OCTOBER 3-6 Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus is a bold and satirical retelling of the 1869 Powell Geographic Expedition, where a crew of ten men journeyed down the Colorado River to explore the Grand Canyon. This adventurous tale is brought to life by a diverse cast that subverts traditional gender roles, blending historical accuracy with modern sensibilities to create a humorous, high-energy exploration of power, privilege, and the myths of American exploration.
Content Warning: Please be advised this performance contains profanity, depictions of alcohol consumption, and gunfire sound effects.
NOVEMBER 14-17 Music: Jeanine Tesori and Book & Lyrics: Lisa Kron Based on the Graphic Novel by Alison Bechdel From Concord Theatricals: "When her father dies unexpectedly, graphic novelist Alison dives deep into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life. Moving between past and present, Alison relives her unique childhood playing at the family’s Bechdel Funeral Home, her growing understanding of her own sexuality, and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father’s hidden desires. Fun Home is a refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes."
Content Warning: Please be advised this performance contains adult language and mature content, including verbal abuse, suicide, homophobia, pedophilia, childhood trauma, swears and curses. This performance is recommended for ages 16 or older.
FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 2 Adapted by Simon Stephens Based on the Novel by Mark Haddon From Dramatists Play Service: “15-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain: He is exceptional at mathematics but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched, and he distrusts strangers. Now it is 7 minutes after midnight, and Christopher stands beside his neighbor’s dead dog, Wellington, who has been speared with a garden fork. Finding himself under suspicion, Christopher is determined to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington, and he carefully records each fact of the crime. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a thrilling journey that upturns his world."
APRIL 3-6 An Evening of Dance is an annual concert in which students explore and develop original choreography performed by their peers in the Orchesis Modern Dance Company, under the mentorship of the Dance faculty.
How are cities made? Block by block, brick by brick.
This devised performance project stages the imagination of a city planner, exploring the aspirations we invest in urban spaces, the labor of designing them, and the cycles of action that bring them to life. Cities may be centrally planned, but they are made by the people who reside in them, their history crafted through daily habits—the repetition of work, commute, and neighborhood social life. Inspired by Williamsburg’s history as one of the first planned cities in colonial America, we explore the tension between cities as imagined utopias filled with aspiration and longing, and the drudgery and tedium required to schematically bring them into being. Using a collaborative mode of making, we explore the tension between the well-ordered rules, regulations, and routines that make city life go, and the unpredictable chaos of urban development.
As the performance unfolds, a snowball effect emerges—what starts as a series of simple actions and routines rapidly evolves into a complex, living organism that integrates students' talents as storytellers, writers, dancers, artists, and musicians. This crescendo mirrors the progression of urban environments, leaving the audience with a visceral understanding of the dynamic and overwhelming nature of cities.
Registering for and attending events at William & Mary conveys a shared expectation of abiding by university policy, which is subject to change as conditions warrant.
Performance Policy
Performance Policy
Performance Policy
Late Seating
W&M Theatre maintains a strict late seating policy for the respect of our performers and patrons. Ticketed guests are not permitted to enter the theatre more than 10 minutes past performance start time. Patrons may be admitted at performance intermission. Patrons will not be permitted to enter the theatre more than 5 minutes past intermission end time. Late seating outside of these parameters are at the discretion of the Box Office staff and House Manager.
Assigned Seating
Performances designated with assigned seating will honor tickets and receipts. Patrons found in seats not matching their assigned location may be asked to vacate.
Food & Drink
Water in a sealed bottle with a lid is permitted in the theatre. Food is not permitted in the theatre at all. Food and drinks, other than water, must be consumed or disposed of in the lobby. Theatre & Dance staff are not responsible for any food or drink left in the lobby, and will not hold items until the end of the performance.
Bags & Personal Belongings
Bags and other personal belongings must be stowed in the patron's lap or under their seat in the theatre. Theatre aisles must be clear. Please refrain from placing carried items in neighboring seats. W&M Theatre is not liable for items left unattended.
Lost Articles
Lost items will be held at the Box Office for pick up until the end of each academic semester. Unclaimed items will be donated.
Cell Phones
Cell phone and tablet use is prohibited while in performance. Multiple warnings are cause for dismissal from the performance without a refund. Devices must be kept on silent during the entire performance.
Ticket Refunds & Exchanges
W&M Theatre does not offer ticket refunds, except under extreme circumstances, and at the discretion of the Box Office Manager. To request a refund, please email boxoffice@wm.edu. Ticket exchanges are offered between performance nights of the same show, and for other shows within the same W&M Main Stage season. Ticket exchanges may be requested in the Box Office or by emailing boxoffice@wm.edu.
Student Tickets
W&M students are eligible to receive a free ticket for each performance produced by Theatre & Dance. Students must use their WM email to create an account Box Office website. Then, they can select a "Student Ticket" to reserve their ticket.
Free tickets for William & Mary students is generously funded by the Sumner G. Rand Jr. Foundation
