University of Northern Iowa
08/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/21/2026 09:54
TheatreUNI announces 2026-27 season
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - TheatreUNI at the University of Northern Iowa invites audiences to experience a season of magic, humor, competition and unforgettable music during its 2026-27 season, entitled "Wonderings and Wanderings." From a reimagined Shakespeare classic and a poignant contemporary comedy to a dynamic partnership with Riverside Theatre and a large-scale musical collaboration with the UNI School of Music and the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, the season celebrates the power of storytelling in all its forms.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"
October 2-10, 2026
The season opens with a bold new take on Shakespeare's beloved comedy. Set in 1920s New York, this fast-paced, 90-minute production transforms the city's sleek Art Deco skyline into a magical urban forest where identities shift, romance runs wild and the impossible becomes reality. Infused with jazz, dancing and urban enchantment, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" reveals the tensions beneath an era racing toward modernity while celebrating the timeless chaos of love.
"The Language Archive"
October 30-November 7, 2026
This touching and whimsical comedy follows George, a linguist devoted to preserving endangered languages from around the world. While he works to save disappearing words, he struggles to communicate with those closest to him, including his wife, Mary, and his devoted assistant, Emma. Filled with humor, heart and quiet insight, "The Language Archive" explores the many ways language connects and separates us.
"Athena"
February 19-28, 2027
TheatreUNI continues its commitment to artistic collaboration through a partnership with Riverside Theatre in Iowa City to present Gracie Gardner's acclaimed play "Athena." This sharp, 75-minute comedy follows teenage fencing rivals Athena and Mary Wallace as they train for the Junior Olympics. Equal parts funny and fiercely competitive, the play examines ambition, identity and the drive to succeed. The New York Times praised the work as "a deadly serious comedy about ambition, success and owning your superiority."
"Into the Woods"
April 16-17, 2027
The season concludes with one of musical theatre's most celebrated works as TheatreUNI joins forces with the UNI School of Music and the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center to present Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning "Into the Woods." Bringing together Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and other familiar fairy tale characters, the musical follows a baker and his wife on a quest to lift a witch's curse. Wishes are granted, dreams come true and unexpected consequences unfold in this timeless story about family, responsibility and the choices we make.
Tickets can be purchased online at unitix.uni.edu or at the box office in Strayer-Wood Theatre on the UNI campus. Tickets are free for UNI students.
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