Peach State Summer Theatre opens its second show of the 2019 season this week.

“Little Women: The Broadway Musical” sets Louisa Mae Alcott’s classic tale of young sisters during the American Civil War to contemporary music. It opens Friday evening, June 21, Sawyer Theatre, Valdosta State University Fine Arts Building, corner of Oak and Brookwood.

“Little Women” follows the opening of “Mamma Mia!” two weeks ago. “Mamma Mia!” has already sold out early performances and tickets are reportedly going fast for later shows.

“Crazy for You,” a comedy featuring the music of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, is scheduled to open next week, June 28.

Once “Crazy for You” opens, all three shows play in rotating repertory through July 21.

The creative team behind PSST! is Jacque Wheeler, artistic director, and H. Duke Guthrie, managing director. They have filled these roles since PSST!’s inception more than a dozen years ago. Dr. Randy Wheeler, a retired faculty member of Valdosta State University Theatre & Dance, has directed a show each year since PSST!’s inception.

Valdosta State University is the umbrella organization for PSST!

VSU originally sponsored summer musical theatre on Jekyll Island for several years with the Wheelers and Guthrie making the seasons possible. 

In the early 2000s, they traded Jekyll for home, opening the summer musical theatre in Valdosta.

Combined with the Jekyll run, PSST! is observing 30 years of providing summer musicals.

Peach State Summer Theatre was, and remains, a courageous, ambitious and bold move.

Presenting a full season of three professional musicals within a few weeks in a comparatively rural section of Georgia takes a certain amount of daring.

And the Wheelers, Guthrie and VSU dare.

PSST! shows are gems in the heart of South Georgia. 

The Valdosta Daily Times has long believed in the PSST! mission, serving as corporate sponsor for more than a decade.

Many people from other parts of Georgia would be surprised to discover the state’s official musical theatre is located in Valdosta.

Though PSST! attained the state designation several years ago, many Valdosta residents still seem surprised to learn professional music theatre is available each summer in Lowndes County.

End the surprise. Go see a PSST! show. But do it soon.

Plenty of other folks already know the quality of Peach State Summer Theatre. Tickets are selling quick, and in a few weeks, PSST! will be gone until next summer.

More information: Call PSST! box office, (229) 259-7770; or visit www.valdosta.edu/psst.