From page to stage: ASU 2025–26 theater season celebrates full breadth of creativity

This year’s 2025–26 theater season in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre at Arizona State University highlights the expansive process of bringing a show to the stage and showcases a range of productions.

The season kicks off with the  24 Hour Play Festival. Student groups will work in groups to devise, rehearse and present up to 10 original plays — in only 24 hours. The fun but intense event provides the opportunity for students to stretch their creativity and work collaboratively.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Karen Jean Martinson, assistant professor and artistic director of theater. “It’s a way for us to welcome in our new community members because it’s open to everybody. It's going to be an exciting, oddball and creatively energizing event to kick off the season.”

This year, students will also engage in offstage workshops with faculty and guest artists. The “Dialogues in Action” series includes conversations with Idris Goodwin, Madeline Sayet and Julian Boal. The public is invited to attend these events to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the process of theater. These experiences are designed to help students develop their own artistic voices and network with professionals in the field.

“These are legendary folks who are out there creating incredible art,” said Martinson. “For our students to work with them, get to know them, network with them but also learn from them is really vital for students to then find their career pathway.”

In November, audiences will get to experience the creativity of the award-winning choreopoem “…for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.” Written by Ntozake Shange, the show uses poetry, music and movement to highlight the stories of seven Black women. It will be directed by Rachel Finley, assistant professor of acting, and choreographed by ASU dance graduate students j. bouey and Mitchell Nicholas Castro along with Keith Thompson, assistant director and acting artistic director of dance. The show will feature vibrant costumes and a range of dance styles, including hip-hop, line dance, Afro-Latin and even a dance battle.

“This work features a lot of familiar themes and music,” said Finley. “I’m hoping people will let themselves be as taken by those moments that are free as they are by the heavier moments.”

In the spring, audiences can enjoy “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a play featuring music that tells the story of how Peter Pan, Hook and the Lost Boys came to be. Under the imaginative direction of Toby Yatso, clinical assistant professor and acting artistic director of music theater, this collaborative production promises to captivate audiences of all ages.

Spring semester will also feature the start of the New Work Lab at ASU. This series of works-in-process allows students to test out their written work in front of audiences. All undergraduate and graduate theater students are invited to participate by submitting their plays, devised pieces, musicals and more. The presentation of each piece will depend on the material and what the student artists need. They’ll receive mentorship from faculty and targeted feedback to help prepare their work for the next step.

“The New Work Lab is dedicated to giving creators of all different experience levels an opportunity to get their play on its feet,” said Idris Goodwin, associate professor of dramatic writing. “There’s a step you need that you can’t skip where you have to show it to someone. It can’t just live on the page.”

The season closes with “Romeo and Juliet.” The classic tale of star-crossed lovers shines in this fast-paced, seventy-minute version highlighting the challenges young adults face amid the pressure of parental and governmental interference to conform with social norms.

This season offers something for everyone, including opportunities to engage in the process of bringing the written word to life. Attending these events helps support the next generation of art-makers and creatives.

Audiences can learn more and purchase tickets online here.

24 Hour Play Festival
7:30 p.m., Oct. 4
Lyceum Theatre

'...for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf'
7:30 p.m., Nov. 7–8, 14–15
2 p.m., Nov. 9, 16
Galvin Playhouse Theatre

'Peter and the Starcatcher'
7:30 p.m., Feb. 13–14, 20–21, 2026
2 p.m., Feb. 15, 22, 2026
Galvin Playhouse Theatre

'Romeo and Juliet'
7:30 p.m., April 10–11, 17–18, 2026
2 p.m., April 12, 19, 2026
Lyceum Theatre

Craft Talk and Performance with Idris Goodwin
6:30 p.m., Oct. 21
Lyceum Theatre

Audio Drama Workshop with Christopher Lane and Jessinia Ingram
3 p.m., Oct. 22
Nelson Fine Arts Center, Room 131

Creating Your Own Solo Performance with Madeline Sayet
5 p.m., Dec. 3
Nelson Fine Arts Center, Room 131

Workshops and Presentations with Julian Boal
Jan. 23–25, 2026
Times and locations TBD