The Syracuse University Department of Drama is pleased to announce the 2025-26 season, consisting of six productions: “Bernarda Alba” (Oct. 10–19), “Antigonick” (Nov. 14–22), “Picnic” (Feb. 20–March 1), “A Rebel Prayer” (March 27–April 5), “Baltimore” (April 24–May 3) and “Disney’s Frozen The Broadway Musical” (May 13–June 21 and co-produced with Syracuse Stage).
All productions will run at the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama Complex in the Storch Theatre, with the exception of “Disney’s Frozen The Broadway Musical,” which will be held in the Archbold Theatre. Tickets are available through the Syracuse Stage Box Office by phone at 315.443.3275, online or in person at the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama Complex, 820 E. Genesee St.
Opening the season, Bernarda Alba mourns in a shuttered home after the death of her husband Antonio. She keeps close watch over her five daughters, each desperate to break free from her hold and live their own lives. A tale of lust, longing and lamentation, Federico García Lorca’s classic Spanish drama “Bernarda Alba” is brought to a dark and melodic boil in this musical adaptation from composer Michael John LaChiusa.
“We are so thrilled to present this stirring and poignant musical version of the Garcia Lorca play,” said Department of Drama Chair Eleanor Holdridge. “The passionate music, thrilling choreography and absolutely stunning music work together to plumb the depth, darkness and human passion at the heart of Lorca’s masterpiece. Short and powerful, I know it will be a wonderful experience for the both the students and the audience.”
Added director William Carlos Angulo: “It’s such a joy getting to work with the Syracuse Drama students. The way that they all came ready to lean into the story, and lean into the style, and lean into this culture has been a source of inspiration for me.”
The flamenco-steeped musical runs Oct. 10-19.
Next up is poet Anne Carson’s distinctly modern reworking of Sophakles’ “Antigone,” entitled “Antigonick.” When Antigone, daughter of Oedipus, buries her brother, the mutinous Polyneikes, it is in direct defiance of Kreon, the King of Thebes, who has ordered his body to rot in the fields. This single act of civil disobedience will set off a fatalistic chain reaction that showcases tyranny, resistance and the immutable tragedy that is the passage of time. Co-directed by Matthew Winning and Erica Murphy, “Antigonick” runs Nov. 14-22.
The spring semester begins with William Inge’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, “Picnic.” As a small Kansas town prepares for the annual Labor Day picnic, handsome young drifter Hal stirs up long dormant feelings amongst a group of repressed women, including Madge, a beauty queen who yearns for another life whenever she hears the train whistle blow. Disappointments, resentments and rivalries simmer in the late summer swelter in “Picnic,” directed by Ralph Zito and running Feb. 20-March 1.
Next up, an academic world premiere takes the stage. With book and lyrics by Eloise T. Govedare and music by Aleksandra M. Weil, “A Rebel Prayer” is a searing new musical about protest, loss and the power of art. Mired in grief after the death of her artist-activist father, Nikita is visited by the spirits of Pussy Riot, the real-life punk-protest collective imprisoned for their art. But when they offer Nikita one of their masks to carry on her father’s legacy, Nikita is faced with a dangerous choice: submit, or rebel? This new musical directed by Kathleen Wrinn, with music direction by Brian Cimmet and choreography by Bradley Stone, runs March 27-April 5.
The spring semester continues with “Baltimore,” Kristen Greenridge’s modern day parable about the fallout of a racial incident on a small New England college campus. Shelby, a resident advisor, is working towards a sports medicine degree while on deadline for her college paper—but her phone keeps blowing up with messages from her peers, demanding she address a grotesque caricature drawn on the door of a Black student. A play about contemporary identity—in all its complexities—“Baltimore” is directed by Michelle Chan and runs April 24-May 3.
Rounding out the season is the Syracuse University Department of Drama’s annual co-production with Syracuse Stage: “Disney’s Frozen The Broadway Musical” with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson Lopez and Robert Lopez, book by Jennifer Lee, and based on the Disney film written by Jennifer Lee. A story of sisterhood and embracing your true self, Disney’s majestic musical riff on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” is a thrilling theatrical event with soaring songs and spectacular adventure. Directed by Emily Maltby, with music direction by Brian Cimmet and choreography by Marjorie Failoni, this icy family favorite is running May 13–June 21 in the Archbold Theater.
Five-play subscriptions are now on sale online or by calling Syracuse Stage Box Office at 315.443.3275. Subscribers have access to discounted tickets for “Disney’s Frozen The Broadway Musical” which is not part of 5-play subscription packages. Single tickets for all shows are also available.
Show Details
“Bernarda Alba”
Words and Music by Michael John LaChiusa
Direction and choreography by William Carlos Angulo
Associate direction by Diego Alejandro González and Felipe Panamá
Music direction by Jacob Kerzner
Scenic design by Zeke Leonard
Costume design by Carmen M. Martínez
Lighting design by Henry Killbourn
Sound design by Jacqueline R. Herter
Stage combat by Alec Barbour
Intimacy choreography by Kathleen Baum
Dramaturgy by Aliana Aspesi
Flamenco consultancy by Marisa Guzman
Stage managed by Rachel Mondschein
The Company
Madison Manning (Bernarda Alba)
Amelia Serrano Gallagher (Angustias)
Delaney Thompson (Magdalena)
Elizabeth Hughes (Amelia)
Eva Spaid (Martirio)
Sophie Snider (Adela)
Carolyn Burch (Poncia)
E.A. Hobbs (Maria Josefa)
Lucía Caridad Soto (Maid, Company)
Natalie Palmer (Servant, Company)
Lauren Holland (Prudencia, Company)
Jaelynn Ricks (Mare, Company)
Addelyn Esposito (Company)
Chloe Mendoza Smith (Company)
Leonard Allen (Stallion, Company)
Reed Grayner (Antonio, Pepe, Company)
Jude Emperado (Company)
Tavien Goodson (Company)
Understudies
Avery Hocker (Servant)
Livia Nieves (Poncia, Magdalena)
Mary Potter (Maid)
Delaney Thompson (Bernarda Alba)
Swings
Avery Hocker, Robbie Mosely, Livia Nieves, Mary Potter
Additional Credits
Dance Captain: Lucía Soto
Fight Captain: Madison Manning
Assistant Director: Polly Gilmore
Assistant Scenic Designer: Ren Nygaard
Assistant Costume Designers: Lilly Berget, Reyna Sanchez
Assistant Lighting Designer: Fotini Lambridis
Assistant Stage Managers: Tess Feldman, Maisey O’Brien
Production Staff and Run Crew
Faculty Advisor to Student Designers: Carmen Martinez
Faculty Advisor to Stage Managers: Don Buschmann
Light Board Operator: Aileen Espino
Sound Board Operator: Claire Arveson
Spotlight Operators: Pearle Kendrick, Abigail Sebastian
Deck (Run Crew): Addison Goad, Jinyoung Kil, Emma Yee
Dressers (Run Crew): Maya Compton, Ali DeFilippo, Henry DiNapoli, Kaitlyn McCarley
Costume Maintenance: Makelle Lindsey & Maya Rublev
“Antigonick”
By Sophokles
A new version by Anne Carson
Directed by Matthew Winning and Erica Murphy
Nov. 14-22, 2025
“Picnic”
By William Inge
Directed by Ralph Zito
Feb. 20-March 1, 2026
“A Rebel Prayer”
Book and Lyrics by Eloise T. Govedare
Music by Aleksandra M. Weil
Directed by Kathleen Wrinn
Music Direction by Brian Cimmet
Choreography by Bradley Stone
March 27-April 5, 2026
“Baltimore”
By Kirsten Greenidge
Directed by Michelle Chan
April 24-May 3, 2026
“Disney’s Frozen The Broadway Musical”
Music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson Lopez and Robert Lopez
Book by Jennifer Lee
Based on the Disney film written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions
Directed by Emily Maltby
Music direction by Brian Cimmet Choreographed by Marjorie Failoni
Co-produced with Syracuse Stage
May 13–June 21, 2026