The upcoming 2026/27 Theatre Season at MacEwan will give audiences a wide variety of productions from big musicals to intimate storytelling.
“This season is a celebration of love, rebellion and transformation,” says Dawn Sadoway, department chair and associate professor in the Department of Theatre. “From the defiant and passionate spirit of Rent and Hunchback, to the bold storytelling of The Penelopiad and the irresistible joy of Anything Goes, these stories dare us to see the world with fresh eyes, embrace change and love more fiercely than ever.”
Rent
The season kicks off with the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical Rent in the Tim Ryan Theatre Lab, running from October 28 to November 1, directed by Leigh Rivenbark. The book, music and lyrics were written by Jonathan Larson.
This groundbreaking rock musical follows a group of young artists struggling to survive and create in New York City’s vibrant East Village. Set amidst the HIV/AIDS crisis, it’s a powerful story of searching for connection, living with loss and finding your voice. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, it features an unforgettable score that defined a generation. Raw, emotional and electrifying, Rent reminds us to treasure every moment and measure our lives in love.
Hunchback
From November 25 to 29, Hunchback will hit the stage in the Triffo Theatre, directed by Edmonton’s own Jonathan Christenson who originally wrote and produced the play for the Catalyst Theatre.
Hunchback is a darkly romantic musical set amid the buttresses and shadows of Notre Dame Cathedral. It tells the tale of a tormented priest, a beautiful dancer and the outcast bell ringer Quasimodo, swept up in a vortex of lust, fear and the desire to control a destiny that will ultimately destroy them all. It’s a surprising new take on Victor Hugo’s famous story.
The Penelopiad
The season’s third production will be The Penelopiad under the direction of Amber Borotsik. The play runs from March 3 to 7 in the Tim Ryan Theatre Lab.
Based on the acclaimed novel by best-selling Canadian author Margaret Atwood, this powerful stage adaptation re-examines the epic myth of Homer’s Odyssey through the eyes of the women in the story: Penelope and her twelve maids. The play challenges audiences to consider whose stories are told, whose perspectives are heard and what heroism truly means. It shines a light on the overlooked and the silenced, giving voice to the women history forgot.
Anything Goes
The season wraps up with Anything Goes in the Triffo Theatre. The production will be directed by Sarah Dowling and it runs from March 17 to 21.
All aboard for hilarity and hijinks on the high seas with Anything Goes! Set on a luxury ocean liner sailing from New York to London, this classic musical comedy features the timeless songs of legendary composer Cole Porter, including “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top” and “De-Lovely.” From bow to stern, this beloved Broadway favourite is packed with dazzling dancing, scandalous schemes and romantic rendezvous. This is a bon voyage you won’t want to miss!
Purchase tickets for the full season or individual performances at Tickets.MacEwan.ca, or by calling the MacEwan box office at 780-497-4470, Monday through Friday between 12 and 3 p.m.