www.mellencamp.com/news/ogunquit-playhouse Ogunquit Playhouse Announces Small Town The World Premier John Mellencamp Musical Oct 1 - Nov 1, 2026 Jan 15, 2026 SMALL TOWN THE WORLD PREMIERE JOHN MELLENCAMP MUSICAL
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY JOHN MELLENCAMP
BOOK BY NAOMI WALLACE
DIRECTED AND CHOREGRAPHED BY KATHLEEN MARSHALL
October 1, 2026 – November 1, 2026
(January 16, 2026 – Ogunquit, Maine and New York, NY) – Ogunquit Playhouse (Executive Artistic Director Bradford Kenney, Managing Director Deborah Warren) is thrilled to announce the final production of their 94thseason. Small Town, the World Premiere John Mellencamp Musical, will feature music and lyrics by John Mellencamp, a book by Naomi Wallace, and directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall. The new musical will run Thursday October 1, 2026 through Sunday November 1, 2026.
“Ogunquit Playhouse has a storied legacy of debuting World and American Premieres, and we take immense pride in fostering new works alongside world-class artists,” said Bradford Kenney, Ogunquit Playhouse Executive Artistic Director. “We are thrilled to continue that tradition this season with a powerful new musical from the legendary John Mellencamp and Naomi Wallace. Under the visionary direction of three-time Tony Winner Kathleen Marshall, this production brings the heart of the American ‘Small Town’ to life. We cannot wait for our audiences to experience the story of Jack and Diane this October, and to hear Mellencamp’s iconic hits reimagined for the stage by this incredible creative team.”
Step into the story of a small town in free-fall. Including John Mellencamp’s greatest hits, this isn’t just a musical—it’s a pulse-pounding story of the men and women living on the edge of the promise. Follow Jack and Diane, two star-crossed lovers refusing to let the world break them or bury their youthful fire. Through the echoes of “Hurts So Good,” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” “Small Town,” and the iconic “Jack and Diane,” witness a multigenerational community at a crossroads, making tough choices in a desperate bid for a better life.
"I'm honored to return to Ogunquit to bring this beautiful and uplifting story of a resilient community to the historic Playhouse.” said Kathleen Marshall, Director and Choreographer. “With John's unforgettable music and John and Naomi's poetic words, we look forward to presenting the first production of this compelling new musical."
Mellencamp is one of the most highly respected singer-songwriters of his generation, with a career in music spanning five decades. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and recipient of the prestigious John Steinbeck Award and the Woody Guthrie Award, as well as many others. He is a founding member of Farm Aid along with Willie Nelson and Neil Young. “John Mellencamp is one of the greatest storytellers of our generation, representing the heart of America with honesty, grit, and compassion. We are extremely proud to support this premiere and thrilled to see his words and music continue to make a profound impression by resonating with new audiences.” Monte Lipman; Founder, Republic Records Chairman, REPUBLIC Collective
The 2026 season also includes previously announced productions Ain’t Too Proud (May 14 – June 13), Hello, Dolly! (June 18 – July 18), City of Angels (July 23 – August 22), and The Producers (August 27 – September 26).
3, 4, and 5-Show Season Passes can be purchased by calling the Box Office (207.646.5511) weekdays 10:00am to 5:00pm or online at tickets.ogunquitplayhouse.org. Individual show tickets go on sale to the general public Tuesday, March 17, with an exclusive pre-sale week for Playhouse Members and Passholders, March 10-16. For more information on Membership, visit ogunquitplayhouse.org/membership
Farm Aid’s annual music and food festival is returning to Saratoga Springs, New York,on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Broadview Stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, July 26, at 10 a.m. ET, at LiveNation.com.
Farm Aid 2024 — a full day of music, family farmers, HOMEGROWN food and agrarian experiences — will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), as well as Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson with The Travelin’ McCourys, Charley Crockett, Joy Oladokun, Southern Avenue, Cassandra Lewis and Jesse Welles, with more artists to be announced.
Tickets range from $85 to $325 and will be available for purchase at LiveNation.com. A limited number of pre-saletickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 24, at farmaid.org/tickets.
For event updates, follow Farm Aid on X (@FarmAid), Facebook (facebook.com/farmaid) and Instagram (instagram.com/farmaid), and visit farmaid.org/festival. Festivalgoers are encouraged to use the hashtags #FarmAid2024 and #Road2FarmAid to join the conversation on social media around this year’s festival.
John Mellencamp with Bob Costas Star in Debut Episode of New Public TV Series, With, Arriving July 1 (check your local listings)
The new one-hour series pairs music icons with fellow creators, musicians and friends, for a conversation providing a candid glimpse inside the creation of their most beloved hits.
For the first time, John is giving you exclusive access to backstage action, behind the scenes coverage, and live content while on tour - with Hud Mellencamp who is giving us an inside view on the road - and you'll only find it right here #mellencamptour
johnmellencamp.lnk.to/ScarecrowDeluxeID/ The highly anticipated deluxe edition reissue of John Mellencamp’s beloved album Scarecrow is out now, featuring a massive collection of bonus tracks, rarities and more never previously shared by Mellencamp!
"Smart Guys" – the latest and previously unreleased single from the upcoming Scarecrow (Deluxe Editions) is available to stream now for the very first time, along with a new music video. Pre-order the album, out in just a week on 11/4!
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
www.mellencamp.com/news/ogunquit-playhouse
Ogunquit Playhouse Announces Small Town The World Premier John Mellencamp Musical Oct 1 - Nov 1, 2026
Jan 15, 2026
SMALL TOWN THE WORLD PREMIERE JOHN MELLENCAMP MUSICAL
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY JOHN MELLENCAMP
BOOK BY NAOMI WALLACE
DIRECTED AND CHOREGRAPHED BY KATHLEEN MARSHALL
October 1, 2026 – November 1, 2026
(January 16, 2026 – Ogunquit, Maine and New York, NY) – Ogunquit Playhouse (Executive Artistic Director Bradford Kenney, Managing Director Deborah Warren) is thrilled to announce the final production of their 94thseason. Small Town, the World Premiere John Mellencamp Musical, will feature music and lyrics by John Mellencamp, a book by Naomi Wallace, and directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall. The new musical will run Thursday October 1, 2026 through Sunday November 1, 2026.
“Ogunquit Playhouse has a storied legacy of debuting World and American Premieres, and we take immense pride in fostering new works alongside world-class artists,” said Bradford Kenney, Ogunquit Playhouse Executive Artistic Director. “We are thrilled to continue that tradition this season with a powerful new musical from the legendary John Mellencamp and Naomi Wallace. Under the visionary direction of three-time Tony Winner Kathleen Marshall, this production brings the heart of the American ‘Small Town’ to life. We cannot wait for our audiences to experience the story of Jack and Diane this October, and to hear Mellencamp’s iconic hits reimagined for the stage by this incredible creative team.”
Step into the story of a small town in free-fall. Including John Mellencamp’s greatest hits, this isn’t just a musical—it’s a pulse-pounding story of the men and women living on the edge of the promise. Follow Jack and Diane, two star-crossed lovers refusing to let the world break them or bury their youthful fire. Through the echoes of “Hurts So Good,” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” “Small Town,” and the iconic “Jack and Diane,” witness a multigenerational community at a crossroads, making tough choices in a desperate bid for a better life.
"I'm honored to return to Ogunquit to bring this beautiful and uplifting story of a resilient community to the historic Playhouse.” said Kathleen Marshall, Director and Choreographer. “With John's unforgettable music and John and Naomi's poetic words, we look forward to presenting the first production of this compelling new musical."
Mellencamp is one of the most highly respected singer-songwriters of his generation, with a career in music spanning five decades. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and recipient of the prestigious John Steinbeck Award and the Woody Guthrie Award, as well as many others. He is a founding member of Farm Aid along with Willie Nelson and Neil Young. “John Mellencamp is one of the greatest storytellers of our generation, representing the heart of America with honesty, grit, and compassion. We are extremely proud to support this premiere and thrilled to see his words and music continue to make a profound impression by resonating with new audiences.” Monte Lipman; Founder, Republic Records Chairman, REPUBLIC Collective
The 2026 season also includes previously announced productions Ain’t Too Proud (May 14 – June 13), Hello, Dolly! (June 18 – July 18), City of Angels (July 23 – August 22), and The Producers (August 27 – September 26).
3, 4, and 5-Show Season Passes can be purchased by calling the Box Office (207.646.5511) weekdays 10:00am to 5:00pm or online at tickets.ogunquitplayhouse.org. Individual show tickets go on sale to the general public Tuesday, March 17, with an exclusive pre-sale week for Playhouse Members and Passholders, March 10-16. For more information on Membership, visit ogunquitplayhouse.org/membership
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John Mellencamp
www.mellencamp.com/tour
JOHN MELLENCAMP
DANCING WORDS TOUR — THE GREATEST HITS
July 10—Grand Rapids, MI—Acrisure Amphitheater
July 11—Tinley Park, IL—Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
July 13—Kansas City, MO—Morton Amphitheater
July 14—Shakopee, MN—Mystic Lake Amphitheater
July 16—Clarkston, MI—Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 18—Noblesville, IN—Ruoff Music Center
July 19—Cincinnati, OH—Riverbend Music Center
July 21—Cuyahoga Falls, OH—Blossom Music Center
July 24—Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center
July 25—Holmdel, NJ—PNC Bank Arts Center
July 26—Wantagh, NY—Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
July 29—Bristow, VA—Jiffy Lube Live
July 30—Charlotte, NC—Truliant Amphitheatre
August 1—Alpharetta, GA—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
August 3—Tampa, FL—MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 6—Houston, TX—The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
August 9—Phoenix, AZ—Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
August 10—Hollywood, CA—Hollywood Bowl
August 12—Mountain View, CA—Shoreline Amphitheatre
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Hurt So Good live @IUAthletics
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Farm Aid’s annual music and food festival is returning to Saratoga Springs, New York,on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Broadview Stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, July 26, at 10 a.m. ET, at LiveNation.com.
Farm Aid 2024 — a full day of music, family farmers, HOMEGROWN food and agrarian experiences — will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), as well as Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson with The Travelin’ McCourys, Charley Crockett, Joy Oladokun, Southern Avenue, Cassandra Lewis and Jesse Welles, with more artists to be announced.
Tickets range from $85 to $325 and will be available for purchase at LiveNation.com. A limited number of pre-saletickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 24, at farmaid.org/tickets.
For event updates, follow Farm Aid on X (@FarmAid), Facebook (facebook.com/farmaid) and Instagram (instagram.com/farmaid), and visit farmaid.org/festival. Festivalgoers are encouraged to use the hashtags #FarmAid2024 and #Road2FarmAid to join the conversation on social media around this year’s festival.
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John Mellencamp with Bob Costas Star in Debut Episode of New Public TV Series, With, Arriving July 1 (check your local listings)
The new one-hour series pairs music icons with fellow creators, musicians and friends, for a conversation providing a candid glimpse inside the creation of their most beloved hits.
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johnmellencamp.lnk.to/ScarecrowDeluxeID/ The highly anticipated deluxe edition reissue of John Mellencamp’s beloved album Scarecrow is out now, featuring a massive collection of bonus tracks, rarities and more never previously shared by Mellencamp!
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"Smart Guys" – the latest and previously unreleased single from the upcoming Scarecrow (Deluxe Editions) is available to stream now for the very first time, along with a new music video. Pre-order the album, out in just a week on 11/4!
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