This story was produced by the OC Theatre Guild as part of a community media partnership with Culture OC. It was written and edited independently by the Guild’s selected contributors. This collaboration supports our effort to celebrate and amplify the vibrant arts and culture scene in Orange County.

‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ at Westminster Community Playhouse — Artwork courtesy of Westminster Community Playhouse

By OC Theatre Guild

November 3, 2026

Written for OC Theatre Guild by Anne Reid

Westminster Community Playhouse

‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’

When: Nov. 6 – 22, 2026

Where: 7272 Maple Street, Westminster

More Info: 714-893-8626, wcpstage.com

First published in 1890, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is the only novel by acclaimed Irish author Oscar Wilde. Widely regarded as a classic of Gothic and English literature, the novel has inspired numerous adaptations for both film and theater.

“‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ is a title that a lot of people seem to recognize, and is often met with a vague, ‘Ohhh yeah, the one with the scary portrait?’” said Rowan Wilkie, producer and stage manager at Westminster Community Playhouse (WCP). “But often it turns out people don’t actually know the story. That felt like an exciting prospect, I think. I was also particularly excited by the idea because it’s such a very English play, and it toys in such a fun way with the view of 1800s England as being very proper and refined.”

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However, beneath that polished Victorian exterior lies a world of beauty, temptation and moral decay. At its center is the young and captivating Dorian Gray, whose portrait, painted by his friend and admirer Basil Hallward, captures his extraordinary good looks. When Dorian is introduced to Lord Henry Wotton, however, the real transformation begins as the aristocrat’s hedonistic philosophy quickly captivates the young man.

Convinced that beauty and pleasure are life’s greatest pursuits and desperate to preserve his youth, Dorian wishes that the Hallward painting should age in his place. He then embarks on a life of indulgence and moral corruption, remaining young and handsome while his portrait grows increasingly grotesque and gnarled, revealing the consequences of his actions.

“We are not shying away from the views of Wilde’s novel,” said Director Jack Millis. “I love the themes of narcissism and the lengths people will go to avoid getting older and losing what they have. That the things we do may even hurt others. Dorian is definitely not a nice person.”

Millis’ previous directing credits include “Angels in America” and the Orange County premieres of “Zanna, Don’t!” and “Silence! The Musical,” the unauthorized parody of “The Silence of the Lambs.” Having previously appeared on the WCP stage in “It Runs in the Family,” Millis is pleased to return, this time as a director.

“It’s been wonderful to return in this capacity,” he said. “Everyone has been so welcoming and open to what I want to do. They’re not censoring my ideas, but embracing my vision, which I really appreciate.”

“One of the challenges of this production is exploring a story so deeply rooted in a particular time period and working with the actors to understand that world,” Millis explained.

“When I directed ‘Angels in America,’ which takes place in the 1980s, I had a personal connection to the era because I grew up during that time and remember the AIDS crisis. But ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ is a different experience because the production explores a world much further removed from our own,” he said. “The book is fantastic, and although I’ve seen film adaptations, I’ve never seen it performed onstage. We’re also incorporating some special effects, but I’m keeping those a surprise.”

“With the exception of one person who I already know, I haven’t worked with any of these actors before, so we’re getting to know each other and building a collaborative process,” he said. “I enjoy working with actors to develop their characters while also incorporating my own vision for the show.”

“I love the diversity of this cast and the fact that they’re 21st-century actors bringing their own perspectives to a story from the 1890s,” Millis said. “We get to introduce Wilde’s work to a new generation while staying true to the original story.”

The creative team includes costume designer Andrew Fernando and Michael Corcoran, who serves as designer and scene builder.

“I also like to use music in my shows to emphasize the feeling of what’s happening,” Millis said. “We have a great set designer, Spencer Richardson, who also designed the set for ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,’ the show before ours.”

For Millis, the appeal of the production is giving the actors a chance to step outside the realism of everyday life.

“Come see it! It’s something I’m very proud of,” he said. “I like the boutique quality of the show. It’s a melodrama, almost like a soap opera. Most actors are used to playing reality, which is what we’re taught, but here we’re exploring a different reality, and that’s great. There’s a lot at stake in this show that we want to portray correctly.”

Wilkie shares that enthusiasm, particularly for Wilde’s sharp wit and the darker questions lurking beneath the story’s elegant surface.

“I love Oscar Wilde’s scathing sense of humor, I love the unapologetically queer focus of the story, and I love what a genuinely scary conceit it plays with,” Wilkie said. “What if a half-serious remark about selling your soul in exchange for something became reality? For how long would it truly feel good? What is the cost of living exclusively according to pleasure, and nothing more?”

For Wilkie, the production is also an opportunity for WCP to continue expanding its theatrical offerings.

“It’s a great show to have at WCP because it’s such a joyful mix of comedic and dark, challenging and fun. Gothic, spooky and a little bit sexy. It allows us as a theater to continue stretching ourselves and offering new things to our audience. Plus, who could resist the technical challenge of an ever-evolving painting?”