Due to its hidden location off Route 6 on the outskirts of downtown Wellfleet, you’d be forgiven if you drove right past the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (W.H.A.T.) without giving it a second thought. This venue shares a building with a post office and doesn’t look like much from the outside, either, adding to its obscurity.
However, locals recognize that the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater is a top-notch performing arts venue that allows them to witness high-quality performances in an intimate setting. Visitors to the Cape can also take advantage of this facility and the shows it hosts during their vacations.
Seating is limited at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, so buying your tickets early is recommended. Here’s a look at what’s on tap for the 2023 season.
Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train
The 2023 season starts on May 24 with Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, a dark comedy written by Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Adly Guirgis. The story focuses on a young prisoner named Angel Cruz, who is awaiting trial for the murder of a cult leader. Angel becomes friends with a serial killer while behind bars on Rikers Island and learns to challenge his beliefs through their interactions.
Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train will make you laugh at points, but it’s also a thought-provoking story exploring the concepts of faith and redemption. The play runs through June 17, giving you plenty of time to check it out if you visit Cape Cod this spring.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
It wouldn’t be a summer at the theater without some Shakespeare, and the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater is bringing an abridged version of all 37 of his plays to its stage between June 28 and July 29. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare is like a crash course on Shakespeare and includes elements from Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, to name a few.
The performance only uses three actors, adding to its challenges, and it gets through all 37 plays in under 100 minutes. This fast-paced rendition will leave you with little downtime, ensuring you enjoy your entire experience at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater.
The Pickleball Wars
Pickleball is one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, so it makes sense for it to begin appearing on stage and in the movies. The world premiere of Kevin Rice’s comedy The Pickleball Wars is coming to the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater between August 9 and September 9, 2023, and will keep you engaged and entertained throughout.
The Pickleball Wars follows the newly-retired Fred Fallon as he attempts to write his first novel. He’s recently undergone hip surgery, limiting his mobility, and his wife is rarely around to offer support. Fred soon hears his new neighbors playing pickleball in their backyard as he attempts to concentrate on his writing, and hilarity ensues.
Whether you play pickleball or simply need a laugh, The Pickleball Wars is worth checking out this summer in Wellfleet.
Betrayal
Perhaps the most highly-anticipated performance of the 2023 season is Betrayal, a co-production with the Harbor Stage Company in downtown Wellfleet. This show runs from September 20 to October 14 and was postponed from the 2022 season, so many theater-goers have been looking forward to it for a while.
Betrayal is Harold Pinter’s story of an affair told in reverse. It begins with the end of a marriage, going in reverse chronological order back to the first spark between a wife and her secret romantic partner. It’s filled with intense dialogue but has some humorous elements, too.
Any time you have the opportunity to experience a story by the legendary Harold Pinter in person, it’s highly recommended that you make an effort to get there. Betrayal offers this chance during your Cape Cod vacation.
Get Your Tickets
Tickets for the 2023 season at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater go on sale May 1, although you can buy a season subscription in April if you’ll be making multiple visits to the Cape or you want to support the theater.
Purchase your tickets before you arrive on the Cape to ensure you don’t miss out on any of these incredible performances this season.
