2024-25 Theatre Season
The School of Theatre Arts at Illinois Wesleyan proudly presents a professional-grade public production series each year. Performances take place on our campus in two venues: the Jerome Mirza Theatre at McPherson Hall and the E. Melba Johnson Kirkpatrick Laboratory Theatre in the theatre wing of Presser Hall.
Each of our productions are created, designed and performed by School of Theatre Arts students with support from faculty, staff and prestigious guest artists.
Tickets for fall productions will be available beginning Labor Day weekend. Contact the Box Office at (309) 556-3232 for more information or to be added to our mailing list.
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The Outsider
October 2-6, 2024 | Jerome Mirza Theater
By Paul Slade Smith
Directed by Melanie Keller
Ned Newley doesn't even want to be governor. He's terrified of public speaking; his poll numbers are impressively bad. To his ever-supportive Chief of Staff, Ned seems destined to fail. But political consultant Arthur Vance sees things differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office. Unless the public is looking for... the worst candidate to ever run for office. A timely and hilarious comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy.
Presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service Inc.
SoTA’s Play Festival: Endings & Beginnings: 3x3
October 25-27, 2024 | EMJK Laboratory Theater
Directed by Chris Connelly
Student written
Resolutions by Kamryn Roane
The Moon by Olivia Finkelstein
Thrifting by Evan Carlson
The Mystery of Edwin Drood - The Musical
November 20-24, 2024 | Jerome Mirza Theater
Book, Music and Lyrics by Rupert Holmes
Directed by Michael Hance
Based on Charles Dickens’ final unfinished novel, this hilarious whodunit invites the audience to solve its mystery by choosing the identity of the murderer. The tale is presented as a show-within-a-show, as the Music Hall Royale - a delightfully loony Victorian theatre company - presents Dickens’ brooding mystery. Musical numbers include “Perfect Strangers,” “Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead,” “Off To The Races” and “Moonfall.”
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD - THE MUSICAL is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
All My Sons
February 19-23, 2025 | Jerome Mirza Theater
By Arthur Miller
Directed by Thomas Quinn
During the war Joe Keller and Steve Deever ran a machine shop which made airplane parts. Deever was sent to prison because the firm turned out defective parts, causing the deaths of many men. Keller went free and made a lot of money. The twin shadows of this catastrophe and the fact that the young Keller son was reported missing during the war dominate the action. The love affair of Chris Keller and Ann Deever, the bitterness of George Deever returned from the war to find his father in prison and his father’s partner free, are all set in a structure of almost unbearable power. The climax showing the reaction of a son to his guilty father is fitting conclusion to a play electrifying in its intensity.
Presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service Inc.
Renascence (a musical)
March 21-23, 2025 | EMJK Laboratory Theater
Poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay, Music by Carmel Dean and Book by Dick Scanlan
Directed by Justin Brill
At the age of 19, Millay writes a profoundly powerful poem, “Renascence,” catapulting her to stardom and releasing her from her rural, humble beginnings into a bohemian and adventurous life. Captivating both men and women with her unapologetic sensuality and frank intellect - she becomes the “original riot grrrl” of her time. Originally created by The Transport Group in New York City, Renascence follows the early years of this artist’s life and invites its performers and audience to sit in this poet’s soul and view humanity and nature as if through her window.
Presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International Inc.
Faculty Choreographed Dance Concert
April 10, 11, & 13, 2025 | Jerome Mirza Theater
Directed by Anna Corvera
An arrangement of faculty choreographed pieces that present a variety of styles such as ballet, tap and hip hop.
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Jean Kerr - Associate Professor, Director of the School of Theatre Arts
Department - School Of Theatre Arts