Our 2025/2026 EARLY BIRD
SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR RENEWING SUBSCRIBERS
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AT A CROSSROADS:
MOMENTS THAT CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING
This season, we explore the decisions, relationships, and moments of fate that alter our lives forever. Whether filled with romance, revolution, revelation, or resilience — each production shines a light on the pivotal points where characters (and we!) must choose our paths.
Co-Produced with The Acting Company of New York
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By William Shakespeare | Directed by Risa Brainin
Dec 3 – 21, 2025
Get ready for what may well be the most popular “ROM-COM” of all time! At the crossroads of fantasy and reality, love is turned upside down and righted again in this hilarious romp that reminds us of the folly — and wonder — of the human heart. Joyful, high-spirited, full of mischievous magic, mistaken identity, and uproarious hijinks, the story follows four rebellious teenagers who run away from home, only to end up having a wild and uproarious adventure entangling them with a Fairy King and Queen and a group of amateur actors preparing to perform for a Royal Wedding. Come be transported by this classic laugh-filled romance about the timeless absurdity of love. LORD WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE!
TBA – Drama or Comedy
Directed by Jenny Sullivan
Feb 11 – Mar 1, 2026
We are currently considering several compelling titles for this winter slot — each a story that aligns beautifully with our season theme of crossroads and transformation. One possibility is Robert Schenkkan’s lyrical, poignant and uplifting play By the Waters of Babylon. Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Shanley, another possibility, is a tender and quirky Irish love story about two introverted misfits on neighboring farms who must overcome family feuds and their own fears to find love later in life. We are also considering The 39 Steps, a fast-paced, farcical thriller adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan and the film by Alfred Hitchcock, in which one man’s ordinary life is turned upside down when he’s thrust into a deadly espionage plot. No matter which story is chosen, expect a witty, heartwarming, and thrilling journey that highlights a life-changing moment — where fate knocks and someone chooses to answer.
World Premiere ‘70’s Rock Musical
Somebody to Love
Book by Rob Sternin and Prudence Fraser | Music by The Bands We Listened to on Vinyl in Our Basements |Directed by Sean Daniels
Music Supervision and Orchestrations by Dillon Kondor | Music Direction by Brett Ryback
March 25 – April 12
Set to the soundtrack of a generation, this funny, heartfelt new musical follows four friends who meet freshman year of college and vow to change the world, and to be there for each other, always. Created by the writers of hit TV shows like “The Nanny,” and Off-Broadway’s Under My Skin, this world premiere rock-and-roll musical is a timely story about the choices we make, the trials, triumphs, and turning points that define a lifetime – and the one thing that matters most – somebody to love. Songs include “Dance to the Music,” “Call Me” “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “Feel Like Making Love,” “Changes” and “Taking It to the Street,” as well as the title song.
Riveting Historical Drama
Eleanor
By Mark St. Germain | Directed by David Ellenstein | Starring Kandis Chappell
May 13 – 31, 2026
In this tour-de-force solo performance described as “brilliant and emotionally relevant” by the Wall Street Journal, Kandis Chappell brings to life the dynamic and iconic First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. Candid and commanding, vulnerable and visionary, from the shadows of the White House to the global stage, Eleanor finds her purpose at life’s greatest crossroads, shaping a legacy that continues to inspire.
TBA – Ragtime
Oct 21 – Nov 8, 2026
We cannot think of a timelier or more moving musical than Ragtime and, pending rights and sponsorships, this would be our dream show. We hope that you and other supporters and sponsors will step forward to make it possible for us to share this sweeping American epic of the early 20th century in all its splendor. This masterpiece weaves together the intersecting stories of three diverse American families—an upper-class white family, an African American pianist and his love, and a determined Jewish immigrant and his daughter—and is set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing nation. With a soaring, emotionally rich score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens and a compelling book by Terrence McNally based on the E.L. Doctorow novel, Ragtime is an epic tale of ambition, struggle, and hope. The show features show-stopping numbers like “Wheels of a Dream,” “Make Them Hear You,” and “Back to Before.” This Tony Award-winning musical is a portrait of a country — and its people — standing at the edge of change.
BONUS SHOW – World Premiere Adaptation
Great Expectations
By Nicki Massoud | Based on the novel by Charles Dickens | Directed by Devin Brain
Dec 2 – 21, 2025
This new adaptation of Dickens’ timeless tale of the orphan Pip springs to life with theatrical flair and heart. With the fast-paced excitement of melodrama, complete with surprises and plot twists steeped in Dickens’ sharp observations of class distinctions – this is a story that has compelled readers for centuries! Great Expectations is a tale of human resilience and hope in the face of adversity, where humble virtue is elevated above snobbery and hate. It is a tale about a London of the past that is all too urgent, able to move and inspire us even today.
Great Expectations is co-produced with The Acting Company of New York and plays in repertory with A Midsummer Night’s Dream – offering a thrilling and rare opportunity to see a versatile troupe of actors in distinctly different roles.
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When you renew, we also invite you to make a tax-deductible donation to Rubicon. We, too, at Rubicon, are at a “Crossroads.” In this post-pandemic era, ticket sales, which used to cover close to 50% of the costs of operation, now cover about a third. Please make a gift over and above your subscription to continue and ensure vibrant professional productions and education programs for our region.