The Stage is Set: Theatre MSU raises curtain on 2026-27 season
Contact: Sarah Nicholas
STARKVILLE, Miss.—The Mississippi State theater program’s upcoming season launches next month and features a sharp contemporary comedy, beloved children’s character, Shakespearean classic with an Appalachian twist and a fast-paced comic opera.
“Theatre MSU is excited to open our season with a student-directed production,” said Tonya Hays, associate professor of theater performance in MSU’s Department of Communication, Media and Theatre. “Our theater faculty take great pride in giving a voice to our students and empowering them to help shape decisions about season planning and artistic programming. We invite you to join us for an exciting season filled with theatrical and musical adventures.”
All performances take place on the main stage of McComas Hall and tickets are available at www.events.msstate.edu.
The 2026-27 season opens Oct. 14 with Lauren Gunderson’s “Exit, Pursued by a Bear,” a darkly comedic story of a woman who is done being pushed around and takes control of her own story. The production explores revenge, resilience and the messy process of writing one’s own ending.
Performances will be held Oct. 14-17, 7:30 p.m. and Oct.18 at 2 p.m.
Next on the lineup is “Junie B. Jones,” a play based on the popular children’s book series by Barbara Park. The production follows the outspoken, big-hearted Junie B. as she navigates the chaos of kindergarten with plenty of strong opinions, big feelings and absolutely no filter. A public performance will be Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m., with school performances Nov. 17-20. School reservations can be made by emailing thays@comms.msstate.edu.
The season continues with an Appalachian twist on William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” In this reimagining, love becomes tangled, identities become slippery and mistaken decisions abound in a mountain setting where fiddles may help send romance into unexpected directions. Shows are set for Feb. 24-27., with a closing matinee Feb. 28.
In April, Theatre MSU will highlight original one-act plays developed and staged by students in the university’s advanced directing class. These showcase performances will run April 7-9, with full program details available at a later date.
Collaborating with the university’s Department of Music, Theatre MSU will close its 2026-27 season with Giacomo Puccini’s comic opera “Gianni Schicchi.”
“We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with the MSU music faculty on an opera, an opportunity for students to explore the intersection of theater and music,” Hays said.
Set amid a family dispute over money and inheritance, “Gianni Schicchi” is a fast-paced story filled with deception, scheming and characters behaving badly. The production combines Puccini’s music with a comic story that offers audiences an accessible introduction to opera.
Performances for “Gianni Schicchi” will run April 30 and May 1, with a final matinee show May 2.
For more about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre, visit www.cas.msstate.edu and www.comm.msstate.edu.
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