HWS Theatre Box Office
HWS Theatre productions, tickets and information
The Gorges Motel
October 9 & 10 at 7:30 p.m.
October 11 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
by Gretchen Cryer, Lynne Halliday, Isaac Himmelman, James Hindman, Arlene Hutton, and Craig Pospisil
Directed by Chris Woodworth
McDonald Theatre, Gearan Center for the Performing Arts
What brings visitors to Watkins Glen, NY? Hiking, NASCAR, wine, weddings, and once upon a time, a laser light show projected on the gorge wall. The HWS Theatre 2025-2026 season opens with The Gorges Motel by Gretchen Cryer, Lynne Halliday, Isaac Himmelman, James Hindman, Arlene Hutton, and Craig Pospisil.The guests at The Gorges Motel have come to town with suitcases packed with secrets and those bags are about to burst! Described by The New York Times as “a tantalizing, comic daisy chain of short plays by six playwrights,” the HWS Theatre production of The Gorges Motel will be the Finger Lakes regional premiere and features an intergenerational cast of HWS students and community artists.
Tickets are free for HWS Students. Non-HWS Student tickets are Pay What You Will, with a suggested minimum donation of $15.
Ticketholders agree to the following McDonald Theatre policies:
- Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the front-of-house staff. In the event of a sold-out performance, latecomers forfeit their seat to patrons on the waiting list.
- Food and drink are not permitted in McDonald Theatre. Water in a re-closeable bottle may be brought in.
- Backpacks and large bags should be checked at the box office.
- Photography and filming are not permitted during the performance.
- Phones should be turned off and stowed for the duration of the performance. No texting, checking messages, etc. during the show.
Production Team:
Director: Chris Woodworth
Set & Lighting Designer/Technical Director: Ed Hallborg
Costume Designer: Katharine Tarkulich
Sound Designer: Kelly Walker
Stage Manager: Dee Gilner
Assistant Stage Managers: Caroline Frick, Sarah Painton, Helena Van Voorhis
Assistant Director: Lincoln Champlin
Cast (in order of appearance):
Virginia: Joanne Saracino
Robert: Andrew Milliman
Dani: Willow Lewmos
Wendy: Ky Apple
Liam: Mason Graham
Lola: Mary O. Cook
Angie: Haven Alvarado
Laura: RJ Fangmann
Debbie: Charlie Leo
Wayne: William Smith
Willow: Jalya Volquez
Terry: Kevin “KJ” Johnson
Penelope: Jennifer Mitchell
Jennifer: Kalila Caringal
Kayla: Esosa Iyahen
Trevor: Aaron Vicioso
Greg: Agustin Torres
HWS Theatre upcoming productions
Now Circa Then
February 19-21, 2026
by Carly Mensch
Directed by Chris Hatch
Passion, History, Discovery
“Now Circa Then” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Orlando
April 9-11, 2026
by Sarah Ruhl
Adapted from the novel by Virginia Woolf
Directed by H. May
Exploration, Longing, Transformation
“Orlando (Ruhl)” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
HWS Theatre welcomes back their extraordinary team of designers for the 2025-2026 season. Ed Hallborg returns for his ninth season as Resident Designer / Technical Director. Kelly Walker returns for a thirteenth season as HWS Theatre Resident Sound and Projections Designer. Katharine Tarkulich returns as HWS Theatre Costume Designer for a seventh season.
Auditions and Callbacks for The Gorges Motel will be Wednesday, Sept. 3 and Thursday, Sept. 4. More information available in August! Follow us on social media to find out more.
Tickets for all HWS Theatre productions are free (donations accepted) and should be reserved through this page. Tickets are made available 1-2 weeks prior to opening night. Online ticket reservations close two hours before each performance. Remaining tickets will be available at the Box Office, one hour before each performance. Seating is General Admission. In the event of a “sold-out” performance, a waiting list will be created. (Please note: We have historically had good success seating everyone on the waiting list.)
Want to learn more about these productions as well as other exciting Theatre events and opportunities during the 2025-2026 academic year? Save the date for the annual HWS Theatre Ice Cream Social, Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. in McDonald Theatre in the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts on the Hobart and William Smith campus.