For over 50 years, Festival Playhouse has constantly produced theatre that inspires conversation and change in the Kalamazoo community and beyond. We produce a a variety of plays and musicals that speak to important topics and issues in society. Each season has a unique, thought-provoking theme. Our most recent seasons are detailed below.
Our Motto: Theatre that is always thoughtful. Theatre that is always provocative.
60th Season: Systems as Old as Time
Winter 2024
February 29 – March 3: Dutchman by LeRoi Jones/Amiri Baraka
Directed by Anthony J. Hamilton
SPS:
On the Exhale
Spring 2024
May 16-19: Be More Chill with music and lyrics Joe Iconis, book by Joe Tracz ’04
Directed by Dr. Quincy Thomas
59th Season: Mental Health Matters
Spring 2023
May 20-23: Next to Normal with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt
Directed by Anthony J. Hamilton
58th Season: Black is Beautiful: An Ode to Black Life, Love, and Strength
Fall 2021
November 4-7: Well-Intentioned White People by Rachel Lynett
Directed by Ren Pruis
SPS:
Unzipped
Winter 2022
February 24-27: BLACKS+PHATS by Kevin Renn
Directed by Janai Lashon
SPS:
Acting Shakespeare
Spring 2022
May 12-15: Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Directed by Anthony J. Hamilton
(Sadly, this show had to be cancelled.)
57th Season: Our Time Is Now: #ourstories
Fall 2020
October 22-23: Kokoro (True Heart) by Velina Hasu Houston
Directed by Ynika Yuag ’21
November 13- “K” devised by Kalamazoo College Students
Directed by Emilio Rodriguez
56th Season: HERstories: Forgotten Female Figures
Winter 2020
Feb. 27- March 1: Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Ren Pruis
Feb. 15-16: Theatre Kalamazoo New Play Festival
Spring 2020
May 14-17: Water By the Spoonful by Quiara Alegría Hughes
Directed by Bianca Washington
(Rescheduled to Spring ’21 due to COVID-19)
55th Season: Theatre of Assumption and Confusion
Fall 2018
It Can’t Happen Here by Tony Taccone and Bennet Cohen
Directed by Marissa Harrington
SPS:
Beauty’s Daughter & spells, signed by the heart
Winter 2019
Student Body by Frank Winters
Directed by Bianca Washington
SPS:
The Exception and The Rule & Realm of The Dead
54th Season: Theatre and Making New Families
Fall 2017
Fun Home
Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron ’83
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Directed by Ed Menta
Winter 2018
Fun Home Benefit Performance for ACTF Funds
SPS:
Mal Ojo, Too Close to the Tracks & Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe
Spring 2018
Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage
Directed by Ren Pruis
53rd Season: Broadway Firsts: Stories of “Outsider” Cultural Landmarks in Theater
Fall 2016
The Rocky Horror Show by Richrad O’Brien
Directed by Jon Reeves
Winter 2017
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Directed by Ren Pruis
SPS:
Gruesome Playground Injuries, Piss and Vinegar, 101 Humiliating Stories & Stuck in Neutral
Spring 2017
In the Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hughes
Directed by Ed Menta
54th Season: Theatre and the ‘Other’
Fall 2015
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enough by Ntozake Shange
Directed by Ren Pruis
Winter 2016
Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon
Directed by Ed Menta
Spring 2016
The Learned Ladies by Moliere
Directed by Marissa Harrington
SPS:
Immobile
Season 53
Fall 2014
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Directed by Todd Espeland
Winter 2015
Good Night Desdemona, (Good Morning Juliet) by Ann-Marie MacDonald
Directed by Ren Pruis
Spring 2015
Carrie: The Musical
Book by Lawrece Cohen
Lyrics by Dean Pitchford
Composed by Michael Gore
Directed by Ed Menta
Season 52
Fall 2013
A Dream Play by August Strindberg
Directed by Ed Menta
Winter 2014
The Firebugs by Max Frisch
Directed by Nora Hawke
Spring 2014
Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen
Directed by Todd Espeland