “The 39 Steps” is a fast-paced zany Hitchcock spoof with plenty of action and a ton of characters. Richard Hannay is at the wrong place at the wrong time and finds himself in a whirlwind of trouble, running from the police and eventually the Nazis! Audiences will be catching their breath between laughs and gasps in this hilarious whodunnit farce.

The third play to open will be the comedy “Drinking Habits.” It will open on Friday, June 21. The convent of the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing is at risk of being shut down. The only thing keeping their doors open now is a secret wine-making operation ran by two of the nuns. When their wine wins a major prize, two reporters go undercover to find out if the sisters are the ones making it. “Drinking Habits” is a ridiculously silly fun time full of mistaken identities and serendipitous connections, perfect for the whole family.

The drama for the summer is “These Shining Lives.” It is based on the true story of the women working for the Radium Dial Company in the 1920s and 1930s and their remarkable fight for their own lives. This incredible story of survival and fortitude chronicles their brave journey amid unimaginable greed and disregard for human life. It opens on the 4th of July.

The final show of summer repertory is the family adventure “Tuck Everlasting,” which opens on July 5. In 1880, 10-year-old Winnie Foster, trapped by the rules imposed by her strait-laced family, runs away, and discovers the humble Tucks, a family who had accidentally stumbled upon a spring long ago that gave them eternal life. Winnie promises to keep their secret, but danger is just around the corner in the form of a sinister stranger in a yellow suit. Experience the timeless novel by Natalie Babbitt, an everlasting story of the beauty of growth and change, sure to resonate with every generation, young and old.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students 18 years old and under. BVT also offers a $15 ticket rate for groups of ten or more. Season flex tickets for five admissions are available for $75 and are only available by calling the box office at 402-825-4121.

BVT brings in a small talented cast from all over the USA to perform, build, and create its productions. It is a uniquely fun experience to see a show at the Brownville Village Theatre surrounded by deep history and tradition.

The Brownville Village Theatre is one of the oldest repertory theatres in the state of Nebraska. Its success is due to its summer repertory season employing 12-15 young theatre artists from all over the nation. The theatre’s home is over a century old and was formerly the Brownville Christian Church. Annually, the theatre brings over 3,000 audience members locally and throughout the Midwest to Brownville.

The artistic directors for the theatre are Mitch Bean and Rachel Curtiss, a husband-and-wife duo who are committed to the tradition and growth of the Brownville Village Theatre. Both have been with BVT sometime having begun as members of the company since 2012.

For a complete listing of the 2024 productions and to purchase tickets, go to: www.brownvillevillagetheatre.com/current-shows2.html.