The School of Theatre & Dance鈥檚 2025-26 season features a mix of plays, dance concerts and musical theater. Pictured is the college鈥檚 2023 performance of 鈥淪kin of Our Teeth鈥� by Thornton Wilder.
The School of Theatre & Dance at the 葫芦影业鈥檚 Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts is pleased to announce its 2025-26 season, featuring a vibrant mix of devised work, classical adaptations, contemporary plays, musical theater, student-written premieres and innovative dance concerts.
The season opens this fall with 鈥淭he Circadian Project,鈥� a devised physical theater piece created in collaboration with the genre-defying, award-winning PUSH Physical Theatre and UH students. This original work promises a boundary-pushing exploration of movement and storytelling.
Following is Naomi Iizuka鈥檚 鈥淎non(ymous),鈥� a poetic and imaginative reimagining of Homer鈥檚 鈥淥dyssey.鈥� The play follows a young refugee, Anon, on a journey to reunite with his mother after being separated during a perilous sea voyage while fleeing violence.
The Lyndall Finley Wortham Theatre will reopen this fall after nearly two years of renovations, welcoming audiences back with 鈥淔rankenstein,鈥� Nick Dear鈥檚 gripping adaptation of Mary Shelley鈥檚 gothic masterpiece. A story of ambition, creation and consequence, 鈥淔rankenstein鈥� resonates in today鈥檚 age of artificial intelligence and technological pursuit.
鈥淥ur 2025-26 season celebrates the power of live performance across a wide spectrum. From the haunting beauty of 鈥楩rankenstein鈥� to the vibrant energy of student choreography and award-winning new plays, this season offers something for every audience.鈥�
鈥� Sharon Ott, director of the School of Theatre & Dance
This spring鈥檚 performances launch with 鈥淩estoration Comedy,鈥� Amy Freed鈥檚 witty mash-up of Colley Cibber鈥檚 鈥淟ove鈥檚 Last Shift鈥� and John Vanbrugh鈥檚 鈥淭he Relapse.鈥� This bawdy and energetic romp will play in the Jose Quintero Theatre.
The spring mainstage musical is 鈥淭he 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,鈥� with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Rachel Sheinkin. The Tony Award-winning musical blends humor, heart and improvisation as it follows an eclectic group of adolescents (played by adults) vying for spelling glory.
Dance continues to play a central role in the School of Theatre & Dance鈥檚 programming. On Dec. 5 and 6, the school presents the Emerging Choreographers Showcase, a dynamic concert featuring original works by UH student choreographers. Each piece offers a distinct voice and choreographic perspective, resulting in an evening of bold, intelligent and inspiring dance.
The dance season culminates this spring with Creative Exchange: UH Dance Faculty and Guest Artist Concert. This performance features compelling new works by UH dance faculty and acclaimed guest artists, showcasing the cutting-edge voices shaping contemporary dance today.
Student-written work also takes center stage this season. In the fall, UH will present 鈥淏reaking the Bands,鈥� a new play by Samantha Ray. In the spring, the annual 10-Minute Play Festival will highlight short plays by emerging UH playwrights.
The school continues its tradition of excellence following national acclaim in 2025, when Sage Mitchell鈥檚 鈥淓verything Rises鈥� won the Kennedy Center鈥檚 Rosa Parks Playwriting Award.
鈥淥ur 2025-26 season celebrates the power of live performance across a wide spectrum,鈥� said Sharon Ott, director of the School of Theatre & Dance. 鈥淔rom the haunting beauty of 鈥楩rankenstein鈥� to the vibrant energy of student choreography and award-winning new plays, this season offers something for every audience.鈥�
Performance Details
鈥淭he Circadian Project鈥�
- Sept. 25, 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sept. 27 and 28 at 1:30 p.m.
- Location: Studio 208
鈥淎non(ymous)鈥� by Naomi Lizuka
- Oct. 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m.; and Oct. 5, 11 and 12 at 2 p.m.
- Location: Quintero Theatre
鈥淔rankenstein鈥� by Nick Dear
- Oct. 31 and Nov. 3, 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m.; and Nov. 2 and 9 at 2 p.m.
- Location: Wortham Theatre
鈥淏reaking the Bands鈥�
- Nov. 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m.; and Nov. 23 at 2 p.m.
- Location: Quintero Theatre
Emerging Choreographers
- Dec. 5 at noon and 7:30 p.m.; and Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Wortham Theatre
鈥淩estoration Comedy鈥� by Amy Freed
- Feb. 27 and 28 and March 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m.; and Feb. 28 and March 1, 7 and 8 at 2 p.m.
- Location: Quintero Theatre
Creative Exchange: UH Dance Faculty and Guest Artist Concert
- March 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m.; and March 8 at 2 p.m.
- Location: Wortham Theatre
鈥�25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee鈥� by Rachel Sheinkin
- April 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m.; and April 12 and 19 at 2 p.m.
- Location: Wortham Theatre
10-Minute Play Festival
- May 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m.; and May 2 and 3 at 2 p.m.
- Location: Quintero Theatre
Tickets
- General public: $30
- Staff/faculty/alumni: $25
- Seniors and students: $25
- Student tickets for 鈥淏reaking the Bands,鈥� 10-Minute Plays and Emerging Choreographers: $10