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performers onstage during "INTO THE WOODS"

Emens Auditorium

*Tickets available at the Emens Box Office in person, by calling 765-285-1539 or, at ticketmaster.com.

The Nutcracker

By Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreographed by Susan Koper, Joseph Lyons, Audra Sokol, Roberta Wong, and Christie Zimmerman
December 6 at 7:30 p.m. | December 7 at 1:00 p.m.

The Nutcracker is the classic holiday tale as you’ve never seen it before—a dreamy collision of magic, mystery, and imagination. Clara’s beloved toy transforms into a valiant prince, whisking her from a war-torn living room to realms filled with snow, sweets, and surreal wonders. Each step of her journey blurs the line between fantasy and reality, revealing the strange beauty hidden beneath tradition. With Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score guiding the way, this reimagined Nutcracker becomes a wild, whimsical ride through the heart of childhood dreams.

The Ball State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gregory Robbins, will play the score live.

Ball State University Department of Theatre and Dance's production of CATS

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Based on ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’ by T.S. Eliot
Directed and Choreographed by Anne Beck
Musical Direction from Michael Rafter
March 20-21 at 7:30 p.m. | March 22 at 2:30 p.m.

The Jellicle Cats come out to play on one special night of the year – the night of the Jellicle Ball! One by one, they tell their stories for the amusement of Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, who must choose one of the Cats to ascend to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.

CATS is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Really Useful Group. www.concordtheatricals.com

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Music & Lyrics by William Finn Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Additional Material by Jay Reiss
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Directed by Tony Clements
Musical Direction by Jim Rhinehart
Choreography by Kelsey Krigas
April 16-18, 21-25 at 7:30 p.m. | April 19 at 2:30 p.m.

An oddball crew of middle schoolers gather for the annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, where the words are tough, the competition is tougher, and the emotions run hilariously high. Amid outrageous antics and heartfelt confessions, the spellers learn that there’s more to life than winning.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

AR217 is in the Fine Arts Building.

Goodnight, Tyler

Written by B.J. Tindal
Original Dramaturgy by Maansi Sahay Seth
Directed by Lisa Gaye Dixon
November 15-16, 18-22 at 7:30 PM | November 22 at 2:30 PM

Goodnight, Tyler is a poignant and unexpectedly humorous ghost story about memory, grief, and the fight for control over a legacy. After Tyler Evans, a young Black man, is killed by a police officer, his ghost lingers—desperate to be remembered for his life, not just his death. As his best friend, fiancée, grandmother, and others grapple with their own versions of Tyler, tensions rise over who gets to define his story. This moving contemporary drama explores love, loss, and the personal and political weight of remembrance.

“Goodnight, Tyler” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Veal

Written by Jojo Jones
Co-Directed by Dee Dee Batteast and Payten Romig
February 19-22, 24-26 at 7:30 p.m. | February 21 at 2:30 p.m.

Following a violent coup, a young woman named Chelsea is crowned Queen of North America. In the midst of her newfound reign, three friends from middle school (whom she hasn’t spoken to in years) walk into her new palace to ask Chelsea for a big favor. But before she grants it, she’s going to make them reminisce and “embrace the nostalgia” by revisiting their shared friendship and its horrific ending.

Veal was developed and had its world premiere at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago. Kirsten Fitzgerald Artistic Director, Audrey Billings Managing Director

Spring Short Plays

March 14-18, 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. | March 15 at 2:30 p.m.

Wandering

By Lanford Wilson
Directed by Ziah Barnes
March 14-16, 18, 20, 22 at 7:30 p.m.

A man navigates the challenges of love, loss, and self-discovery as he searches for connection and meaning in his life. Wandering is a poignant exploration of human longing, relationships, and the paths we take to find our place in the world.

WANDERING is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)

Red Cross

By Sam Shepard
Directed by Andromeda Dundore
March 14, 16-17, 20-21 at 7:30 p.m. | March 15 at 2:30 p.m.

A small-town doctor and his family grapple with secrets, desires, and the tensions that simmer beneath everyday life. Red Cross explores the complicated dynamics of family, love, and human behavior in a darkly humorous and compelling way.

“Red Cross” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

The Man in a Case

By Wendy Wasserstein
Directed by Aspen Burns
March 15, 17-18, 21-22 at 7:30 p.m. | March 15 at 2:30 p.m.

A man struggles with fear, isolation, and the limits of his own imagination, retreating into a self-imposed world of rules and routines. The Man in a Case explores the tension between safety and freedom, and the human need to connect beyond the confines we create for ourselves.

THE MAN IN A CASE is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)


Listen! Escucha!

Written and directed by Leslie Gonzales
April 15-20 at 7:30 p.m.

Listen! Escucha! is a devised performance exploring culture, identity, and immigration in America. Created by an ensemble of artists from diverse backgrounds, the piece invites audiences to listen, connect, and reflect on what it means to belong in today’s world.

Spring Choreography Projects

Choreographed by Dance majors
April 23-25 at 7:30 p.m.
Selected works from dance majors highlighting the best in original dances that vary in style and form.

Late, A Cowboy Song

By Sarah Ruhl
Directed by Lily Marcotte
November 19-24 at 7:30 p.m.

Late, a Cowboy Song follows Mary, a woman caught between convention and possibility, as she falls for Red, a free-spirited lady cowboy who offers her a taste of freedom. It’s a tender, unconventional love story about identity, motherhood, and the courage to seek a life beyond the ordinary.

“Late, A Cowboy Song” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Balls Balls Balls

By Alice Tuan
Directed by Veronica Santoyo
February 6-8, 13-14 at 7:30 p.m. | February 14 at 2:30 p.m.

Enbee is a newbie in a world where they must navigate the unfamiliar territory of the different Ball States: sport, sex, and fancy ‘be who you are’ dress dance. On this day before the Big Game, the football players are hungry for blood, the cheerleaders are hungry for meaning, and hunger strikers are hungry for bread. When a windstorm cancels the Big Game, a group of intrepid weirdos decides to throw a Mudita* Ball. Chaos ensues and Enbee tries to understand what the hell is going on.

*NOTE: Mudita is a Sanskrit and Pali word that describes a feeling of empathetic, altruistic, and appreciative joy that comes from taking pleasure in another’s well-being.
Commissioned by the Theatre and Dance Department of Ball State University

Love, Loss & What I Wore

By Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron
Based on the book by Ilene Beckerman
Directed by Audrey Walters
February 25-26 | March 10-13 at 7:30 p.m.

A collection of stories told through the clothes we wear and the moments we remember. From childhood hand-me-downs to special occasion outfits, heartbreaks to celebrations, Love, Loss, and What I Wore explores the humor, nostalgia, and meaning woven into the fabric of our lives.

LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)

What the Constitution Means to Me

By Heidi Schreck
Directed by Ryan Goldberg
April 1-2, 7-10 at 7:30 p.m.

A young woman reflects on her experiences growing up in a debate-loving family as she explores the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. Through humor, stories, and personal reflection, the play examines how the Constitution has shaped - and continues to shape - the lives of women, families, and communities.

“What the Constitution Means to Me” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com