2025-2026 Season Announcement
2025-2026 Season Banner
Purdue University Department of Theatre and Dance Announces Dynamic 2025-2026 Season
Six-production lineup features contemporary works, classic American theatre, and original dance concerts
Purdue University Department of Theatre and Dance announces its 2025-2026 season, presenting an eclectic mix of contemporary drama, family-friendly fantasy, classical American theatre, and original dance works across two state-of-the-art venues in Yue-Kong Pao Hall. (Download a digital copy of the brochure.)
The season opens with Horse Girls by Jenny Rachel Weiner (September 26 – October 5, 2025), a dark comedy exploring the obsessions and insecurities of pre-teens through the story of twelve-year-old Ashleigh and her exclusive South Florida horse club facing crisis when their stables are threatened. The production will be staged in the intimate Carole & Gordon Mallett Theatre.
Following is The Snow by Finegan Kruckemeyer (November 14-23, 2025), a whimsical family adventure about villagers trapped by an epic snowfall who launch their bravest residents via catapult in search of rescue. This fantastical, Grimm-like tale promises humor, mystery, and heart for audiences of all ages in the Nancy T. Hansen Theatre.
The Winter Dance Works concert (December 12-13, 2025) showcases seven new works by faculty choreographers Renee Murray and Vivian Kim, four selected student choreographers, and guest alumna Sara Satterly, performed by the Purdue Contemporary Dance Company.
Spring 2026 brings Galinthias by Bennett Ayres (February 20 – March 1, 2026), a bold new work reimagining the ancient Greek myth of the midwife who defied the gods to deliver Hercules. This contemporary addition to classical mythology explores themes of freedom, power, and defiance through the journey of three women challenging divine authority.
The season continues with Thornton Wilder's Our Town (April 17-26, 2026), described by Edward Albee as "the greatest American play ever written." This timeless masterpiece presents the simple yet profound daily lives of families in Grover's Corners through three acts examining daily life, love and marriage, and death and eternity.
The season concludes with Spring Dance Works (May 1-2, 2026), featuring seven newly created pieces by faculty and student choreographers, complete with original music scores and lighting designs developed through collaboration between Dance Program participants and Theatre students.
“These plays explore questions of belonging; of deciding who our friends are and who are foes; of power, autonomy, and choice; of appreciating the sublime in the everyday,” says Rich Dionne, Chair of the Department. “When the world can seem overwhelming, plays like these ground us: whether it’s the outrageous, satirical antics of the Lady Jean Ladies in Horse Girls or the imaginative allegory of The Snow, the mythical and titular midwife of Galinthias made real or the minimalist storytelling of Our Town, experiencing these stories together remind us of our shared humanity.”
“Dance is an expression of freedom, a space where bodies move together, sometimes with wild, sometimes gentle energies, sometimes exploding the space, sometimes softening and condensing it,
says Holly Jaycox, Coordinator of the Dance Program. "We are excited to share with you these authentic expressions of creative performance in the universal language of human movement.”
The season selection process begins over a year in advance, with the committee—comprising faculty, staff, and students—reading dozens of submitted works and focusing on educational value alongside artistic merit. The elaborate production process involves literally hundreds of students and begins 19 weeks before opening night with design meetings, followed by nine weeks of design development, construction, rehearsals, and technical preparation.
Performance Information
All productions take place at Yue-Kong Pao Hall, located at 552 W. Wood Street in West Lafayette. The Nancy T. Hansen Theatre is a 300-seat proscenium venue with recently upgraded lighting and sound equipment, while the Carole & Gordon Mallett Theatre offers flexible seating for 100-150 patrons in an intimate setting.
Ticketing
Season subscription packages offer nearly 20% savings over single ticket prices. The Season Bundle includes all six productions for $42 (students), $51 (seniors), and $64 (adults). A Pick 4 Bundle allows patrons to select four productions for customized packages.
Single tickets are available online at http://am.ticketmaster.com/purdue/buy, by phone at (765) 494-3933, or in person at the Loeb Box Office. Group discounts are available for parties of eight or more.
Accessibility services include wheelchair seating with companion seating, free hearing amplification headsets, and captioning services for select performances.
Support
All Theatre productions are made possible by generous gifts from patron Tomm Tomlinson. The department welcomes tax-deductible contributions to support future productions as ticket income covers only about one-third of production costs.
Contact Information: Department of Theatre and Dance Purdue University (765) 494-3074 theatre@purdue.edu
Loeb Box Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm
For show content information, running times, or media inquiries, contact the Department of Theatre and Dance office.
The Department of Theatre and Dance is part of the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance at Purdue University.
