Simpson Productions 2026-27 Season
Reserve tickets through Humanitix
or by contacting the Simpson Productions Box Office:
515-961-1601
bpacboxoffice@simpson.edu
Learn about the shows
Little Red Riding Hood-a children's opera in one act
Composer, Seymour Barab Conductor, Damon Stevens Director, Ann Woldt
Oct. 11 & 12 at 2:00 pm
Barnum Studio Theatre
A delightful 50-minute children’s opera where Little Red outwits a not-so-fearsome Wolf in a lively retelling of the classic fairy tale. Perfect for families and young audiences.
Ticket Prices
All tickets $5.00
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
by William Shakespeare
Director, Jennifer Nostrala
Pote Theatre
Nov. 20-21 at 7:30 pm, Nov. 22 at 2:00 pm
In conjunction with the 29th annual High School Theatre Festival
Two best friends, Valentine and Proteus, leave home to chase opportunity and love. Valentine falls for Silvia—but when Proteus arrives, he betrays his friend by also pursuing her, despite already being in love with Julia back home. Disguises, mixed loyalties, and a band of outlaws complicate everything until the truth comes out. In the end, friendships are (somewhat abruptly) repaired, lovers are reunited, and everyone heads toward a hopeful resolution.
Love. Betrayal. Outlaws. And a dog. This production of Shakespeare’s comedy is infused with the jazz of the 1920s as two friends embark on an adventure to the big city.
The Festival of Short Plays: Thornton Wilder
Producer Jennifer Nostrala
Featuring the work of students in Theatre Seminar:
Robyn Aguilar, Bekah Geerdes, Paisha Goodrich,
Maddy Gunzenhauser, Hannah Larsen, & Diego Solorio
Barnum Studio Theatre
Dec. 4-5 at 7:30 pm
Thornton Wilder spent his career turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. One of the great American voices of the twentieth century, his work captures the rhythms of everyday American life. This festival highlights the work of our student company for a single unmissable evening. Expect the unexpected: Wilder’s world is full of surprises.
Orlando
By Sarah Ruhl
Director Kara Raphaeli
Barnum Studio Theatre
Feb. 19-20 at 7:30 pm and Feb. 21 at 2:00 pm
Orlando by Sarah Ruhl is based on the novel of the same name by Virginia Woolf.
What if the boundaries we imagine in this world weren’t as clear as we think they are? Time and gender – two things that seem pretty straightforward – are challenged in this play.
Orlando lives the first 30 years of his life as a man, then one morning wakes up as a woman. Orlando then starts to understand the constraints put on women by society – this is the 1600s after all!
Time passes – 300 years to be exact – but Orlando doesn’t age. This bit of magic doesn’t have an explanation- it’s just how things are. The play follows Orlando’s adventures through time and gender, concluding that even though the physical appearance changes, Orlando is still Orlando.
Pippin
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Book by Roger O. Hirson
Director Jennifer Nostrala
Music Director Damon Stevens
Pote Theatre
April 9-10 at 7:30 pm and April 11 at 2:00 pm
Pippin is a dazzling, meta-theatrical musical about a young prince searching for meaning, purpose, and his own “corner of the sky.” In our production, the story is set in a youth shelter, where a group of young people — navigating their own uncertainties and struggles — are drawn into putting on a play. Theatre becomes their escape, their language, and ultimately their way of making sense of the world.
Guided by the charismatic Leading Player and a troupe of performers, Pippin tries everything from war and revolution to romance and domestic life in his quest for fulfillment. With a beloved score by Stephen Schwartz and staging that plays with theatrical form, the show blends dark comedy with heartfelt storytelling. Its playful fourth-wall breaks and exploration of identity make it a visually rich and emotionally resonant experience — and in this production, a deeply personal one.
Reserve tickets through Humanitix
or by contacting the Simpson Productions Box Office:
515-961-1601
bpacboxoffice@simpson.edu
