34th annual East End festival returns Oct. 2–12 with premieres, Screenwriters Lab, SummerDocs and outdoor… Read More →
The Breakers hosted Palm Beach’s social and philanthropic elite as the Old Bags Luncheon™ auction… Read More →
See what’s trending this week—what’s opening, what’s closing, who’s showing, who’s making sparks. Food Scene… Read More →
Pop star’s lawyers say bodycam video would be a privacy nightmare Attorneys for pop star… Read More →
From Lady Gaga to Liza Minnelli (and not on the same stage this time), March… Read More →
Snow-capped mountains, mid-century modern design, Rat Pack lore and desert sunshine — why Palm Springs… Read More →
From stand-up comedy and live music to gallery openings, author talks and Oscar-night watch parties… Read More →
Long before Instagram summers and $100,000 rentals, the couple slipped away to a modest Sagaponack… Read More →
A $32 million estate at 200 Rose Hill Road swaps cedar shingles for concrete and… Read More →
After four weeks of testimony, prosecutors say the once–celebrated luxury real-estate siblings followed the same… Read More →
Southampton Arts Center Debuts Dear Jack, Dear Louise for Valentine’s Weekend
A World War II love story unfolds through handwritten letters in a timely Long Island debut.
Before texts, emails and emojis, there were handwritten letters—and sometimes, they led to love.
That timeless romance is at the heart of Dear Jack, Dear Louise, Ken Ludwig’s World War II love story making its Long Island debut at Southampton Arts Center just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend. The production stars Barbara Jo Howard and Jack Seabury and runs Feb. 13–15.
A Romance Born on the Page
Inspired by the real-life courtship of Ludwig’s parents, the play follows U.S. Army Capt. Jack Ludwig, a military doctor stationed in Oregon, and Louise Rabiner, an aspiring actress and dancer in New York City. The pair begin a correspondence during World War II, dreaming of a future together, as distance—and the war itself—threatens to keep them apart.
The Chicago Theatre Review calls the play “storytelling at its best.”
Why This Play, Why Now
Director Michael Disher says the piece stood out for its intimacy and emotional pull. “I’ve always been a fan of Ken Ludwig’s comedies, but this one felt more personal,” he said.
“It’s a World War II love story, and I also love presenting meaningful works that may have been overlooked.”
Disher was drawn to the play’s focus on letter writing. “People still love receiving a handwritten note,” he said. “In this case, the entire story unfolds through letters between Jack Ludwig and Louise Rabiner.”
A Perfect Valentine’s Date
Disher discovered the play several years ago and waited patiently for the right moment to bring it to the stage. “When the opportunity finally opened up this past summer, it felt like the perfect fit for this season,” he said.
The result, he added, is a heartfelt tribute to enduring love. “It’s joyful, full of wit and warmth—and a perfect Valentine’s weekend date.”
Performance Details
Dear Jack, Dear Louise runs Feb. 13–15 at Southampton Arts Center, 25 Jobs Lane, Southampton.
Showtimes: Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.
For tickets and information, visit southamptonartscenter.org.
