KU Theatre & Dance unveils 2025-26 season
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Department of Theatre & Dance has selected six productions to inspire audiences and showcase embodied research for its 2025-2026 season. The lineup of on-campus entertainment begins Oct. 3 with a play that encapsulates the daring pioneer spirit of early female astronomers with Lauren Gunderson’s “Silent Sky.”
The first of two University Dance Company concerts Nov. 14 will feature a new, contemporary work inspired by the experiences and stories of astronauts by Jessica Chen, a New York-based choreographer, dancer and educator.
Students will perform professionally choreographed works in a myriad of genres and motifs, including musical theatre dance style for those cast in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a Tony Award-winning comedy with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Rachel Sheinkin. It opens Oct. 24.
As the season progresses, a wide range of humanity will be reflected in other contemporary American theatre titles. The newest script in the season is “Corners Grove” by Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin, which prompts discussions about home, grief and belonging, while also appreciating moments of quiet, everyday life. “The Laramie Project,” a product of two years of in-depth interviews by Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project, captures a town’s reaction to the Matthew Shepard tragedy.
The KU Theatre & Dance season is produced under the University Theatre and University Dance Company flagships. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the KU Theatre website and UDC website. The box office opens Aug. 19 in Murphy Hall; its hours are noon to 5 p.m. weekdays.
“We are pleased to share another season of innovative, thought-provoking theatre and dance,” said Henry Bial, professor and chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance. “In challenging times, it is more important than ever for artists to explore the relationship between individuals and their broader community. These works do just that while continuing to surprise and delight audiences with the outstanding efforts of our students, staff and faculty.”
Professor and Artistic Director Markus Potter added, “I’m particularly moved by ‘Silent Sky.’ Lauren Gunderson’s luminous play honors Henrietta Leavitt and the remarkable women ‘computers’ at Harvard who measured the universe before they even had the right to vote. Their discoveries — finding thousands of variable stars and learning how their brightness changes — enabled astronomers to map the Milky Way and beyond. This story reminds us that art and science share a common spirit of curiosity and courage. I can’t wait to see our students inhabit these trailblazers with the sensitivity and intelligence they deserve and to share this inspiring history with our community. Of course, we’ll also be buzzing with the quirky competition of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,’ the introspective modern twist of ‘Corners Grove,’ two dynamic UDC concerts and the searing honesty of ‘The Laramie Project,’ which portrays a town’s reaction to the murder of Matthew Shepard and the community’s determination to confront hate. It’s going to be an unforgettable season.”
Performance calendar
“Silent Sky” by Lauren Gunderson
Oct. 3, 4*, 4, 5*
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Oct. 24, 25^, 26*, 29, 30, 31, Nov. 1^, 2*
University Dance Company Fall Concert
Nov. 14, 15^, 16*
“Corners Grove” by Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin
March 6, 7, 8*, 10, 11, 12, 2026
University Dance Company Spring Concert
April 10, 11, 12*, 2026
“The Laramie Project” by Moisés Kaufman and the members of the Tectonic Theater Project
April 24, 25*, 25, 26*, 26, 2026
Showtimes are at 7 p.m. Exceptions: * denotes 2 p.m. matinee; ^ time TBA.
All dates are subject to change.
The season also includes student-led, and often personally reflective, smaller stagings of theatre and dance, namely Jayhawk Performance Lab and Senior Showcase. Two Senior Showcases and the two University Dance Company concerts will be livestreamed.
The University Theatre and University Dance Company are production wings of the Department of Theatre & Dance, offering public productions during the academic year. University Theatre and UDC productions are funded in part by Student Senate fees. Additional support is provided by Truity Credit Union.
The department is one of three departments in the School of the Arts. As part of the KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the School of the Arts offers fresh possibilities for collaboration between the arts and the humanities, sciences, social sciences, international and interdisciplinary studies.