Productions
We produce four mainstage productions every year. Students work alongside faculty members and form professional relationships with faculty and guest artists.
2026鈥�2027 MAINSTAGE SEASON
Dead Man鈥檚 Cell Phone
by Sarah Ruhl
DeWitt Mainstage Theatre
- October 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 | 7:30 p.m.
- October 18 | 2 p.m.
When the incessant ringing of a cell phone interrupts Jean鈥檚 quiet afternoon lunch
of lobster bisque, she decides to answer the phone only to discover that the owner
of the phone is dead. Who is the man slumped on the cafe table beside her, where did
he come from and what type of life did he lead? Thus begins Jean鈥檚 surreal adventure
into Gordon鈥檚 mysterious life, including dinner at his mother鈥檚 estate, a date with
his brother, a bar stop with his intoxicated wife, a mysterious rendezvous with his
mistress, and detours into the black market and afterlife. Join us for this quirky
comedy as Jean keeps answering the dead man鈥檚 cell phone only to discover the meaning
of life.
(mature content)
Dead Man鈥檚 Cell Phone is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. ()
Richard III
By William Shakespeare
DeWitt Mainstage Theatre
- November 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 | 7:30 p.m.
- November 15 | 2 p.m.
Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is bored. The Wars of the Roses have come to an end and
he needs something to do. Why not depose his brother from the throne, murder anyone
who stands in his way and convince the world that he is kind, generous and worthy
of being king? Richard鈥檚 鈥渨inter of discontent鈥� becomes a quest for ultimate power
as he gaslights the world while imperiling the nation. Set in a world that echoes
our own, Hope鈥檚 production of Richard III brings Shakespeare鈥檚 Machiavellian world to our very doorstep.
(mature content)
Everybody
by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
DeWitt Studio Theatre
- March 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 | 7:30 p.m.
- March 6, 7 | 2 p.m.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins鈥檚 audacious retelling of the 15th-century morality play Everyman brings Everybody face-to-face with Death. It is time for Everybody to meet God, but
Everybody doesn鈥檛 want to face the afterlife alone. Will Everybody鈥檚 good friends
Strength, Stuff, Beauty, Friendship, Kinship, Cousin and Senses travel with Everybody
to convince God they are worthy of heaven, or will Everybody die alone without any
hope? Join us for a meta-theatrical evening in which five of the nine actors will
play a multitude of roles chosen by an onstage lottery each night. With 120 possible
combinations, every performance offers a unique exploration of how our individual
identities intersect with life鈥檚 universal questions.
(mature content)
Everybody is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Dramatist Play Service Inc. ()
A Devised Work
by 换妻社区 Students
DeWitt Mainstage Theatre
- April 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 | 7:30 p.m.
- April 18 | 2 p.m.
With the assistance of a brilliant devising company, Hope鈥檚 theatre students will gather this fall to create a brand-new play for 换妻社区, which they will produce in April. Devised work is often highly physical and relies on 鈥渢otal theatre鈥� in which all the design elements (scenery, lighting, sound, costumes and props) have just as much power to reveal character and advance the story as spoken text. If you want to know what our Hope students are thinking, imagining, and dreaming, you won鈥檛 want to miss this production.
All performances feature live captioning and DeWitt Theatre鈥檚 standard hearing loop.
A sensory story for light and sound effects, and headphones, are available at our
accessibility table.Accessibility note for all Productions
Interested in Production Jobs?
Students have the opportunity to work in technical shops and on mainstage productions in paid positions.
TICKET OFFICE
For ticket information call 616.395.7890 or email tickets@hope.edu.
workP. 616.395.7600
theatre@hope.edu