The Syracuse University Department of Drama is pleased to announce the 2026-27 season, consisting of six productions: “Rent” (Oct. 16 – 25), “Henry V” (Nov. 13 – 21), the Syracuse Stage co-production of “Les Misérables” (Nov. 27 – Jan. 3), “Private Eyes” (Feb. 19 – 28), “An American in Paris” (March 26 – April 4) and “Before the Bone Breaks” (April 23 – May 2).
All productions will run at the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama Complex in the Storch Theater, with the exception of “Les Misérables,” which will be held in the Archbold Theater. 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.
“As educators, we believe that a great theater education demands a diversity of content, styles, voices and theatrical experiences,” says Department of Drama Chair Eleanor Holdridge. “I believe that this season does exactly that: gives students a rich artistic landscape in which to learn, create, take risks and discover their own voices.”
Opening the season is “Rent,” Jonathan Larson’s iconic musical following a year in the life of a group of impoverished, artistic friends living in Manhattan’s East Village: Aspiring filmmaker Mark, musician Roger, free-spirited Mimi and Angel, buttoned-up Joanne and wild-child performance artist Maureen. Their dreams, loves and losses weave through this bohemian portrait of 1980s New York City, under the shadow of HIV and AIDS. Directed by Syracuse Stage Associate Artistic Director Melissa Crespo, the show will run Oct. 16 - 25.
About the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Rent,” Holdridge says, “When so much can feel uncertain and divided, this remarkable story asks us to search for our shared humanity. Melissa brings a fresh perspective by inviting students to engage with a story that asks big questions about art, identity, belonging and what it means to fully live in the moment.”
Next up is “Henry V,” William Shakespeare’s thrilling examination of courage, loyalty and power. Pressed by powerful nobles and church leaders to reclaim England’s sovereignty over France, the young, untested King Henry V of England raises an army and carves his way to Agincourt, where his troops, depleted and exhausted, must face the enemy head-on. But with dissension in the ranks, Henry will have to prove himself a strong and legitimate ruler if he’s to inspire his men to lay down their lives for their country, and their king. Directed by John Tufts, “Henry V” runs Nov. 13 - 21.
The Department of Drama’s annual co-production with Syracuse Stage arrives for the holiday season with “Les Misérables,” Victor Hugo’s sweeping tale of romance, rebellion and redemption. Experience the operatic heights of this grand, Tony Award-winning musical featuring scores of classic and beloved songs, including “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Master of the House,” “Bring Him Home,” “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” and “One Day More.” Directed by Syracuse Stage Artistic Director Robert Hupp, “Les Misérables” will run Nov. 27, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027.
Next up, “Private Eyes,” a comedy from playwright Steven Dietz in which nothing is ever quite what it seems. Matthew’s wife, Lisa, is having an affair with Adrian, a British theater director. Or perhaps the affair is part of the play being rehearsed. Or maybe Matthew has imagined all of it simply to have something to tell his therapist. Directed by Ricky Pak, “Private Eyes” is a hilarious, twisty “relationship thriller” that will playfully blur the lines between fact, fiction, theater and reality when it runs Feb. 19 - 28, 2027.
The spring semester continues with “An American in Paris,” the fanciful musical classic from the Gershwin brothers. Jerry, an American veteran, is still reeling from the war when he discovers the girl of his dreams: Lise, a captivating young dancer at the ballet. By chance or fate, Jerry also catches the eye of Milo, an American heiress. To add more confusion to this love triangle, Lise is already engaged to marry Henri, a rich young businessman, who still dreams of being a performer himself. Does Lise truly love Henri, or is the American stranger the man of her dreams? Directed and choreographed by David Lowenstein, “An American in Paris” dances into the Storch Theater March 26 - April 4, 2027.
Rounding out the season is “Before the Bone Breaks” by Syracuse University Department of Drama faculty member Zizi Majid. In tents raised haphazardly between broken streets and crumbling buildings, women fight for their lives. Nadine makes videos that report the truth while Hannah makes music from the most unlikely instruments – drones and crackling generators. Together they try to find what is wholly their own despite all that stands in their way in this expansive story of the power of dreaming in vivid colors despite the gray of pain and warfare. Directed by Katherine McGerr, this first production of “Before the Bone Breaks” was commissioned by the Department of Drama and will run April 23 – May 2, 2027.
In addition to the mainstage season, the Department of Drama will present the inaugural New Works/New Voices Festival of New Musicals on Jan. 16 and 17, 2027. Founded in 2021 and led by Artistic Director Kathleen Wrinn, assistant professor of musical theater in the Department of Drama, the New Works/New Voices initiative supports the development of new musicals by writers and composers whose perspectives have been historically underrepresented in the musical theater canon. Each year, one musical is selected through a national call for submissions to be developed in collaboration with Syracuse University students and faculty. This inaugural festival is presented in partnership with Syracuse Stage.
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 “Les Misérables” which is not part of 5-play subscription packages. Single tickets for all shows are also available.
Show Details
“Rent”
Book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Musical arrangements by Steve Skinner
Original concept/additional lyrics by Billy Aronson
Music supervision and additional arrangements by Tim Well
Dramaturgy by Lynn Thompson
Directed by Melissa Crespo
Choreographed by Cate Gould
Music direction by Brian Cimmet
Oct. 16 – 25, 2026
The Company (in Alphabetical Order)
Lara Adria (Mimi Marquez)
Andrej Alexander (Benjamin Coffin III)
John Allyn (Roger Davis)
Mallika Jain Cadin (Ensemble)
Jude Chong (Angel Dumott Schunard)
Henry DiNapoli (Ensemble)
Addelyn Esposito (Ensemble)
Cate Gould (Ensemble)
Harrison Hauptman (Ensemble)
Carsten Kjaerulff (Mark Cohen)
Livia Nieves (Ensemble)
Grace Nwamadi (Joanne Jefferson)
Gabby Samuels (Ensemble)
Bella Torrinello (Maureen Johnson)
Parker Syler (Ensemble)
Justin Xavier (Tom Collins)
Julia Zhu (Ensemble)
Swings
Josh Cooper, Maximo Paniagua, Isabella Carroll, Siri Joliffe
Understudies
For Mark Cohen - Josh Cooper
For Benjamin Coffin III - Henry DiNapoli
For Maureen Johnson - Cate Gould
For Angel Dumott Schunard - Harrison Hauptman
For Mimi Marquez - Livia Nieves
For Tom Collins - Maximo Paniagua
For Joanne Jefferson - Gabby Samuels
For Roger Davis - Parker Syler
Additional Credits
Assistant Director: Jude Emperado
Assistant Scenic Designers: Nashaly Bonilla, Ren Nygaard
Assistant Costume Designer: Hannah Sophia McLaughlin
Hair and Makeup for Angel: Bella Molino
Assistant Lighting Designers: Amelia Dayton, Sari Shaffer
Assistant Sound Designer: Finn Sheehan
Assistant Stage Managers: Addison Goad, Sawyer Ricehall
Resident Music Supervisor: Brian Cimmet
Rehearsal Accompanist: Carlos Perez
Faculty Advisor to Student Designers: Alex Janchill
Faculty Advisor to Stage Managers: Don Buschman
Light Board Operator: Daniella Enriquez-Valentin
Sound Board Operator: Colten Bruce
Spotlight Operator: Madeleine Green, Avery Santore
Deck (Run Crew): Connor Becker, Elliott Davidoff, Paul Ferris, Ava Garozzo,
Dressers (Run Crew): Amanda Augsten, Elizabeth Free, Liv Rocco, Liv Smith, Hyacinth Taylor
Costume Maintenance: Ava Carter, Mario Galdames
Production Assistants: Alexa Petuella, Mary Ann Wright
“Henry V”
By William Shakespeare
Directed by John Tufts
Nov. 13 - 21, 2026
“Les Misérables”
Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer
Original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel
Additional material by James Fenton
Orchestrations by Stephen Metcalfe, Christopher Jahnke and Stephen Brooker
Original orchestrations by John Cameron
Based on the novel by Victor Hugo
Directed by Robert Hupp
Presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International and Cameron Mackintosh LTD
Syracuse Stage and Syracuse University Department of Drama co-produced
Nov. 27, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
“Private Eyes”
By Steven Dietz
Directed by Ricky Pak
Feb. 19 – 28, 2027
“An American in Paris”
Music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Book by Craig Lucas
Originally produced on Broadway by Stuart Oaken, Van Kaplan and Roy Furman
By special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical and Pittsburgh CLO and Théâtre du Châtelet
Directed and choreographed by David Lowenstein and Felipe Panamá
March 26 – April 4, 2027
“Before the Bone Breaks”
By Zizi Majid
A Department of Drama commissioned first production
Directed by Katherine McGerr
April 23 – May 2, 2027
NW/NV Festival of New Musicals
Three musicals. Two days. One ticket to the future of musical theater.
Jan. 16 –17, 2027
The Syracuse University Department of Drama, with the support of Syracuse Stage, presents the New Works/New Voices Festival of New Musicals—a weekend of staged readings featuring three new musicals in development. The festival will also include additional programming, panels and audience talkbacks, inviting the greater Syracuse community into the process of new musical development. Featured musicals will be announced in Fall 2026.