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The WVU School of Theatre and Dance's 2026-27 season includes musicals, comedic plays and dance performances featuring current students as actors, dancers, scene and costume designers, sound and lighting technicians, choreographers and stage managers.
"We are pleased to announce the 2026-27 season, which explores classical to contemporary plays, dynamic original choreography and musicals of love and sisterhood," said Radhica Ganapathy, director of the WVU School of Theatre and Dance. "There is plenty to connect with and celebrate this season. We invite our audiences to experience thought-provoking, funny and deeply resonant themes in the work created by our brilliant students and faculty."
School of Theatre and Dance productions are designed and produced by students and faculty from start to finish. Technical Theatre students craft set pieces and lighting and sound designs that create an immersive world, then the actors breathe life into the story and characters. Dance students choreograph and perform pieces that explore the breadth of human experience using the universal language of movement.
"Our dance concerts allow our students and faculty to display and share their creative and original work with the WVU and local communities," said Yoav Kaddar, director of Dance at WVU. "As most of our Dance majors also have second majors, the concerts serve as an opportunity beyond the traditional classroom. It shines light on their craft and the creative, innovative and collaborative skills that dance teaches them."
"Dance brings us together as a community," Kaddar continued. "Our concerts allow us to come together and experience the storytelling and physicality that dance encompasses."
This season's shows are:
"POTUS Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive"
One four-letter word is about to rock 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. When the President unwittingly spins a PR nightmare into a global crisis, the seven brilliant and beleaguered women he relies upon most risk life, liberty, and the pursuit of sanity to keep the commander-in-chief out of trouble. "POTUS" was written by Selina Fillinger.
Under the direction of Cathy O'Dell, a teaching professor in the WVU School of Theatre and Dance, "POTUS" runs Sept. 24-27 and Sept. 30-Oct. 4 in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center.
"She Loves Me"
In this musical adaptation of the play "Parfumerie" by Miklos Laszlo, a store clerk and a salesgirl in a Hungarian parfumerie cannot stand each other but are unaware that they are conducting an anonymous romantic correspondence. The musical's book was written by Joe Masteroff, with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
"She Loves Me" will be directed by WVU Assistant Professor Ryan Scoble and runs Oct. 22-25 at the Metropolitan Theatre in Downtown Morgantown.
"Celebration of Dance"
The first dance production of the academic year, Celebration of Dance features all student-choreographed work. The diverse program offers a multitude of dance styles, music genres and themes.
"Celebration of Dance" will have performances Oct. 29-31 in the Antoinette Falbo Theatre at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center.
"As You Like It"
In this classic comedy by William Shakespeare, brothers scheme and fight over power and wealth, and a duke's banished daughter disguises herself as a shepherd boy and flees with her cousin. In the Forest of Arden, though, all is set right: familial relationships are mended, identities are revealed and romantic love blossoms.
Under the direction of WVU Associate Professor Lee Blair, "As You Like It" runs Nov. 12-14 and Nov. 17-20 in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center.
"Dance Now!"
This flagship dance production of the year features selected student work in addition to choreography and performances by WVU dance faculty and invited guest artists and dance companies. This fully produced program showcases the breadth of the WVU Dance program with a variety of styles including classic ballet, jazz, modern dance, tap and world dance.
"Dance Now!" performances run Feb. 4-6 in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center.
"Black Comedy"
A young sculptor and his fiancée borrow some expensive antique furniture from a neighbor's flat without his permission to impress an elderly millionaire art collector. Due to an electric power cut, the neighbor returns early, other people also arrive unexpectedly, and matters descend into near-chaos. In this hilarious, crowd-pleasing slapstick comedy written by Peter Shaffer, several colorful, duplicitous characters stumble around a pitch-black room--all in full view of the audience, who watch the events unfold in full light.
"Black Comedy" will be directed by Shelby Garrett, a visiting assistant professor in the WVU School of Theatre and Dance, and runs March 4-7 and March 9-12 in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center.
Disney's "Frozen"
Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Ryan Scoble will direct WVU's production of the Broadway adaption of Disney's 2013 hit animated film "Frozen." The stage musical brings back the movie's original creative team with the book by screenplay writer Jennifer Lee and music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. In the beautiful mountainous kingdom of Arendelle, Princesses Anna and Elsa grow up sheltered inside their castle, isolated from the world and increasingly distant from each other. When Elsa is crowned queen, the magical powers she's desperately tried to conceal from her sister take control, and she flees into the mountains. As a ferocious winter descends on Arendelle, Anna sets off on an epic journey to find Elsa and bring her home--with the help of hardworking ice harvester Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven and a happy-go-lucky snowman named Olaf. Frozen is a powerful tale of sisterhood, acceptance and finding the real meaning of true love.
Disney's "Frozen" runs April 15-18 in the Lyell B. Clay Theatre and the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center.
"Showcase of Dance"
The closing Dance production of the academic year features all student work. Produced and directed by the graduating class as part of fulfilling their capstone class assignment, the program is eclectic and showcases new and returning student choreographers. Styles range from tap to contemporary dance and everything in between.
"Showcase of Dance" runs April 29-May 1 in the Antoinette E. Falbo Theatre at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center.
"I'm really looking forward to directing 'She Loves Me' and Disney's 'Frozen,'" said Scoble. "Both shows have a similar focus on themes surrounding love--whether it be romantic love or familial love--but they are also vastly different. 'She Loves Me' is an intimate, little jewel box musical from Broadway's Golden Age, and Disney's 'Frozen' is a huge, magical, larger-than-life piece of theatre. Each show also provides their own pedagogical challenges and exciting artistic opportunities, while still appealing to our Morgantown audiences."
"On the Season Selection Committee, we were really interested in focusing on comedy and lighter fare this season," he continued. "Theatre has a tendency to be a bit darker and dramatic--albeit, musicals less so. We wanted to make sure our students were given opportunities to work on comedies of all shapes and sizes, while also providing our local audiences with entertainment that can transport them from their daily lives and bring them joy, laughter and a smile."
Visit https://creativeartsandmedia.wvu.edu/school-of-theatre-and-dance/our-season for more information about each show and for ticket options as they become available. Learn more about the School of Theatre and Dance at theatre.wvu.edu.