Compiled by Miryam Gordon from press releases:
Take a look at this spread of lovelies and get out those calendars for some fresh and new world premieres and some classic tales.
Bark! The Musical
Through 5/24/26
Key City Public Theatre, www.kcpt.co
This musical explores the world through the eyes of six dogs waiting in a neighborhood doggie daycare while their owners remain unseen. Through playful storytelling, the dogs reveal their hopes, fears, quirks, and longing for connection – creating a charming and deeply human theatrical experience.
Where the Summit Meets the Stars
Through 5/17/26
Harlequin Productions, www.harlequinproductions.org
When a near-death experience derails her flight through Southeast Alaska, Rose awakens to find herself in the care of the kind man who pulled her to safety. But who is this mysterious stranger? And how is it possible that she survived? As they journey by boat through the darkness and fog, Rose untangles the mysteries of her past, questions the world around her, and comes to an inescapable crossroads. Driven by Tlingit song, dance, and ancestral wisdom, this heartfelt drama honors Indigenous voices and stories that echo across time. Some journeys don’t end at the summit—they reach all the way to the stars.
Jesus Christ Superstar
Through 5/17/26
5th Avenue Theatre, www.5thavenue.org
Passion. Betrayal. Redemption. And the ultimate rock opera. Jesus Christ Superstar is a high-energy rock musical that reimagines the last weeks of Jesus Christ’s life focusing on his relationships, struggles, and ultimate sacrifice. Told through the perspective of Judas Iscariot, this iconic show brings new life to the Biblical story. It’s the musical phenomenon that changed the stage forever and set a whole new bar for musical theater!
The Aliens
Through 5/16/26 (at SOAP, 18th & Union)
White Rabbits, Inc., https://soap.thundertix.com/events/262020
Two almost middle-aged deadbeat dropouts suffering from a “failure to launch,” KJ and Jasper, spend most of their time behind a coffee shop in their small Vermont hometown. Discussing poetry, music, literature, love, loss and death, the pair are soon discovered by coffee shop employee and socially awkward high-schooler Evan. An unlikely friendship forms as Evan realizes there may be more than meets the eye to these sad-sack outsiders. The Aliens dives deep into the pitfalls of existential anxiety, unresolved trauma, and the inability to feel like you truly belong.
Barefoot in the Park
5/13/26-6/13/26
Taproot Theatre, www.taproottheatre.org
They’ve just said, “I do,” but can their love handle five flights of stairs and a tiny New York apartment? A buttoned-up young lawyer and his free-spirited bride stumble into married life, eccentric neighbors, leaky ceilings, and romantic chaos. Full of wit, chemistry, and charm, this classic rom-com bubbles over with laughter and warmth. Love is messy—and that’s what makes it fun.
A Man Of No Importance
5/15/26-6/7/26
SecondStory Repertory, www.secondstoryrep.org
From the acclaimed creators of Ragtime, A Man of No Importance is a charming and poignant musical about Alfie Byrne, a bus conductor in 1964 Dublin who lives for poetry, particularly that of Oscar Wilde, and secretly stages amateur theatricals with his local church group. As he attempts to put on Wilde’s Salomé, Alfie’s quiet life is stirred by the arrival of a beautiful new passenger and the challenges of his own unspoken desires. This beautiful musical is a tender celebration of art, self-acceptance, and the courage to live authentically, even when it feels like you’re a man of no importance.
Aviatrix (world premiere)
5/15/26-6/7/26
Seattle Public Theater, www.seattlepublictheater.org
Musical Book and Lyrics by Angela Poe Russell, Music and Lyrics by Dionne McClain-Freeney
It’s 1917 and a man’s world, especially when it comes to the newest form of transportation: The Airplane. But a young farming girl from rural Texas is determined to fly. When no aviation school would accept her, Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman goes to extreme lengths to make her dream of flying a reality.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (world premiere adaptation)
5/15/26-6/7/26
Edmonds Driftwood Players, www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org
Adapted for the stage by local playwright Kate Danley, this faithful, new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles introduces audiences to the first mystery of Hercule Poirot. The year is 1916 and, injured in WWI, Hastings finds himself convalescing at the manor of his old friend, John Cavendish. But when John’s mother is poisoned in the middle of the night, everyone becomes a suspect. The only person who can solve the crime is none other than the famed Belgium detective, Hercule Poirot. Whodunnit?
Chicken Tinders (world premiere)
5/22-31/26 (at Taproot Theatre)
Copious Love Productions and Gaisma Theatre Group, www.copiouslove.org
A fable, in the spirit of Chaucer, about the last Chicken in a Farm’s pecking order. One morning, the Rooster who normally crows to bring up the Sun dies, and the Farm is thrown into a frenzy thinking it’s the last day on Earth. It’s a zany, heartfelt allegory about making original art and what we prioritize in perhaps our final moments.
She Loves Me
5/22/26-6/14/26
Centerstage, www.centerstagetheatre.com
Anonymous letters and mistaken identities entwine with a gorgeous score and wonderful characters in this delightful, elegant musical comedy. In a bustling European city, a small perfume shop sees its fair share of colorful clients, to say nothing of the staff! Shop clerks Amalia and Georg tend to clash more often than not; both of them are competitive, customer-focused, and all business. But outside of work, each has a secret: a romantic pen pal they write rapturous letters to – someone they’ve never even met! …Or have they?
Sally Ride (world premiere)
5/29/26-6/13/26 (at Theatre Off Jackson)
Low Brow Opera, www.theatreoffjackson.org
The real-life story of the first American woman and the first LGBTQ+ person to go to space. Narrated by her life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, who consulted on the creation of this work, this world-premiere explores the thrills, disappointments, humor, and secrets of Ride’s life, taking the audience on a journey of personal exploration and triumph.
Murder on West Moon Street
5/29/26-6/21/26
The Phoenix Theatre, https://www.tptedmonds.org/season18shows.html
Adapted from Oscar Wilde’s short story Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, a naive young gentleman learna from a palm reader that his future involves murder, feels obliged to commit the deed before his pending nuptials.
Rumors
5/29/26-6/21/26
Red Curtain Foundation, www.redcurtainfoundation.org
At a large, tastefully-appointed townhouse, the Deputy Mayor of New York has just shot himself. Though it’s only a flesh wound, this event sets off a series of lies, each more ludicrous than the one before, causing four couples to experience a severe attack of farce. As their tenth wedding anniversary party commences, Charlie lies bleeding in another room, and his wife Myra is nowhere in sight. As the confusions and miscommunications mount, the evening spins off into classic farce.
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About the Author: Miryam Gordon
