The Audience 
By Peter Morgan

Directed by Stephen Daldry

Returning to cinemas for the first time in over a decade, Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth II in the Olivier and Tony Award® -winning hit production, directed by Stephen Daldry.

For 60 years, Queen Elizabeth II met with each of her 12 prime ministers in a private weekly meeting. This meeting is known as The Audience. From Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron, the Queen advised her prime ministers on matters both public and personal. Through these private audiences, we see glimpses of the woman behind the crown and witness the moments that shaped a monarch.

Peter Morgan’s Netflix phenomenon The Crown was based on this hit play that was captured live from London’s West End in 2013 and went on to become one of the most-watched NT Live productions. 

Age Rating: UK 12A (12 and up)

Running Time: 170 minutes (including intermission)

General admission. The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-era theater that seats 100 — advance reservations encouraged. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Online reservations end 1 hour before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Accessibility: Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible. We use the AudioFetch system to support patrons who use hearing aids (download the AudioFetch app from Apple or Google app stores for free and use with bluetooth-enabled hearing aids).

“Greater Tuna”

by Jaston Williams, Ed Howard & Joe Sears

Presented by the Town Run Theater Company

Artistic Director: Joe Yates

Greater Tuna is a satirical comedy that explores life in the fictional Texas town of Tuna, the third-smallest town in Texas, through the eyes of two actors portraying twenty different citizens, including among others Thurston Wheelis, Arles Struvie, Bertha Bumiller, Didi Snavely, Rev. Spikes, Vera Carp and Yippy, the family dog. The play uses quick-change artistry and caricatured characters to present a zany, sometimes politically incorrect, look at small-town life.

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French.

“Howlingly funny” – Variety

“Sharp, satiric & funny” – The New Yorker

Age Rating: Teens and older

General Admission. Advance purchase recommended to ensure availability

Pay-What-You-Can Performance:

Friday, June 12 at 7:00 pm

Regular Ticketed Performances:

Saturday, June 13 at 7:00 pm

Sunday, June 14 at 3:00 pm

Friday, June 19 at 7:00 pm

Saturday, June 20 at 7:00 pm

Sunday, June 21 at 3:00 pm

Ticket Prices (including taxes and ticketing fees):

Advance Purchase: $23.30 ($20 ticket plus 7% sales tax & ticketing fees)

At Door Purchase: $28.65 ($25 ticket plus 7% sales tax & ticketing fees)

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

Greater Tuna is the fourth and final play in the Town Run Theater Company’s 2025-26 season.

Thank you to the following wonderful local businesses for their sponsorship of this season’s plays:

Alma Bea Restaurant

Jefferson Security Bank

Specialty Printing

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy theater that seats a maximum of 100 patrons— advance ticket purchase encouraged. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

Join us for an afternoon of bicycle-focused short films presented by Filmed by Bike, followed by an interactive presentation and discussion about Jefferson County Story Rides, a new bike route network project from Village to Village Trails.

Filmed by Bike is a bike-focused film fest that began in Portland, OR, in 2003 and has been showcasing the world’s best bike movies ever since. The short films shown during this program come from the 22nd Annual Filmed by Bike tour. In 2024, Charles Town locals Alden Roth and Olivia Loy, along with several other friends and family members, led an effort to keep Filmed by Bike alive when the festival founder, Ayleen Crotty, cycled off into retirement. Alden and Olivia are excited to finally bring these inspiring films to their home state. 

After the films, stick around for a presentation Q+A with Alden Roth about a cycling route network project he’s creating this summer in Jefferson County with V2V Trails. Alden will provide a brief overview of the project before turning it over to the audience to hear about where they like to ride and what they would like to see included in the Jefferson County route network. 

Runtime: The entire program will be under two hours (film runs approximately 60 minutes)

General Admission: Pay What You Can (suggested $10 to help cover our costs)

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Advanced purchase encouraged. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

A Love Letter to Handsome John, a new documentary by singer-songwriter and filmmaker Otis Gibbs, offers an intimate portrait of acclaimed Americana songwriter Todd Snider during the final year of his life. What starts as a film about gratitude, and a way to say thank you to John Prine, becomes a rare glimpse of the artist at home in his most quiet moments.

Known for his sharp storytelling, humor, and deeply human songs, Snider built a devoted following over decades as one of the most distinctive voices in American roots music—and as a close friend and artistic heir to John Prine, affectionately known as “Handsome John.”

A Love Letter to Handsome John is currently touring the country through a limited series of grassroots theatrical screenings that have drawn strong response from music fans and independent theaters alike. The Shepherdstown Opera House is honored to have been selected as one of the screening venues.

Film website: https://otisgibbs.com/a-love-letter-to-handsome-john-by-otis-gibbs/

Runtime: 54 minutes

General admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Advanced purchase encouraged. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Say howdy to John PayCheck and his full Cavalry Band!

The son of country music legend Johnny PayCheck is continuing the family tradition – but forging his own path. A combat veteran, a lavender farmer, a family man, and a modern torchbearer for authentic country, his sound fuses the steel and fiddle of tradition with the edge of today’s live show energy.

Crowds describe PayCheck’s live show as pure honkey-tonk revival — danceable, heartfelt, and real!

General Admission – All Ages

Doors open 6:30 pm

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy theater that seats 99 with room to dance. Advance ticket purchase encouraged. Online sales end 1 hour before showtime. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

All My Sons 
By Arthur Miller

Directed by Ivo Van Hove

Design by Jan Versweyveld

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths) feature in a five-star, triumphantly acclaimed new production of Arthur Miller’s classic play, from visionary director Ivo Van Hove (A View from the Bridge).

One family, the heart of the American dream. When wartime delivers profits for Joe, it comes at a price when his partner is charged with criminal manufacturing deals, and his eldest son goes missing in action. Will peacetime bring peace of mind, or will he be confronted by the consequence of his actions?

Filmed live from the West End, Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You), Tom Glynn-Carney (House of the Dragon), and Hayley Squires (I, Daniel Blake) also feature in this disturbingly prescient play.

Age Rating: UK 12A (equivalent to PG-13 due to its dramatic, emotional and thematic content)

Running Time: 165 minutes (including intermission)

General admission. The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-era theater that seats 100 — advance reservations encouraged. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Online reservations end 1 hour before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Accessibility: Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible. We use the AudioFetch system to support patrons who use hearing aids (download the AudioFetch app from Apple or Google app stores for free and use with bluetooth-enabled hearing aids).

Martinsburg native Trae Sheehan returns home for a very special performance after months on the road.

Trae sold out the Opera House last year, and got rave reviews, so get your tickets now for his 2026 show!

Born amidst the rustic splendor of an Alpaca farm in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Trae Sheehan was raised in the gentle embrace of nature’s bounty. But even as a lad, his heart yearned for a life beyond the rolling hills and verdant valleys.

From a tender age, he discovered his love for the melodies that danced upon the winds, whispering secrets of the world around him. He would spend hours beneath the starry canopy, strumming his guitar and composing songs that told tales of love, loss, and the wonders of life. His voice, smooth as the air, carry his ballads far and wide.

In 2019, Trae Sheehan’s album Arizona soared to the Top 10 on the Roots Radio Charts, casting his warming melodies far and wide. With lyrics as vast as the woodland landscape, the album echoed through valleys and towns, drawing listeners to the troubadour’s stage. His songs, imbued with the timeless spirit of the road, spoke to their hearts, soothing their worries and kindling the fires of hope.

His 2020 follow-up record, Postcards from the Country, earned praise from the likes of American Songwriter Magazine, PopMatters, and The Bluegrass Situation, solidifying Trae’s place in the musical world. But it was 2021’s Hello From the End of the World that truly marked his ascent. Featuring the fan-favorite “Sleeveless Hearts,” the album charted in the Top 100 on the Americana Radio Charts.

Through bustling cities and quaint hamlets, Trae has crafted his talent. Drawing townsfolk from far and near to witness his enchanting performances, his heart forever entwined with the thrill of touring, for it is on the road that he has discovered the true essence of his being. From the grandest stages to the humblest street corners, he performs and sings with a passion unmatched.

https://traesheehan.com/

General Admission – All Ages

Doors open 7:00 pm

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy theater that seats 100 — advance ticket purchase encouraged. Online sales end 1 hour before showtime. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

In 2026, the Opera House will AGAIN host the MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival!

MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival: You Be the Judge!

Discover your inner film critic by casting your vote for Best Film and Best Actor in the 28th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival. You’ll join film lovers in over 500 venues across the globe gathering between 9/24-10/4 to see the Ten Finalists in this year’s event. With past finalists garnering Oscar nominations and short films continuing to move into the Hollywood mainstream, come see this entertaining program featuring the best short films in the world today! Printed ballots supplied upon entry.

We will show MANHATTAN SHORT selections three times this year: Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon. Each screening will present the SAME films – select just one screening (or see them multiple times!).

MANHATTAN SHORT began in 1998, when founder Nicholas Mason gathered an audience of 200 people and showed 16 short films on a screen mounted to the side of a truck on Mulberry Street, Little Italy, New York City. A year later the Festival moved uptown to Union Square Park NYC, where audiences grew to love the annual event. From these humble beginnings, MANHATTAN SHORT has now transformed into a worldwide phenomenon. Celebrating its 29th birthday in 2025, MANHATTAN SHORT is the only film festival on the planet to unfold simultaneously, in more than 500 cinemas on six continents, bringing over 100,000 film-lovers in all corners of the globe together for one week, via the next generation of filmmakers.

Program runs approximately 140 minutes.

General admission

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy theater that seats 100 — advance reservations encouraged. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

“We Will Not Be Silent”

A play by David Meyers

Presented by the Town Run Theater Company

Artistic Director: Joe Yates

Company Members: Joe Yates, Homer Speaker, Emily Wanger, Sarah Ward and Richard Yates

Based on the true story of Sophie Scholl and the White Rose resistance group, this powerful drama explores the courage of young people who risked everything to speak out against Nazi tyranny in World War II Germany. The play had its world premiere in 2017 at the Contemporary American Theater Festival, and was later pulled from circulation by the playwright when he felt it was being commercialized. We have obtained special permission directly from the playwright to bring this play back to Shepherdstown, marking the debut performance of the rewritten script.  

General Admission – All Ages - Advance purchase strongly recommended to ensure availability

Ticket Prices (including taxes and ticketing fees):

Advance Purchase: $23.30 ($20 ticket plus 7% sales tax & ticketing fees)

At Door Purchase: $28.65 ($25 ticket plus 7% sales tax & ticketing fees)

Pay-What-You-Can Performance: Friday, May 29

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy theater that seats a maximum of 100 patrons— advance ticket purchase encouraged. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

The Playboy of the Western World
By John Millington Synge

Directed by Caitríona McLaughlin

Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) joins Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment) and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls) in John Millington Synge’s riveting play of youth and self-discovery.

Pegeen Flaherty’s life is turned upside down when a young man walks into her pub claiming that he’s killed his father. Instead of being shunned, the killer becomes a local hero and begins to win hearts, that is until a second man unexpectedly arrives on the scene…

Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Caitríona McLaughlin directs this darkly funny tale full to the brim with secrets.

Age Rating: UK 12A (equivalent to PG-13)

Running Time: approx. 150 minutes (including intermission)

General admission. The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy vaudeville-era theater that seats 100 — advance reservations encouraged. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Online reservations end 1 hour before showtime. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer & wine available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Accessibility: Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible. We use the AudioFetch system to support patrons who use hearing aids (download the AudioFetch app from Apple or Google app stores for free and use with bluetooth-enabled hearing aids).

Founded in 1988, the Bad Influence Band has spent over three decades as a cornerstone of the Washington, D.C., and Mid-Atlantic blues scene. While many bands drift through personnel changes, Bad Influence is defined by a remarkable consistency; their core lineup remained largely unchanged for over 25 years, a rarity that has resulted in an exceptionally tight, intuitive ensemble sound.

The Lineup and Evolution

The band was founded by guitarist and bandleader Michael “Jr” Tash. After spending years in the rock trenches, Tash was mentored by D.C. blues legend Steve Jacobs, which pivoted his focus toward the roots and grit of the blues. The “classic” lineup, which cemented in 1993, includes:

• Michael “Jr” Tash: Guitar and vocals.
• Roger Edsall: Harmonica and vocals.
• Bob Mallardi: Bass and vocals.
• Joe Wells: Drums.

Unlike many blues bands, Bad Influence features two lead singers in Edsall and Mallardi, allowing them to shift seamlessly between different textures—from soulful R&B to high-energy Chicago shuffle.

Recorded Legacy

The band has released several critically acclaimed albums that have earned them a stack of Washington Area Music Awards (WAMMIES). Their discography reflects their journey from blues purists to masters of a “blues-infused” hybrid sound:

• Where We Been (1998): A 13-track homage to their roots that put them on the national map.
• Tastes Like Chicken (2003): Winner of the WAMMIE for Best Blues Recording.
• Under the Influence (2011): This album reached the top five on SiriusXM’s B.B. King’s Bluesville ”Picks to Click” chart.
• Got What You Need (2019): Their 30th-anniversary celebration, showcasing a refined blend of original songwriting and reimagined covers.

Influence and Presence

Beyond the local haunts of D.C. and Maryland, Bad Influence has established a national reputation, performing everywhere from the blues festivals on the East Coast to Buddy Guy’s Legends club in Chicago to the hallowed clubs of Beale Street in Memphis. They are known for their “unabashed crowd-pleasing” style, which combines technical virtuosity (Bad Influence is a Northern Virginia Blues Hall of Fame inductee) with an insistence that the audience has as much fun as the band.

Whether they are tearing through their originals or slowing down James Brown’s “I Feel Good” into a greasy swing, Bad Influence remains a vital part of the “long and worthy Washington blues tradition.”

Web: https://badinfuenceband.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/badinfluenceband

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badisblues/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badisblues

General Admission – All Ages

Doors open 7:00 pm

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy theater that seats 100 — advance ticket purchase encouraged. Online sales end 1 hour before showtime. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.

In Green Bank, West Virginia, modern technology goes quiet so a giant radio telescope can listen for signals from the universe.

What might we hear in the silence?

Small Town Universe explores life in a remote town called Green Bank, West Virginia — where restrictions on wireless technology, like cell phones and Wi-Fi, enable the work of the Green Bank Telescope, which happens to be the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope.

This made-in-WV film follows four people whose lives are intertwined with the town and its namesake telescope: a young woman dreaming of a career in astrophysics, a retired engineer reflecting on his legacy, a longtime local rooted in Green Bank’s history, and a newcomer embracing life off-the-grid. As federal funding hangs in the balance, their futures are inextricably tied to the survival of this scientific marvel and the Quiet Zone that makes it all possible.

A discussion will follow the film, to include the filmmaker and other individuals who have been to Green Bank.

Directed by Katie Dellamaggiore​

Film website: smalltownuniversefilm.com

Run time: 90 minutes followed by optional discussion/Q&A

Rating: Suitable for middle schoolers and up

Short Term Universe’s distribution is supported by the Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN).

General admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Advanced purchase encouraged. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Welcome to the Hitchcock Architecture of Suspense Film Festival at the Shepherdstown Opera House

October 30 – November 1, 2026

Three hosted screenings with live introduction and post-film discussion by author Christine Madrid French, author of the acclaimed book “The Architecture of Suspense”

Costumes Invited! Come dressed as your favorite Hitchcock character, a building from the films, the mood of suspense—or the master director himself.

Click here for more information on the Film Festival and to buy a discounted ticket for the entire Festival (all three film blocks including author talks and Q&A sessions). Can’t come to all three films? No problem, you can buy single-film tickets, too!

Film Block #1

Psycho (1960)

Hitchcock’s famous thriller about a psychotic motel owner who obsesses over his late, controlling mother while becoming the prime suspect in a murder case involving one of his recent guests, a pretty secretary who checked into the Bates Motel after impulsively stealing $40,000 and never checked out.

Cast: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam

Program time: Film is 108 minutes + presentation/Q&A

Age Rating: R

General admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Advanced purchase encouraged. Refreshments available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Accessibility: Theater is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible restroom. Hearing assistance: The Opera House uses the AudioFetch system to enable patrons to receive movie sound on their own phones and listen via their Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids. For instructions, look for instructions on our website (OperaHouseLive.com) under “Planning Your Visit.”

Plan Your Visit: Parking and other helpful information available on OperaHouseLive.com under “Plan Your Visit.”

Welcome to the Hitchcock Architecture of Suspense Film Festival at the Shepherdstown Opera House

October 30 – November 1, 2026

Three hosted screenings with live introductions and post-film discussion by author Christine Madrid French, author of the acclaimed book “The Architecture of Suspense”

Costumes Invited! Come dressed as your favorite Hitchcock character, a building from the films, the mood of suspense—or the master director himself.

Click here for more information on the Film Festival and to buy a discounted ticket for the entire Festival (all three film blocks including author talks and Q&A sessions). Can’t attend all three films? No problem, you can buy single-film tickets, too!

Film Block #2

North by Northwest (1959)

Cary Grant stars as an innocent man mistaken for a spy in one of director Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest thrillers. While leaving New York’s Plaza Hotel, advertising executive Roger Thornhill (Grant) has the misfortune of standing just as the name “George Kaplan” is paged-starting a lethal case of mistaken identity and a nonstop game of cat and mouse as he is pursued across North America by espionage agents trying to kill him-and by police who suspect him of murder.

Cast: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Philip Ober

Program time: Film is 136 minutes + presentation/Q&A

Age Rating: TV-PG

General admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Advanced purchase encouraged. Refreshments available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Accessibility: Theater is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible restroom. Hearing assistance: The Opera House uses the AudioFetch system to enable patrons to receive movie sound on their own phones and listen via their Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids. For instructions, look for instructions on our website (OperaHouseLive.com) under “Planning Your Visit.”

Plan Your Visit: Parking and other helpful information available on OperaHouseLive.com under “Plan Your Visit.”

Welcome to the Hitchcock Architecture of Suspense Film Festival at the Shepherdstown Opera House

October 30 – November 1, 2026

Three hosted screenings with live introduction and post-film discussion by author Christine Madrid French, author of the acclaimed book “The Architecture of Suspense”

Costumes Invited! Come dressed as your favorite Hitchcock character, a building from the films, the mood of suspense—or the master director himself.

Click here for more information on the Film Festival and to buy a discounted ticket for the entire Festival (all three film blocks including author talks and Q&A sessions). Can’t come to all three films? No problem, you can buy single-film tickets, too!

Film Block #3

Vertigo (1958)

A retired cop, afflicted with acrophobia, agrees to shadow the wife of an old acquaintance, who fears that she may be suicidal.

Cast: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore

Program time: Film is 129 minutes + presentation/Q&A

Age Rating: PG

General admission. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Advanced purchase encouraged. Refreshments available for purchase (no outside food or drinks please).

Accessibility: Theater is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible restroom. Hearing assistance: The Opera House uses the AudioFetch system to enable patrons to receive movie sound on their own phones and listen via their Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids. For instructions, look for instructions on our website (OperaHouseLive.com) under “Planning Your Visit.”

Plan Your Visit: Parking and other helpful information available on OperaHouseLive.com under “Plan Your Visit.”

Where did the Blues come from — and what makes it real?

Fulbright Scholar and acclaimed jazz musician, composer, and educator Antonio Underwood brings his signature program What’s Real, What’s Not: The Blues to the Shepherdstown Opera House, tracing the African American roots and evolution of one of America’s most foundational musical forms.

A Yale School of Music graduate and longtime member of the two-time Grammy Award-winning McCoy Tyner Big Band. Underwood has performed at major jazz venues worldwide alongside legends including Max Roach, Christian McBride, and Delfeayo Marsalis. He was also the first African American to become a George Lucas scholar in the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program at USC. He brings that depth of experience to bear in a program that is equal parts history, scholarship, and passion.

The program includes a live performance by Underwood accompanied by Tone Pulse, bringing the music to life on the Opera House stage.

This program is designed for all ages and stages: music lovers, Blues fans, students, history buffs, and more.

General Admission – All Ages

Doors open 1:30 pm

The historic Shepherdstown Opera House is a cozy theater that seats 100 — advance ticket purchase encouraged. Online sales end 1 hour before showtime. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale during the performance (ID required for beer & wine purchase, no outside food or drinks please). Lobby, theater & restroom are wheelchair accessible.