Cumberland Players Announce 80th Season Featuring Six Diverse Productions

Cumberland Players will mark its 80th anniversary in 2026 with a six-production season staged at The Little Theatre, 66 E. Sherman Avenue in Vineland. The company announced a season that opens March 6 and runs through mid-November, offering a mix of classic comedy, contemporary musical theatre, family shows, and darker drama that aims to broaden local arts options and boost civic engagement in Cumberland County.

The season opens with The Importance of Being Earnest, scheduled for March 6–8. New Jersey Stage described the Oscar Wilde comedy this way: “Oscar Wilde's classic is a delight from the first cucumber sandwich on as Jack's double life catches up with him. The problems are resolved in an extremely charming and quite unexpected way as Jack and Algernon discover the importance of being earnest while answering to the name of Ernest.” The Last Five Years follows April 17–26, and Reefer Madness is set for June 19–28; New Jersey Stage refers to that title as “Reefer Madness, The Musical,” while the Cumberland Players listing uses the shorter name.

Summer programming includes Six: The Musical TEEN EDITION, July 31–August 9. New Jersey Stage supplies the production copy: “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st-century girl power!” The outlet also notes: “This is a full-length adaptation of Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ international phenomenon SIX, modified for performance by teen actors for family audiences.” Family programming continues with A Year with Frog and Toad KIDS, October 15–18. The season concludes with The Pillowman, November 13–15.

Cumberland Players will host an 80th Season Kick-Off Event described on the Greater Vineland Chamber calendar as a “variety show and cabaret to kick off 80 seasons of community theater in Cumberland County.” The kick-off is scheduled for Sunday, February 22, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at The Little Theatre. The chamber event page includes interactive reminder tools for attendees and shows a “TODO” placeholder in its description, indicating some event details on that listing remain incomplete.

The company is also soliciting businesses for program advertising. Cumberland Players’ site urges local advertisers: “Reserve your space now to be part of our program books. Get exposure for your business while helping to support the Theater.” Interested parties are directed to Operations@cumberlandplayers.com. Mailing and venue addresses are listed as P.O. Box 494, Vineland, NJ 08362-0494, and The Little Theatre, 66 E. Sherman Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360.

Cumberland Players traces its origins to the Little Theatre of Vineland in February 1946. New Jersey Stage records that the group presented three one-act plays in its inaugural season, was chartered by October with 14 members, and “spending countless hours converting an old church house into the building (c. November 1953) that they have all come to know and love.”

For residents, the season offers arts programming across age groups and opportunities for local businesses to support community theatre. Ticketing, casting, running times, and production credits have not been published; Cumberland Players and local partners will likely release those details ahead of each run. Look for the kick-off cabaret on Feb. 22 to preview the anniversary season and watch Cumberland Players’ channels for updates on tickets and creative teams.