PETER FENTON
playwright + screenwriter
Peter Fenton is a playwright and screenwriter best known for ABANDON ALL HOPE, his dark comedy/drama play that premiered Off-Broadway as part of the Rogue Theater Festival in 2023. Born in a New York City suburb and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Fenton holds a BA from Wheaton College in Illinois and completed a postgraduate apprenticeship at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre.
Fenton's cinematic work has been showcased on the international film festival circuit, earning awards for both his role as producer and co-writer of the psychological thriller NIGHT VOICES with Dadley Productions and for his directorial debut, family drama INHERENTLY SPECIAL, which Fenton wrote and produced through his own company, Fenton Productions.
Fenton's stage plays have been presented at Theatre Row and The Flea in New York City, Lambertville Hall, the Philly Improv Theater, West Art Lancaster, and various community and school theaters. Fenton most enjoys stories exploring identity, relationships, and the meaning of life (or lack thereof), blending layered plots with sharp-witted dialogue.
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Currently based in New Hope, Pennsylvania, Fenton works as the Marketing Associate for Passage Theatre Company in Trenton, New Jersey and additionally freelances for McCarter Theatre at Princeton University, Bucks County Playhouse, Premiere Stages at Kean University, Dadley Productions, and various individual clients.
UP NEXT
Conestoga Valley’s Gerald G. Huesken Middle School will present the original comedy Good Knight and Goodbye, written by Peter Fenton, on Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, in the auditorium at Smoketown Elementary School, 500 Mount Sidney Road, Lancaster. Curtain time is 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults and can be purchased at the door or online at CUR8 - Gerald G. Huesken Middle School (Conestoga Valley) Projects.
The comedy centers on the humble and legendary Sir Galahad, who has just arrived as a member of the Knights of the Square Table in the silly kingdom of Slekochovakia. Lady Heron, the King’s smart and ambitious messenger, takes a liking to Sir Galahad, but Galahad is focused on doing what the King and Queen ask him to do – convince the headstrong, beautiful Princess Jacqueline to marry him. Sir Galahad does as he is told and heads out on his quest. Two slight problems: On the quest, Sir Galahad rethinks his loyalty to the King and Queen; and secondly, a power-hungry, jealous knight, Sir Krause, takes up the quest for Jacqueline’s hand as well. With some help and unexpected twists along the way from the sorcerer Merlin, a few adventure buddies here and there, and one militant royal wedding planner, what is a brave, handsome knight to do?
The cast includes Zach Hallgren as Sir Galahad; Alice Reigner as Lady Andrea Heron; Gabe Hallgren as Merlin; Brooke Siegrist as Princess Jacqueline; Philippa Shea as Queen Carlotta; Caleb Kmieczak as King Victor; and Liam Hengst as Sir Krause. Also in the cast are Ava Newkirk, Madelyn Lehman, Isabelle Summerson, Layna Morrie, Emmelee Campbell, Jessika Fisher, Capri Stoltzfus, Silas Neufeld, Lily Cutrona, Emily Baughman, Maryanna Duchesneau, Kaylee Shulenberger, Riley Riggle, Julian Rosado, Clark McClune, Cordelia Hoover, Maddy Ficchi, Violette Martin, Addison Reichenbach, Reagan Reed, and Hailey Poston. The director is Suzanne Fisher. Faculty advisors include Andy Zellers, Stage Manager/Set Contractor; Kim Stamm, Set Designer; Burnie Smucker, Technician; Lauren Allen, Costumes and Props; Brock Ahrens, Manager assistant and A/V assistant; Dara Slater, Consultant.
This production carries a special significance for the middle school. The comedy was written by CV alumni Peter Fenton in 2009 when Fenton was an 8th grade student in teacher Suzanne Fisher’s English class. He was also a member of the play cast during both of his middle school years. Fenton proposed that he could write a better play than the one they just produced, and Fisher took him up on his challenge, promising him that if he could write a good play, she would direct it as the next year’s middle school production. Fenton wrote Good Knight and Goodbye, which became the school’s 2010 spring play. He went on to write Fisher’s final play, The Thousand Year Rose, to celebrate her retirement from Conestoga Valley in 2017.
Since then, Fenton has become a professional playwright, screenwriter, and director, and Fisher has remained his mentor and production partner.
When the opportunity arose for Fisher to direct the middle school play again this year, she reached out to Fenton to bring back Good Knight and Goodbye for the 15th anniversary of the show.
Both Fisher and Fenton would love to see former members of the 2010 Good Knight and Goodbye production in this audience, as well and any cast members from Fisher’s previous 40 years of producing middle school plays at Conestoga Valley.
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"Fenton’s script was both interesting and optimistic. I think the show’s themes of self-improvement and self-forgiveness were highlighted especially well."
RICH MEHRENBERG,
BROADWAYWORLD
REVIEWS
"Fenton's quirky sense of humor, his spot-on timing and pace, and his ability to understand what an audience likes have made
The Thousand-Year Rose my favorite play."
SUZANNE FISHER,
Theater Director
"Behind the dark comedy..., and indeed Fenton has quite the sense of humor and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times, lies an enduring message."