A Classic Theatre: Pen Pals

A Change 

Unfortunately, A Classic Theatre cannot present the play Butterflies Are Free this season due to unanticipated development. They are delighted, however, to present the exceptional play, Pen Pals, the story of two girls an ocean apart who became pen pals and friends for life.

The Play

Playwright and author Michael Griffo created this fictional play and a book by the same name, based on his mother and her lifelong pen pal. Pen Pals features two middle-aged women, Bernie from New Jersey, and Mags from England, who have been pen pals since they were 14, as they each look through the letters they saved for decades. They have never met, but these two best friends have shared every aspect of their lives, even things they would never tell another soul.

The play spans from 1955 to 2002, with Bernie and Mags each reading the letters, making the audience feel as if they were watching the story unfold in real time.

Pen Pals recently enjoyed an Off-Broadway run, with several actresses performing the roles of Bernie and Mags, including Maureen McCormick, Nancy McKeon, and Sharon Lawrence.

Details

Admission: Tickets are $25.00 for general admission and $15.00 for students with a valid ID. Purchase tickets online.

When:  7:30 p.m. on Fridays, March 6 and March 13; 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays, March 7 and 14; and Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m. on March 8 and 15, 2026.

Where: The St. Augustine Waterworks is located at 184 San Marco Avenue in uptown St. Augustine, Florida 32084. See below for directions by vehicle.

Getting There: While the address is 184 San Marco Avenue, the only driveway on San Marco is Exit Only, so it is not available to access the Waterworks. Access to the Waterworks is through the St. Augustine Main Library parking lot, on the opposite side of the complex. (Use 1960 North Ponce de Leon in your GPS.)  

Season 2025/26

A Classic Theatre chose a collection of four plays focused on relationships, their importance, and how connections with others influence our lives. 

• October 3 - 12, 2025: Home, I'm Darling
• December 5 - 14, 2025: Miracle on 34th Street
• March 6 - 15, 2026: Pen Pals (Instead of the cancelled Butterflies Are Free)
• May 1 - 10, 2026: Rounding Third