The Bates Theater and Dance Department believes performance is for everyone. Through embodied artistry, activism, collaboration, and scholarship, our curriculum explores performance theories, physical practice, creative processes, history and historiography, and culturally inclusive engagement with productions. We welcome all who wish to join our community to engage in experimentation, innovative technologies, and informed experiential learning.
2025-26 Performances
We are thrilled to unveil a dynamic lineup of exhilarating performances for the 2025–26 Theater and Dance Season—an inspiring mix of bold plays, original dance, and innovative performances!
Highlights include Metamorphosesby Mary Zimmerman, Everybodyby Branden Jacobs-Jenksins, and an original student thesis dance work Lo Que Se Rompe, Brilla, by Aaron Martinez ’26, along with our annual Fall Dance Concert and Marcy Plavin Spring Dance Concert.
Shortly after Courtney Smith joined Bates in the fall of 2024 as an associate professor of theater, he floated an idea for a production that was both over-the-top ambitious and absolute catnip to his colleague Sally Wood, a visiting lecturer in theater who was trying to decide what play to direct in the fall of 2025.
His suggestion would require help from an unprecedented number of campus partners and doing due diligence to be compliant with local, state and federal regulations — and test Schaeffer Theatre like nothing else in its 65-year history. What Smith had said to Wood was: “You know what would be really awesome? Metamorphoses.”
The Bates Theater and Dance Department provides an unparalleled liberal arts experience led by faculty and staff who are active professionals in their field. We empower a diverse community of students to cultivate their unique and expansive approaches to artistry, interdisciplinary collaboration, and activism with a fierce commitment to transform and better the world.
Faculty Directed Production by Associate Professor Tim Dugan
CASTING NOTE
All roles are open to being portrayed by performers of all personal and gender identities and expressions. The core cast will play multiple roles within the entire production. Roles have been primarily divided into 10 tracks, final tracks may be adjusted during the process.
AUDITION DATES
Thursday, January 15 and Friday, January 16 from 4:15 – 7pm
