Announcing the 2024-2025 Mainstage Season
We are thrilled to announce the Fordham MainStage 2024-25 season of Joy and Subversion: Revel and Revolt. Each of these shows has a deep resonance within our community, engages with the world around us, and offers exciting opportunities for creative risk and play.
Kicking off the season is Karen Zacarías’s compelling play, The Sins of Sor Juana, a tempestuous tale about legendary Mexican poet Juana Inés de la Cruz, who writes sensual, expressive verse at the Viceroy’s court in the 1600s, a time when it was unfashionable—and sinful—for women to exercise their intellect. When Juana refuses to compromise her poetry for what the church ordains appropriate, she stands to lose everything she loves.
Next is Leah Nanako Winkler’s wry, refreshing, and playfully theatrical Kentucky, a modern–day millennial version of The Odyssey, in which Hiro, a self-made woman “making it” in New York but estranged from her dysfunctional family in Kentucky, attempts to thwart her born-again Christian sister from marrying at the impossibly young age of 22. This is a poignant, uproarious, coming–of–age story about the radically different paths one must take to recover and heal from trauma.
The timeless Brechtian classic, Three Penny Opera will jumpstart 2025, directed by Artist-in-Residence, George Drance, SJ. Set in Victorian London, the story revolves around the notorious criminal Mack the Knife and his exploits in the city's underworld. Through its dark humor and satirical commentary on capitalism, corruption, and morality, "The Threepenny Opera'' exposes the contradictions and inequalities of society while challenging traditional notions of morality and justice.
The culminating production of the season is Fordham Theatre's commissioned work by acclaimed playwright Rajiv Joseph, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and recipient of the Obie award. Helmed by the Director of the Theatre Program, May Adrales, this collaboration marks a significant milestone. The genesis of the play took root in Adrales' Rehearsal Technique class, where initial concepts were explored with Fordham students. Now, through the collective efforts of Fordham students and faculty, the play will be brought to life in its entirety. Serving as a tribute to the boundless creativity, intellect, and curiosity within the Fordham community, the production aims to be a vibrant celebration of collective talent and ingenuity.
We are absolutely thrilled to embark on the exhilarating journey of our upcoming season: Revel and Revolt. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who played a part in shaping this extraordinary lineup. With the collective input and enthusiasm of our dedicated community, we have curated a season that promises to be nothing short of extraordinary. This is not merely a season of theater; it is a celebration of rebellion, resilience, and the transformative power of the stage. We hope you will be involved in all aspects of the making of these shows. Auditions for MainStage will be held on August 29 – September 1. More information forthcoming. Join us as we dive headfirst into a world of passion, inspiration, and unbridled creativity.