Weddings, secrets, and surprises will collide on stage this weekend as Hobart and William Smith Colleges open their 2025–26 theatre season with The Gorges Motel, a fast-moving and heartfelt comedy set in the heart of the Finger Lakes.
Directed by Professor Chris Woodworth, the production marks the regional premiere of the play—a series of short, intersecting scenes written by six playwrights. Performances will take place in the McDonald Theatre at the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Set in a fictional Watkins Glen motel, The Gorges Motel weaves together the stories of 17 characters played by a mix of HWS students and community actors. There’s a wedding party, a mysterious guest, feuding relatives, and a few eavesdroppers — all linked by the motel’s thin walls and unexpected connections.
Woodworth says the play’s puzzle-like structure offers both humor and heart. “The vignettes intersect in surprising and delightful ways,” she explains. “We’ve got 17 student and community actors on stage, plus five students working behind the scenes.”
Tickets are free for HWS students. All others can pay what they wish, with a suggested donation of $15. Reservations are available online at hws.edu.
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