‘Mystic Pizza’ musical part of newly announced 2024 season at Ivoryton Playhouse

A musical based on the Connecticut-set movie “Mystic Pizza” is part of the just-announced 2024 season at the Ivoryton Playhouse.

The playhouse is about 30 miles from downtown Mystic where the movie was set. The 274-seat theater was once a union hall for the ivory piano-key factory in the Ivoryton section of Essex. It was turned into a theater in 1930. Big stars from Marlon Brando to Groucho Marx to Tallulah Bankhead played there during the heyday of the summer stock era. In the 1990s it was run by the River Rep ensemble. It was summer-only for most of its history then became a year-round theater under artistic director Jacqueline Hubbard around 20 years ago.

In recent years, the playhouse has regularly offered jukebox musicals, special Christmas shows and historical dramas, and this year is no different.

The six-show 2024 season includes:

“Everly: The Music of the Everly Brothers,” April 4-21. A new show co-created by and co-starring the playhouse’s executive producer Ben Hope, “Everly” is a biographical tribute to the famous 1960s sibling pop duo whose hits included “Bye Bye Love,” “All I Have to Do is Dream,” “Let It Be Me” and “Wake Up Little Susie.”

“Swingtime Canteen,” May 16 through June 9. This nostalgic jukebox musical uses 1940s tunes like Cole Porter’s “Don’t Fence Me In” and the Benny Goodman hit “Sing, Sing, Sing” to fuel a plot about an all-female big band entertaining the troops overseas during World War II. Drag theater legend Charles Busch co-wrote the show’s book.

“Mystic Pizza,” June 27 through July 28. The 1988 Connecticut-set movie became a stage musical in 2021, scored with 1980s pop hits like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Addicted to Love” and “Manic Monday.” Alfred Uhry, the Pulitzer-, Tony- and Oscar-winning writer who co-wrote the film’s screenplay, was a longtime Litchfield County resident. The movie launched the career of Julia Roberts.

“Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville,” Aug. 8 through Sept. 8. The Broadway show based on songs by self-described “drunken Caribbean rock ‘n’ roll” artist Jimmy Buffett features several love relationships and a volcano.

“Alabama Story,” Oct. 3-20. Kenneth Jones’ multi-faceted drama is about the real-life 1958 banning of a children’s book in which a black rabbit and a white rabbit get married.

“God Bless Us, Everyone!,” Nov. 14 through Dec. 15. Hubbard has created a brand new holiday show this year, described as a sprinkling of slapstick, a pinch of Dickens, a little song, a little romance and holiday magic.

Three-show or six-show subscription deals are available, and single tickets start at $60 ($55 for seniors, $25 for students). Ticket sales and more details are at ivorytonplayhouse.org.