‘John Proctor,’ ‘Sweeney Todd,’ ‘How to Succeed,’ ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost,’ ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and more
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Centre Stage is pleased to announce a stellar lineup for the 2024-25 season. Tickets go on sale July 16 under the artistic direction of A. Kikora Franklin, interim director of the School of Theatre.
“It is an exciting time at Penn State School of Theatre/Penn State Centre Stage, where we have a longstanding tradition of innovation and excellence in theatre,” Franklin said. “That spirit abides as we continue to celebrate the human experience through live performance, design, technology, management, and scholarship. This season, Centre Stage aims to present compelling works of theatre while fostering environments that are inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to all. For the second consecutive year, Penn State School of Theatre was recognized by the Hollywood Reporter as one of the Top 25 Drama Schools in the world, further demonstrating our collective dedication and commitment to providing a world-class theatre experience to our audiences.”
The season kicks off with a Sneak Preview Celebration, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 13, on the Playhouse Theatre stage. Attendees can meet the directors, designers and students who will be producing the upcoming shows; catch snippets from the season; and purchase tickets to the productions. Sneak Preview tickets are $49.
Centre Stage will produce five shows during the 2024–25 season, to be performed in the Playhouse and Pavilion theatres. Tickets start at $23 for adults and $15 for students. Shows include:
- “John Proctor is the Villain,” by Kimberly Belflower, directed by Steve H. Broadnax III, Oct. 8–19
- “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” musical by Stephen Sondheim, directed and choreographed by Zack Steele, music directed by Ann Van Steenwinkel, Nov. 12–22
- “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying,” by Frank Loesser, directed and choreographed by Christopher Campbell, music directed by Joseph Ivan, Feb. 25–Mar. 7
- “Love’s Labour’s Lost: The Musical,” based on the play by William Shakespeare, adapted by Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers, directed and choreographed by Christine O’Grady, music directed by Ben Kiley, Apr. 1–12
- “Alice in Wonderland,” based on the classic by Lewis Carroll, adapted and directed by Jenny Lamb, Apr. 15–26
In addition to the regular season, the School of Theatre and Centre Stage will present two special productions:
- “Much Ado About Nothing,” by William Shakespeare, directed by Steve Snyder, Nov. 16–22, Pavilion Theatre
- Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” original adaptation by Rick Lombardo, co-directed by Rick Lombardo and David Kersnar, Dec. 17–20, Schwab Auditorium
For additional show and ticket information, visit theate.psu.edu/centrestage. Tickets go on sale July 16 and are available online, or by calling 814-863-0255, or visiting the Eisenhower Box Office.