Season 9 (2026-2027) – Stories of the Mind and Other Matters
This season dares to explore the full spectrum of the human mind.
We’ll journey through tales of anxiety, depression, and isolation, revealing the difficult and often beautiful truths of what it means to be human. These are not just stories about surviving, but about finding strength, connection, and even joy in unexpected places. Join us as we illuminate the darkness and celebrate the light, showing that every mind has a story worth telling.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
by Dale Wasserman
Cuckoo’s Nest follows the charismatic Randle P. McMurphy as he challenges the rigid authority of Nurse Ratched inside a psychiatric institution. Through humor, heartbreak, and unforgettable characters, this gripping drama explores freedom, conformity, power, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Directed by Dionne Michelle
September 18-27, 2026
September 18, 19, 25, 25 at 7:30pm and September 19, 20, 26, 27 at 2pm
Tulsa Performing Arts Center – Liddy Doenges Theatre
Dear Evan Hansen
Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Book by Levenson
Seventeen-year-old Evan Hansen has felt invisible his entire life. But when a tragedy shocks his community and thrusts him into the center of a rapidly evolving controversy, Evan is given the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to be somebody else. As his web of well-intentioned lies begins to unravel, though, Evan is forced to confront the fact that the price of belonging may be far steeper than he bargained for.
Directed by Kelli McLoud-Schingen
Musical Direction by Machele Miller Dill
October 31 – November 8, 2026 (8 performances)
October 31, Nov 1, 7, 8 at 2pm and 7:30pm
World Stage Theatre Studio – 1130 S. Harvard
Out of Mind
with Global Guests from New Zealand
By Deborah Steele & Julianne Parkinson
Filled with original music and heartfelt storytelling, Out of Mind is a powerful and deeply moving one-act musical that explores life inside New Zealand’s Tokanui Mental Hospital during the 1950s. Through the intertwined stories of patients and caregivers, the musical examines mental health, treatment, identity, and the human need for compassion and understanding.
November 13 – 22, 2026
November 13, 14, 20, 21, at 7:30pm and November 14, 15, 21, 22 at 2pm
World Stage Theatre Studio – 1130 S. Harvard Ave.
Every Brilliant Thing
By Duncan MacMillan with Johnny Donahue
What makes life worth living? Ice cream. Laughter. Holding hands. Hearing your favorite song at just the right moment. When a child begins making a list of every brilliant thing in the world to help his mother through depression, that list grows into a heartfelt and life-affirming journey spanning a lifetime. Filled with humor, honesty, and audience interaction, Every Brilliant Thing is a moving exploration of mental health, resilience, love, and the small joys that sustain us through life’s challenges.
Directed by Kelli McLoud-Schingen
January 15 – 24, 2027
January 15, 16, 22, 23 at 7:30pm and January 16, 17, 23, 24 at 2pm
World Stage Theatre Studio – 1130 S. Harvard
1984
By George Orwell
Adapted for the stage
In a world where every thought is monitored and truth is whatever those in power say it is, Winston Smith dares to question the system. Based on Orwell’s groundbreaking dystopian novel, 1984 is a gripping and unsettling exploration of surveillance, censorship, propaganda, and the struggle to maintain one’s humanity in the face of oppression. As Winston fights to preserve his freedom, identity, and capacity to love, audiences are confronted with timeless questions about truth, power, and the fragility of independent thought. This chilling theatrical experience examines how control of the mind can become the ultimate form of power.
Directed by Jarrod Kopp
April 9 – 18, 2027
April 9, 10, 16, 17 at 7:30pm and April 10, 11, 17, 18 at 2pm
Tulsa Performing Arts Center – Liddy Doenges Theatre
The World Stage International Theatre Festival
Experience the world without leaving your seat. World Stage Theatre Company’s Inaugural International Theatre Festival brings together artists, productions, and cultures from around the globe and Tulsa for a celebration of storytelling, creativity, and human connection. Through performances, workshops, and cultural exchange, audiences and artists alike will have the opportunity to explore diverse perspectives and discover the universal stories that unite us. By connecting local audiences with international voices, we are building bridges across borders and demonstrating that theatre is a universal language capable of inspiring empathy, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation of our shared humanity.