By Charlie G. Patreus
BYU Theatre recently unveiled its complete lineup of performances for the next season, featuring two shows each in October and November, one in March and April, and an additional spring show.
The upcoming shows will take place in the BYU West Campus theaters, namely the West Campus Mainstage Theatre, West Campus Studio Theatre, and West Campus Black Box Theatre. These venues have become the primary locations for performances since the closure and demolition of the long-standing Harris Fine Arts Center, a prominent fixture in campus performing arts community for over a generation.
The October productions will include Wait Until Dark and the Microburst New Play Festival. Wait Until Dark made its Broadway debut in 1966, was adapted into a film starring Audrey Hepburn in 1967, and was last performed at BYU in 1987. The play revolves around a blind housewife who becomes the target of three con men due to the criminal activities of her deceased husband.
The Microburst New Play Festival is an annual event that showcases student writing and performances, providing a platform for young artists and introducing audiences to “the next generation of playwrights who will change the world.”
November’s shows include the children’s classic The Secret Garden and The Boy at the Edge of Everything. March will bring the production of The House of Desires, written by 16th-century Mexican poet and nun Sor Juana Inés De La Cruz. This will be the play’s debut performance at BYU.
In April, audiences will have the opportunity to enjoy The Tempest. The final show of the spring season will be Blithe Spirit, a play by Noël Coward that explores a socialite’s encounter with a seance gone awry. Spooky.
Stephanie Breinholt, Artistic Director of BYU Theatre, expressed excitement about the new season, stating, “After an incredibly successful inaugural season in the West Campus venues, BYU Theatre is tailoring its 2023-2024 season to these innovative new spaces and collaborating with our resilient and creative students and faculty. The upcoming season will explore a wide range of genres and styles.”
Season tickets will go on sale Wednesday, May 24 and can be purchased online or in person at the Marriott Center box office.
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