Truman Theatre 2026-2027 Season
Email boxoffice@truman.edu with questions about our season
The Night Witches
By Rachel Bublitz
Directed by Cat Gleason
World War II, the Eastern Front – the Soviet Union’s all‑female 588th Night Bomber Regiment takes to the sky in fragile, open‑cockpit biplanes of canvas and wood. Dismissed by their own commanders and hunted by the enemy, these young pilots and navigators fly more than 23,000 harrowing nighttime missions—cutting their engines, gliding silently over German encampments, and dropping bombs—earning themselves the chilling nickname: the Night Witches.
This movement‑driven play follows the women through one perilous night as they confront fear, shifting enemy tactics, and the brutal cost of war. Bound by sisterhood, sacrifice, and unwavering courage, they forge unbreakable bonds in the face of impossible odds. Through lyrical dialogue and song, Night Witches reveals the passion, resilience, and fierce camaraderie of the most decorated unit in the Soviet Air Force—and the women who proved that heroism knows no gender.
Auditions: August 18 (callbacks August 19) in the Severns Theatre, Ophelia Parrish. Email director, Cat Gleason (cgleason@truman.edu) with questions about auditions.
Performances: October 1, 2, and 3 at 7:30pm, and October 4 at 2:00pm.
Performance Location: James G. Severns Theatre, Ophelia Parrish
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Music and Lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin
Directed by Truman Senior, Lillie McLaughlin
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a wildly funny musical that follows six delightfully awkward adolescents as they chase the spelling championship of a lifetime. Between tongue‑twisting words and fierce competition, the spellers reveal hilarious and heartfelt glimpses into their chaotic home lives, reminding us that growing up is messy, marvelous, and anything but predictable.
Fast‑paced, joyfully irreverent, and surprisingly touching, this audience‑interactive comedy celebrates imperfection, the weirdness of puberty, and the courage it takes to be unapologetically yourself. With William Finn’s vibrant score and Rachel Sheinkin’s brilliantly witty, Tony‑winning book, every performance becomes its own unpredictable, laugh‑out‑loud adventure.
Auditions: August 30 (callbacks August 31) in the Severns Theatre, Ophelia Parrish. Email director, Lillie McLaughlin (cv75251@truman.edu) with questions about auditions.
Performances: November 5, 6, 7 at 7:30pm, November 8 at 2:00pm, and November 13, 14 at 7:30pm.
Performance Location: James G. Severns Theatre, Ophelia Parrish
Fall Student Showcase
Student one-act plays and scenes from Play Direction class.
Performances: December 3 and 4 at 7:30pm
Performance Location: Black Box Theatre, Ophelia Parrish
Tickets: FREE
Hedda Gabler
by Henrik Ibsen, adaptation by Brian Friel
Directed by Randal Bame
Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler is a gripping psychological tragedy that follows a brilliant, restless woman trapped in a life she never wanted. Returning from a suffocating honeymoon, Hedda finds herself bound to an uninspiring marriage and hemmed in by the rigid expectations of polite society. Desperate for freedom, yet terrified of scandal, she manipulates her former lover, her husband’s academic rival, and the predatory Judge Brack in a spiraling attempt to control the world closing in around her.
Bian Friel’s adaptation strips away Victorian distance, revealing a psychologically charged portrait of a woman fighting—futilely and ferociously—against the confines of a world determined to contain her. Darkly humorous and unflinching in its portrayal of social suffocation, Hedda Gabler remains a timeless study of desire, power, and the devastating consequences of a woman denied the freedom to shape her own fate.
Auditions: November 17 (callbacks November 18) in the Severns Theatre, Ophelia Parrish. Email director, Randy Bame (rbame@truman.edu) with questions about auditions.
Performances: February 18, 19, and 20 at 7:30pm, and February 21 at 2:00pm.
Performance Location: James G. Severns Theatre, Ophelia Parrish
Dragons Love Tacos
by Ernie Nolan, based on the book by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Directed by Truman Senior, Tara Bendler
Each year, Truman Theatre packs up a show tailored to young audiences and performs it for young people around the state. Join us when we return from our tour for our four-night stand in the Black Box theatre.
Did you know dragons adore tacos more than treasure? It’s true! When a boy and his loyal pup decide to host the most spectacular taco party ever, they dive into the magical, mysterious rules of feeding fire‑breathing friends. Chicken tacos, beef tacos, teeny‑tiny tacos—dragons love them all! But if even one drop of spicy salsa sneaks into the mix… kaboom! Expect giggles, wiggles, and a whole lot of fiery silliness.
This joyful adventure brings the beloved book to life with goofy surprises, dragon‑sized laughs, and a fiesta of fun for families and budding dragon‑ologists everywhere.
Auditions: During fall semester (date TBA), Actors will enroll in the Spring 2027 class THEA 481 – Advanced Study: Dragons Love Tacos. Please email Tara Bendler (pl15378@truman.edu) or Cat Gleason with questions about auditions (cgleason@truman.edu).
Performance Dates: March 18, 19, and 20 at 7:30pm, and March 21 at 2:00pm.
Performance Location: Black Box Theatre, Ophelia Parrish
If you would like us to come to your school, please email Cat Gleason with questions (cgleason@truman.edu).
Purchase Tickets at the special family price: $10.00
Twelfth Night
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Jonathan Wehmeyer
In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night shipwrecks spark new beginnings, disguises cause delightful confusion, and love pops up in the most unexpected places. When Viola washes ashore believing her twin brother lost, she disguises herself as a young man and enters the service of Duke Orsino—only to find herself tangled in a hilarious love triangle with the mourning Lady Olivia. Meanwhile, Olivia’s household erupts into chaos as a trio of merry pranksters plot delicious chaos, turning poor Malvolio’s world upside down.
Filled with music, wit, and heart, Twelfth Night celebrates the dizzying, transformative power of love in all its forms. It’s Shakespeare at his most joyful: romantic, ridiculous, and irresistibly fun.
Auditions: January 24 (callbacks January 25) in the Severns Theatre, Ophelia Parrish. Email Director, Jonathan Wehmeyer, with questions about auditions (wehmeyer@truman.edu).
Performances: April 15, 16, 17 and April 23, 24 at 7:30pm, and April 25 at 2:00pm.
Performance Location: James G. Severns Theatre, Ophelia Parrish
Spring Student Showcase
Musical theatre performances from Truman Theatre’s Musical Theatre Workshop
Performances: April 19 and 30 at 7:30pm
Performance Location: Black Box Theatre, Ophelia Parrish
Tickets: FREE
Contact Us
Email: boxoffice@truman.edu