Stephen King's Misery Heads to Long Island Stage at The Engeman Theater, Casting Now for January 2027 Run

The John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, Long Island is mounting a full theatrical production of Misery, the stage adaptation of Stephen King's landmark psychological thriller, with rehearsals set to begin December 28, 2026. The production opens January 14, 2027 and runs through February 28, 2027, giving actors, designers, and stage crew a clear and imminent target to pursue. Casting is actively underway right now, which means the window to get in front of this production is open today.

Director Sarah Jane Schostack is helming the production. Schostack is a seasoned theatrical director with deep roots in regional and Long Island theater, and her appointment here signals a production that values craft and intimate storytelling over spectacle. Misery is, at its core, a two-hander, a brutal pressure cooker of a play that lives or dies on the chemistry and physical commitment of its two leads. The role of Annie Wilkes, King's iconic and terrifying superfan, is one of the most coveted parts in contemporary American theater, demanding an actor capable of swinging between maternal warmth and explosive, unchecked violence. The role of novelist Paul Sheldon requires equal stamina. Both roles will be cast through the Wojcik Casting Team, one of the more respected casting operations working in the New York and regional theater ecosystem. Actors and their representatives should be making contact now.

On the production side, the creative infrastructure is firmly in place. Richard Dolce serves as Executive Producer, a familiar name to anyone who follows the Engeman closely. Jennifer Dolce is Director of Production, and Vic DiMonda joins as Associate Producing Director. Chelsea Steinmetz is aboard as Production Stage Manager, a role that will be central to keeping the compressed rehearsal-to-opening timeline on track. The Engeman is an Actors' Equity Association production, so AEA membership is a relevant credential for performing talent pursuing this one.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport is one of Long Island's premier professional theater venues and a genuine regional powerhouse. Opened in 2007 and named for a major benefactor, the Engeman operates as a year-round professional house presenting Broadway-caliber work in an intimate setting. The theater seats approximately 428 and features a thrust stage configuration that will suit the claustrophobic intensity of Misery extremely well. For crew and designers, working at the Engeman means working within a tight-knit, professional regional operation that has built a strong reputation for treating its creative teams well. The theater is easily accessible from New York City via the Long Island Rail Road, which matters for talent and crew commuting from the metro area. Local Long Island crew and designers should absolutely be paying attention to this one, though the production's New York City proximity means department leads from the city are a realistic pool as well.

The source material needs no introduction. William Goldman adapted King's 1987 novel for the stage, and the play has enjoyed a robust life in regional and commercial theater since its debut, including a notable Broadway production in 2015 starring Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf. The story follows Paul Sheldon, a bestselling author who is rescued from a car crash by Annie Wilkes, a nurse who turns out to be his most devoted and deranged reader. What begins as a recovery becomes a captivity, and the play escalates with King's signature dread into full psychological horror. For designers, the single-location set (Annie's remote Colorado farmhouse) presents a rich opportunity to build a space that evolves from cozy to sinister without ever leaving the stage. Lighting and sound design will carry enormous weight in establishing tone, and a production of this genre at this scale will be looking for designers who understand how to use atmosphere as a storytelling tool.

With rehearsals starting December 28 and an opening just over two weeks later on January 14, the technical schedule will be lean and demanding. That compressed window between first rehearsal and opening night is standard for a tight regional run, but it means the production will want experienced hands who can hit the ground running. Anyone targeting a design or stage management role on this show should be reaching out through the Engeman's production office now, well before the holiday season crowds the calendar.

The full listing for Misery at The John W. Engeman Theater is available now on ProductionList.com, including production office contact information, confirmed crew, and scheduling details. If you are a designer, technician, stage manager, or AEA performer with a strong grasp of thriller material and the discipline a fast-turnaround regional production demands, this is a listing worth bookmarking and acting on quickly. Casting through the Wojcik Casting Team is already in motion, and the best opportunities on any production go to those who move first.

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