From bluegrass musicals to silent surrealism, Theater Emory unveils its bold 2025–26 lineup
Theater Emory is leaning into the power of live performance with a 2025–26 season that challenges, delights and reflects the complex world we live in. With a mix of international playwrights, fresh student voices and returning artistic collaborators, this season invites audiences to experience theater in all its forms—from quiet movement to riotous comedy to musical storytelling that pulls at the heart.
More than entertainment, these productions ask big questions: What drives ambition? How do we process loss? Where can we find connection, even in the most surreal spaces? It’s a season that speaks to our time—boldly, tenderly and with plenty of surprises along the way.
“This season demonstrates how vast the medium of theater can be,” says Artistic Director Caitlin Hargraves. “We have the great opportunity to showcase playwrights from Austria, South Korea and across the U.S.—voices that are bold, boundary-breaking and deeply human.”
It’s an eclectic lineup in all the right ways. Wordless physical performance. Twisted comedy. Southern bluegrass. And a beloved Emory tradition that’s all about new ideas and fresh voices. This year, students, alumni and visiting creatives will share the stage, creating a dynamic season with something for everyone.
Here’s what’s coming:
Fall 2025
My Foot My Tutor (Oct. 2–5)
A wordless wonder from Austrian playwright Peter Handke, this surreal performance uses silence, movement and sound to explore power, control and absurdity. Directed by Héctor Álvarez, the one-weekend-only experience promises to be as strange as it is striking.
peerless (Nov. 13–23)
A wickedly funny take on Macbeth by Jiehae Park, peerless follows twin Asian American sisters willing to do whatever it takes to get into “The College.” Directed by Wanyu Yang, this sharp satire on ambition and identity doesn’t hold back.
Winter & Spring 2026
Brave New Works (Jan. 31–Feb. 1 & April 18–19)
A signature Emory event, Brave New Works is all about process and possibility. It’s a space for writers and performers to experiment, collaborate and take risks. Featuring local and national playwrights—as well as Emory’s current Playwriting Fellow—this FREE festival is one not to miss.
Bright Star (March 26–April 4)
Bluegrass meets Broadway in this musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains between the 1920s and 1940s, Bright Star follows a literary editor and a young soldier in a moving tale of love, hope and redemption. Directed by Thomas W. Jones II with music direction by Greg Matteson, this show brings the season to a heartfelt crescendo.
From start to finish, Theater Emory’s 2025–26 season blends imagination, intellect and emotion in ways that invite audiences to look closer—and feel deeper.
Tickets are on sale now at theater.emory.edu. For accessibility questions, call the Arts at Emory Box Office at 404-727-5923.
