A Timeless Comedy at Towngate Theatre: “You Can’t Take It With You” Opens May 8
This May, Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre invites audiences to laugh, reflect, and revel in the joy of being unapologetically yourself as the Pulitzer Prize- winning comedy You Can’t Take It With You takes the stage beginning May 8 in Wheeling’s historic Centre Market District.
Written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, You Can’t Take It With You is a beloved American classic that has delighted audiences since its Broadway debut in 1936. Nearly 90 years later, its humor is as sharp, its characters as endearing, and its message as relevant as ever.
Welcome to the Wonderfully Eccentric Sycamores
At the heart of the play is the Sycamore family – an unforgettable household of dreamers, tinkerers, dancers, writers, and revolutionaries who live by one guiding principle: do what makes you happy. Their free-spirited world is happily chaotic, full of homemade fireworks, off-beat passions, and boundless love.
That world is thrown gloriously off balance when daughter Alice brings home her fiancé’, Tony Kirby — the son of a powerful Wall Street executive. When Tony’s straightlaced parents arrive unexpectedly for dinner on the wrong night, the result is an uproarious collision of values, worldviews, and family expectations. What follows is comedy at its finest: heartfelt, human, and laugh-out-loud funny.
A Director Who Knows Towngate and Its Audience
This Towngate Theatre production is directed by Dennis Fox, a longtime educator and theatre artist who taught and directed at Ohio University Eastern for more than 35 years. You Can’t Take It With You marks Fox’s fourth production at Towngate.
Fox brings a deep understanding of both classic text and contemporary audiences, ensuring this production honors the play’s legacy while feeling right at home on today’s stage.
Why This Story Still Matters
Beneath the laughs, You Can’t Take It With You offers something deeply resonate. It’s a reminder that success isn’t measured by money, titles, or social approval — but by joy, love, and living true to yourself.
In an era defined by pressure, comparison, and constant noise, the Sycamores’ joyful rebellion against convention feels refreshing and reassuring. It’s a play that celebrates individuality, champions kindness, and gently asks us all to consider what really makes a life well lived.
A Talented Cast Bring the Comedy to Life
Penelope Sycamore — Catherine Brooks
Essie — Makayla Carney
Rheba — Micah Underwood
Paul Sycamore — Justin Swoyer
Mr. De Pinna — Jon J. Coffield
Ed — Alex Danehart
Donald — Wayne McCord
Martin Vanderhof — Rich Ivaun
Alice — Kaylee Nedrow
Henderson — Gavin Rheinhardt
Tony Kirby — Brian Jeffries
Boris Kolenkhov — Frank Wilson
Gay Wellington — Cathie Spencer
Mr. Kirby — John Reilly
Mrs. Kirby — Karissa Martin
Olga — Maria McKelvey
Three Men — Gavin Rheinhardt, Emma “Eddie” Weese, Bill Daniel
Supported by a skilled production team led by set designer Dave Henderson, stage manager Bill Daniel and lighting designer Grace Milliken, this Towngate Theatre production promises warmth, energy, and unforgettable moments.
Plan Your Visit
You Can’t Take It With You begins performances May 8 at Towngate Theatre.
Tickets
or by calling 304-242-7700.
