Trumpet in the Land opens 57th season June 19

Trumpet in the Land will open its 57th production season June 19 at the Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre in New Philadelphia.

Curtain time is 8:30 p.m. Travel Tusc tickets, which provide Tuscarawas County residents free admission, will be accepted for the June 19 opener and can be obtained at the Trumpet in the Land administration office, 124 E. High Ave. Tickets also are available at the box office after 5 p.m.

According to Trumpet General Manager Margaret Bonamico, this year’s cast is unique in many ways.

“Long gone are the years when there were 50-60 people on stage,” Bonamico said. “This year’s cast is about half that size, but what they lack in numbers they make up for in talent.”

“We are also very excited to welcome back several alumni to the amphitheatre stage,” she said.

Paul Haas of North Carolina returns to Trumpet in the Land after a 49-year hiatus. Haas portrayed John Heckewelder in the drama’s 1977 production and returns this year as the villainous Col. David Williamson.

Canton natives Heather (Foster) Mortland and her husband, Richard, will reprise the roles they played 25 years ago. Gregg Ashbrook of Mansfield will return as Zeke Gibbs after being gone for 19 years.

Also sharing the stage with veterans Bart Herman, Marita Tornabene, Brian Keith, Shannon McCullough-McKee, Kaylyn Marlatt, Don Irven and Ethan Parrish are actors who have traveled from Nevada, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Maine, West Virginia, Alabama, New York and Oregon to tell the story of Ohio’s first settlement, Schoenbrunn, and the massacre at Gnadenhutten.

Tom Reed, Kenn Holmes, Eloise Haverfield and Sam Pender will handle the technical run of the show. Trumpet in the Land is directed by Dr. Judith Pender of Oklahoma.

In addition to Trumpet in the Land, the 2026 season will include five performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “State Fair” and four performances of George Latshaw’s “Noah from A-Z.” Performance dates are available at www.trumpetintheland.com.

For more information on reservations or Travel Tusc tickets, call the Trumpet in the Land office at 330-364-5111 or 330-339-1132.

Schoenbrunn Amphitheatre is located at 1600 Trumpet Drive NE, New Philadelphia.