Kent, OH 鈥 The School of Theatre and Dance is thrilled to announce its 2025-2026 season: "Kentucky," "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella," the Fall Faculty Dance Concert, "Something Rotten!," the Spring Faculty Dance Concert and "Book of Will."
The 2025-2026 season will open with Leah Nanako Winkler's "Kentucky" directed by Courtney Brown, running Sep. 25-Oct. 1, 2025 in Wright-Curtis Theatre. Hiro is a self-made woman making it in New York; but she is also single, almost thirty and estranged from her dysfunctional family, who lives in Kentucky. When her little sister, a born-again Christian, decides to marry at twenty-two, Hiro takes it upon herself to do whatever she can to stop the wedding and salvage any shred of hope she had about her sister鈥檚 future. The themes of identity, religion and love collide in this unique coming-of-age story.
The season will continue with "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella,鈥 directed by Amy Fritsche, running Oct. 24-Nov. 2, 2025 in E. Turner Stump Theatre. The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers and Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. 鈥淩odgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella鈥 tells the story of a kind-hearted young woman forced into servitude by her cruel stepmother and stepsisters, who dreams of a better life. With the help of her Fairy Godmother, she's transformed for one unforgettable night, attending a royal ball where she captures the heart of a prince.
The Fall Faculty Dance Concert, with artistic direction by Jeffrey Rockland, will run Nov. 21-23, 2025 in E. Turner Stump Theatre. This concert features original choreography by members of Kent State University鈥檚 dance faculty and performances by dance majors and minors.
School of Theatre and Dance will continue into the new year with 鈥淪omething Rotten!" directed by Terri Kent, Feb. 20鈥揗arch 1, 2026 in E. Turner Stump Theatre. With the book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell and music and lyrics by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick, "Something Rotten!" features large song and dance numbers, and a wacky cast of over-the-top characters, each with their own moment to shine. Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as "The Bard." When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world鈥檚 very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.
The Spring Faculty Dance Concert will run March 27-29, 2026 in E. Turner Stump Theatre. This concert features original choreography by members of Kent State University鈥檚 dance faculty and performances by dance majors and minors.
The season will conclude with the Roe Green Visiting Director Series production of Laurie Gunderson鈥檚 "Book of Will," opening April 17 -26, 2026 in Wright Curtis Theatre. Without William Shakespeare, we wouldn鈥檛 have literary masterpieces like 鈥淩omeo and Juliet.鈥 But without Henry Condell and John Heminges, we would have lost half of Shakespeare鈥檚 plays forever! After the death of their friend and mentor, the two actors are determined to compile the First Folio and preserve the words that shaped their lives. They鈥檒l just have to borrow, beg and band together to get it done. Amidst the noise and color of Elizabethan London, 鈥淭he Book of Will鈥 finds an unforgettable true story of love, loss and laughter, shedding new light on a man you may think you know.
Tickets for the 2025-2026 season will go on sale in Fall 2025. Tickets will be available for purchase over the phone at 330-672-ARTS (2787), online at www.kent.edu/artscollege/box-office or in person at the Performing Arts Box Office located in the Roe Green Center lobby of the Center for the Performing Arts at 1325 Theatre Drive. The box office is open Monday through Friday, Noon to 5 p.m.