ELLEN’S BOYS: a new play

Set in a working-class Irish American triple-decker home in Dorchester, Mass., 1965, Ellen’s Boys follows devoted matriarch Ellen Flaherty as she navigates a transformative year with her three adult sons during a time of profound social change. As she fights to maintain control over her family, Ellen discovers that her boys’ lives are spinning beyond her influence. While scheming to find him the perfect wife, Gil faces his own private struggle as he confronts his sexuality in an era when such truths remain unspoken. John, a priest at the local parish, begins to sense the brewing troubles that will soon shake the Catholic Church. While youngest son Michael, freshly enlisted in the army, falls for an Italian girl whom his mother deems completely unsuitable. With no secrets safe and no boundaries respected, only their deep love for one another and their resilient sense of humor can hold the family together through the emotional upheaval that threatens to tear them apart. 

A new play by James Sullivan, Donald Sheehan directs a cast of nine, including Victoria Bond, Julie M. Butler, Patrick Dean, Avery Fischbach, Kylie Logan, Aria Martinelli, Donald Sheehan, Kyle Silver, and Elias Wettengel.

“Exploring themes of acceptance, family loyalty, and the painful process of adapting to change during the turbulent 1960s, this poignant drama captures the universal struggle between tradition and progress, examining how families navigate shifting moral landscapes while holding onto what matters most,” shares director Donald Sheehan. “Ellen’s Boys embodies everything True Repertory Theatre stands for. It’s a deeply human story that will make audiences laugh, cry, and feel something profound while challenging them to think about the complexities of family, love, and acceptance.”

The runtime is two hours, plus one 15-minute intermission.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

The premiere theatrical organization based in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, True Repertory Theatre seeks to engage, inspire, entertain and challenge audiences with theatrical productions that range from the classics to new works, making essential contributions to the quality of life in the communities they serve. Laugh, Cry, Cheer. Feel Something. Think Something.