Picnic

Join the Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College for Season 79! Picnic is a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama that captures the restless longing and hidden desires simmering beneath the surface of small-town Midwestern life. Set over Labor Day weekend in Kansas, the play follows the arrival of Hal Carter, a charming and impulsive drifter whose presence disrupts the quiet routines of two neighboring households. As relationships shift and tensions rise, the characters are forced to confront their dreams, disappointments, and desires for something greater than the lives they have settled into. Written by acclaimed American playwright William Inge, Picnic reflects Inge’s deep understanding of Midwestern communities and ordinary people searching for connection and meaning. Before achieving Broadway success, Inge taught at Stephens College from 1938 to 1943, where he instructed students in English, journalism, and drama. His experiences in Missouri and the American Midwest heavily influenced the emotional realism and atmosphere found throughout Picnic. Picnic is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Dramatists Play Service. Showtimes 11 a.m. on March 197:30 p.m. on March 19 & 202 p.m. on March 20 & 21Tickets will go on sale August 15, 2026. By William Inge