The artistic juices are flowing in full power on the Warehouse Theatre Firm in Yakima. March is all the time a crossover month of kinds on the WTC. The ultimate play of every season is in rehearsal when spring formally arrives, whereas on the identical time the performs and musicals for the season-to-come are of their earliest phases of improvement.
At its core the corporate has all the time been about producing performs to interact, enrich and encourage audiences. So, whereas the present season’s closing present – the musical comedy “A Gentleman’s Information to Love and Homicide” – is in rehearsal for its Might 1 opening, subsequent yr’s lineup has been, properly … lined up.
The performs have been chosen. The rights have been secured and the contracts signed. The calendar has been set. The pre-season assembly of administrators and producers has been held. So, the one factor left to do is to disclose titles coming within the 2025/2026 season –- one the Warehouse calls “A Season of Surprises, Secrets and techniques and Switcheroos!”
The primary Warehouse manufacturing in its 78th season of performs is the summer season manufacturing of “Whereas the Lights Had been Out” by Jack Sharkey. Ray Pritchard directs this story that has all of the components a thriller lover may need. A thunderstorm! The lights exit! An agonized voice! A pistol shot! The lights come up! A blonde in black lace stands over the lifeless man holding a bloody dagger! A detective examines the physique and broadcasts: “He’s been strangled!” A traditional whodunit full of laughs, “Whereas the Lights Had been Out” opens July 11 and runs by way of July 26. Keila Scott will produce.
In October, the WTC presents a story excellent for Halloween, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Avenue.” Angel Saucedo will direct this notorious darkish, witty story of affection, homicide and revenge set towards the backdrop of nineteenth century London. That includes music and lyrics by the late Stephen Sondheim and guide by Hugh Wheeler, this winner of eight Tony Awards (together with Greatest Musical) is the story of an unjustly exiled barber, who returns to London searching for vengeance towards the lecherous choose who framed him years earlier. Opening Oct. 9, the play will run by way of Oct. 25. Corie Burck and Jenny Brown produce.
The WTC’s vacation present, Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!” shall be introduced on the East Valley Excessive College Performing Arts Heart because of an ongoing partnership. Brandon Lamb will direct as much as 50 performers and encourage audiences to think about themselves at house with this transferring musical. Younger, orphaned Oliver Twist navigates London’s underworld of theft and violence, trying to find a house, a household, and – most significantly – for love. With spirited, timeless songs like “As Lengthy as He Wants Me,” “Meals, Wonderful Meals” and “The place Is Love,” Lional Bart’s “Oliver!” is a musical traditional. Chelle Bos and Pat Seely co-produce this present that runs Nov. 28 by way of Dec. 7.
Winter 2026 on the Warehouse will characteristic a French comedy tailored for the English-speaking stage. “Boeing Boeing” written by Marc Camoletti and translated by Beverley Cross and Francis Evans, is a full-blown farce recalling the horny aspect of the Nineteen Sixties. Parisian playboy architect Bernard Lawrence has three fiancées – one Italian, one German and one American – every a phenomenal airline hostess with frequent layovers. That works properly for him till surprising schedule modifications deliver all three to Paris – and Bernard’s condo – on the identical time. Ryan Clinkenbeard will direct, and Chelle Bos will produce this present that’s positive to be a bumpy journey. The present runs Feb. 13-28.
To broaden choices and alternatives, the WTC lineup this previous season had an extra “sixth present.” Positioned exterior the common season because of its grownup content material, the broadly applauded “The High quality of Life” was carried out final Nov.
Although it too has grownup language, the WTC’s sixth present shall be included within the 2025/2026 season, though in a unique time slot. Megan Hawkins will make her directorial debut a yr from now with David Auburn’s “Proof.” After years caring for her failing father – a superb however troubled mathematician and professor – Catherine faces challenges from her estranged sister and a former scholar of her father. However she has an much more difficult downside: Will she inherit her father’s genius… or his insanity. Winner of the 2001 Tony Award for Greatest Play, and a Pulitzer Prize for drama, “Proof” runs March 20-28, 2026. Chelle Bos will produce.
The ultimate present within the Warehouse 2025/2026 lineup shall be “The Significance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde. Ruth Veselka will direct, and Beth Parker will produce this play that some have known as the proper comedy. That is the story of two males, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who each assume the identification of the identical fictional man named Ernest, main them each to fall in love and discover an assortment of issues alongside the best way. Confusion and laughter reign, as their love pursuits disentangle the tales of their respective Ernests and leap the seemingly unimaginable hurdles to marry the Ernest they respectively love. Present dates are Might 1-16, 2026.
The six reveals above shall be joined by a number of different initiatives as properly. The corporate has staged three “Script-in-Hand” reveals over the previous 5 months and performs one other March 29 at 7 p.m. “Botanica: Una Comedia de Milagros” is a narrative of household, traditions and spirituality that shall be introduced completely in Spanish – a primary for any WTC occasion. The play is directed by Chelle Bos.
The relative success of the “Script-in-Hand” occasions – the place nice performs come to life on a naked stage with solely a script, a music stand, actors and the audiences’ creativeness – led the corporate so as to add a complete sequence of these occasions subsequent season. Titles and particular dates have but to be decided.
Since longtime supporters and patrons are accustomed to having a ticket for use on a “one-per-show” foundation, two flex passes had been created for use on reveals within the coming yr’s core season of performs. For anybody pondering {that a} present with grownup language isn’t for them, a 5-seat flex cross could also be an choice. If stronger language isn’t a priority, WTC followers might discover a 6-seat flex cross extra to their liking. In actuality, each passes enable tickets for use for any of the six reveals within the season and in any mixture. Maybe the most important flex cross benefit is getting access to seating three days earlier than tickets go on sale to the general public.
The flex passes function one other instance of the core values of the WTC in motion. The will to interact, enrich, and encourage group members to be a part of the theatrical expertise drives the work of the field workplace and front-of-house workers simply because it does the creatives selecting a season, producing a present or sharing a play with a stay viewers.
If the job is finished proper, actions within the crossover month of March faucet the properly of artistic juices, and one season flows repeatedly into the subsequent. The aim, in fact, is to make sure that “A Season of Surprises, Secrets and techniques and Switcheroos” stays solely a slogan confined to the tales on stage.
• Vance Jennings is government director of the Warehouse Theatre Firm. The corporate contributes a column in Discover each 4 weeks.
