ANN ARBOR: Theatre NOVA, Ann Arbor’s resident nonprofit professional theatre specializing in new plays, is thrilled to announce its 2024-25 Season featuring all World Premieres. Theatre NOVA produces the hottest new plays at affordable prices. We offer a subscription program as the best way to see quality programs at a discounted price. Subscribers save on single-ticket prices and guarantee their seats for all six plays through August 2025.
This fall, Theatre NOVA will celebrate ten years of new plays and new voices with a Gala Season Opener on October 11, 2024, at 7:00 pm. This special performance will include refreshments before and after the show, a hyper-local raffle featuring items from Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti businesses, and the opening night performance of the World Premiere of “In Search of the Mothman” by Amber Palmer. Proceeds will support NOVA’s annual operations and pay-what-you-can ticketing program.
Gala Season Opener Tickets are $100 and include beer and wine (21 and older,) a strolling buffet, a photo booth, admission to the performance, dessert, and a Champagne toast after the show.
Founding Artistic Director Carla Milarch said, “I am elated to reach this milestone. Together, we have made it through the challenges of opening a theatre, and then a pandemic, and then RE-opening after a pandemic, and now the realities of a post-pandemic economy. Yet, here we still are! I believe it’s because of how fully the Ann Arbor community has embraced us over the years. They truly are amazing. And I would put our staff and artists up against anyone in the business for creativity, artistry, and heart. The fact that we’ve continued to produce amazing theatre in the face of these challenges is a testament to the strength of our mission and the gumption and grit of everyone who walks through these doors each day.”
Theatre NOVA offers a subscription program as the best way to see quality programs at a discounted price. Subscribers save on single-ticket prices and guarantee their seats for all our plays this season. Theatre NOVA recently installed new, cushioned theatre seats for added patron comfort.
Subscribers get easy exchanges, no per-ticket fees, a pass to our Michigan Playwright’s Festival, and our eNewsletter, which keeps them updated on future events. If patrons prefer greater flexibility, our popular Flex Pass offers six tickets for any show and date.
We have started a capital campaign! Over the last ten years, we’ve become a recognized cultural asset in Ann Arbor. Now, we’re looking to the future. In order to keep growing as Ann Arbor’s Professional New Play Theatre, we’ve identified strategies for the NEXT ten years:
• improve patron comfort and ease of ticketing
• keep improving the quality of our shows
• increase pay & benefits for long-term & front of house staff
• reaffirm our mission that theatre should be for everyone!
Please visit our website for more details, theatrenova.org/donate
Current COVID-19 Policy as of 9-01-2024
Theatre NOVA is known for its intimate space. Our priority is to keep our artists safe and healthy to ensure that we can stay open. Please be advised:
-
All artists and staff are fully vaccinated.
-
Two bathrooms (one upstairs) are available for patrons upon request.
-
We perform a ventilation audit once a year.
-
One Thursday performance for each show will require a mask to provide a safe space for our immunocompromised patrons and those who want a higher level of risk mitigation.
We review this policy regularly. It is subject to change at any time, following local, state, and federal guidelines. Please check our current COVID-19 policy before your scheduled performance date.
Theatre NOVA’s 2024-25 season opens October 11 with “In Search of the Mothman” by Amber Palmer.
Two young sisters navigate life, family, and sisterhood after an unexpected tragedy strikes their hometown. Emily is just trying to make it through her senior year and get into music school, while Jordan moves across the country to West Virginia to “search for The Mothman.” Through honesty and humor, the sisters grapple with their trauma and what lives they want to lead in the aftermath. Directed by Shelby R. Seeley.
The holiday tradition continues with the exciting sequel “The Elves and the Schumachers Two: Chanukah Boogaloo” by Carla Milarch and R. MacKenzie Lewis.
Join us for another memorable holiday adventure from the team that brought you The Year Without a Panto Claus and Sugar Plum Panto! Bring the whole family to laugh, boo, hiss, and sing in this over-the-top evening of heroes and villains, funny songs, and extreme merriment – a mixed-up mash-up of musical comedy slapstick, vaudeville, and fun. Directed by Briana O’Neal, with music direction by Brian Buckner.
Love is in the air with “Kairos” by Lisa Sanaye Dring, a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere.
Gina and David’s budding relationship is tested by the advent of a groundbreaking medical procedure that extends lives indefinitely, granting immortality to a chosen few. After the initial rush of falling in love, their new reality sets in, and they must decide what happens to a lifetime commitment – when that commitment lasts more than a lifetime. Directed by David Wolber.
The season continues with the recipient of the New Play Development Residency: “Eclipsed: The Sun, the Moon, and Gladys Atkinson Sweet” by D. L. Patrick.
In September 1925, Gladys Atkinson Sweet was charged with first-degree murder, along with her husband, Dr. Ossian Sweet, and nine other African Americans, following an attack by 700 white neighbors on her Detroit home. Much has been written about the Sweet trials, litigated by Clarence Darrow, but this play imagines the perspective of Gladys and the women who populated her life. It is about what women do, and have always done, in the shadows. Directed by Lynch Travis.
“Jorge Luis Borges Gives a Lecture on Anatomy” is a brand new play with music written by Founding Artistic Director Carla Milarch.
In a magical garden, astride a labyrinth, poet Jorge Luis Borges gives a lecture. At first, it seems to be about anatomy, but that notion quickly gives way upon the arrival of several imaginary beings, fantastical & odd. As they guide him through a dreamlike world of original music & poetry, Borges comes to understand the meaning of his own existence. Directed by Kat Walsh. Music Direction and Arrangements by Michael Riccinto and Leif TenBrink.
The mainstage season ends with “Radical Empathy” by Theatre NOVA veteran David Wells.
When an American college professor’s TED Talk on empathy goes viral, he meets an Iraqi man who becomes a fixture in his virtual classroom. But when the brutality of the U.S.-led invasion hits the Iraqi man directly, the professor must explore “the kindred connection from a place of deep knowing that opens your spirit to the pain of another as they perceive it.” (Isabel Wilkerson) A true story. Directed by Briana O’Neal.
Rounding out the season is the 2025 Michigan Playwrights Festival.
Theatre NOVA focuses on new plays and new playwrights. We are dedicated to working with new and local playwrights to help them develop their craft and offer brand-new plays for audiences. We created the Michigan Playwrights Festival to nurture Michigan playwrights and develop full-length plays for future seasons.
Theatre NOVA is located at 410 W. Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Performances are on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. To accommodate families with children, “The Elves and the Schumachers Two: Chanukah Boogaloo” will hold performances on Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 3:00 pm & 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm.
General admission tickets for plays are $30. Tickets for the holiday musical panto are $32 for adults and $12 for children 16 years and under. Theatre NOVA continues to make theatre accessible by offering pay-what-you-can tickets to all performances for those who need them. Tickets, memberships, flex passes, and subscriptions may be purchased online at www.TheatreNOVA.org. Tickets may also be purchased in person one hour before each performance. Seating in the theatre will begin 30 minutes before each performance. There is ample free parking and quick access to the city’s restaurants, bars, bakeries, and coffee shops. New patrons can find Theatre NOVA across Huron Street from Ann Arbor’s YMCA through a parking lot entrance on the north side of the street. For more information, visit www.TheatreNOVA.org.
Theatre NOVA’s mission is to raise awareness of the value and excitement of new plays and playwrights and to provide resources for playwrights to develop their craft by importing, exporting, and developing new work.
FACT SHEET
WHO:
Theatre Nova Staff
Carla Milarch, Founding Artistic Director
David Wolber, Producing Artistic Director
Briana O’Neal, Producing Artistic Director, Resident Stage Manager
Shelby R. Seeley, Associate Artistic Director, Literary Manager
Becky Fox, Business Manager, Director of Education
Sarah Elisabeth Brown, House Manager
Lindsey Brown, Summer Camp Director
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
IN SEARCH OF THE MOTHMAN by Amber Palmer
October 11-November 10, 2024
Friday, October 11 at 8:00 pm – Opening Night, 10th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, October 12 at 8:00 pm – Student Night
Sunday, October 13 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, October 17 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, Rec & Ed Night
Friday, October 18 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, October 19 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, October 20 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, October 24 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, Masked Performance
Friday, October 25 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, October 26 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, October 27 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, October 31, at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, OLLI Night – a Special Halloween
Performance! Wear your costumes!
Friday, November 1 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, November 2 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, November 3 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, November 7 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night
Friday, November 8 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, November 9 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, November 10 at 2:00 pm – Closing Night
THE ELVES AND THE SCHUMACHERS TWO: CHANUKAH BOOGALOO by Carla Milarch & R. MacKenzie Lewis
December 6, 2024- January 5, 2025
Friday, December 6 at 7:30 pm – Opening Night
Saturday, December 7 at 3:00 pm and
Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 pm – Student Night
Sunday, December 8 at 2:00 pm
Friday, December 13 at 7:30 pm – Industry night, Masked Performance
Saturday, December 14 at 3:00 pm and
Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 15 at 2:00 pm
Friday, December 20 at 7:30 pm – Industry Night, Rec & Ed Night
Saturday, December 21 at 3:00 pm and
Saturday, December 21 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 22 at 2:00 pm
Friday, December 27 at 7:30 pm – Industry Night, OLLI Night, Chanukkah Performances
Saturday, December 28 at 3:00 pm and
Saturday, December 28 at 7:30 pm – Chanukkah Performances
Sunday, December 29 at 2:00 pm – Chanukkah Performances
Friday, January 3 at 7:30 pm – Industry Night
Saturday, January 4 at 3:00 pm and
Saturday, January 4 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, January 5 at 2:00 pm – Closing Night
KAIROS by Lisa Sanaye Dring
February 14- March 16, 2025
Friday, February 14 at 8:00 pm – Opening Night, Valentine’s Day
Saturday, February 15 at 8:00 pm – Student Night
Sunday, February 16 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, February 20 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, Masked Performance
Friday, February 21 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, February 22 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, February 23 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, February 27 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, Rec & Ed Night
Friday, February 28 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, March 1 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, March 2 at 8:00 pm
Thursday, March 5 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, OLLI Night
Friday, March 6 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, March 7 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, March 13 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night
Friday, March 14 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, March 15 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, March 16 at 2:00 pm – Closing Night
ECLIPSED: THE SUN, THE MOON, AND GLADYS ATKINSON SWEET by D. L. Patrick
April 11-May 11, 2025
Friday, April 11 at 8:00 pm – Opening Night
Saturday, April 12 at 8:00 pm – Student Night
Sunday, April 13 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, April 17 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, Masked Performance
Friday, April 18 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, April 19 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 20 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, April 24 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, Rec & Ed Night
Friday, April 25 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, April 26 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 27 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, May 1 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, OLLI Night
Friday, May 2 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 3 at 3:00 pm and
Saturday, May 3 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, May 4 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, May 8 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night
Friday, May 9 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 10 at 3:00 pm and
Saturday, May 10 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, May 11 at 2:00 pm – Closing Night
JORGE LUIS BORGES GIVES A LECTURE ON ANATOMY by Carla Milarch
June 6 – July 6, 2025
Friday, June 6 at 8:00 pm – Opening Night
Saturday, June 7 at 8:00 pm – Student Night
Sunday, June 8 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, June 12 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, Masked Performance
Friday, June 13 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, June 14 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, June 15 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, June 19 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, Rec & Ed Night,
Friday, June 20 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, June 21 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, June 22 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, June 26 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, OLLI Night
Friday, June 27 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, June 28 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, June 29 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, July 3 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night
Friday, July 4 at 8:00 pm – Fourth of July Weekend SALE
Saturday, July 5 at 8:00 pm – Fourth of July Weekend SALE
Sunday, July 6 at 2:00 pm – Fourth of July Weekend SALE, Closing Night
RADICAL EMPATHY by David Wells
August 1-31, 2025
Friday, August 1 at 8:00 pm – Opening Night
Saturday, August 2 at 8:00 pm – Student Night
Sunday, August 3 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, August 7 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, Masked Performance
Friday, August 8 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, August 9 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 10 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, August 14 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, Rec & Ed Night
Friday, August 15 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, August 16 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 17 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, August 21 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night, OLLI Night
Friday, August 22 at 8:00 pm
Saturday,, August 23 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 24 at 2:00 pm
Thursday, August 28 at 8:00 pm – Industry Night
Friday, August 29 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, August 30 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 31 at 2:00 pm – Closing Night
MICHIGAN PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
September 10-14
Wednesday, September 10 at 8:00 pm
Thursday, September 11 at 8:00 pm
Friday, September 12 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, September 13 at 2:00 pm
Saturday, September 13 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, September 14 at 8:00 pm
WHERE:
Theatre NOVA
410 W Huron, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
