Dean College is proud to announce its new 2023-2024 performing arts season. Running from October to May, the lineup includes four theatre shows, four dance shows and multiple showcase performances featuring Dean College students in the School of the Arts and the Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance. Season ticket packages and individual show tickets are now available online at www.dean.edu/performance. Packages include the Full Season Package (eight theatre and dance events), the Theatre Series Package (four events) and the Dance Series Package (four events). 

The 2023-2024 theatre season starts with the Olivier Award-winning comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong” by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields from October 25-29, 2023. The fall musical production is Jonathan Larson’s iconic show “RENT,” winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, which runs from November 15-19, 2023. Moving into 2024, “She Loves Me” is an intimate and heartwarming musical by Joe Masteroff, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, which runs from February 28 to March 3, 2024. Closing out the theatre series, from April 4-7, 2024, is Samuel D. Hunter’s bittersweet comedy “Pocatello” in its regional premiere. Please see the attached show breakdown for more details on each event.

The 2023-2024 dance series begins on November 3-4, 2023 with the collaborative show “Arts Mosaic,” showcasing student works in dance, theatre, music, film and much more. “Faculty Dance Works” runs from December 7-8, 2023 and will be comprised of original works created by School of Dance faculty and guest artists in a wide diversity of dance styles. “Choreographers’ Concert” runs from March 22-23, 2024, featuring Dean emerging student-choreographers’ work. The dance series concludes with the annual “Dance Company,” from April 25-28, 2024, with mixed bill repertoire ranging from hip-hop to jazz, tap, modern and ballet in new and restaged works by award-winning faculty and guest choreographers. Please see the attached show breakdown for more details on each event. 

In addition to the mainstage performances listed above, there are multiple showcase events featuring the diverse talents of Dean College students, including “New Thespian Showcase” (November 30 & December 2, 2023), “New Dancer Showcase” (December 1-2, 2023), “Dance Senior Showcase” (April 12-13, 2023) and “Theatre Senior Showcase” (April 19-20, 2024). These events are not included in season ticket packages but are available for single ticket purchase.

Full season ticket packages offer a 20% discount on regular single ticket prices. The Full Season Package (eight events) is $132 for general public and is $72 for senior citizens and non-Dean students. 

The Dance Series Package (four events – “Arts Mosaic,” “Faculty Dance Works,” “Choreographers’ Concert” and “Dance Company”) is $66 for general public and $36 for senior citizens and non-Dean students. 

The Theatre Series Package (four events – “The Play That Goes Wrong,” “RENT,” “She Loves Me,” and “Pocatello”) is $66 for general public and $36 for senior citizens and non-Dean students.

Individual show tickets range from $5-$22.

Dean College has moved to a ticketless validation system for all events. There are two ways to receive your online season tickets – digitally, via your cell phone or mobile device (highly preferred) or by printing your receipt at home and picking up your tickets at the Will Call line at the Main Stage kiosk starting 60 minutes prior to performances with a valid I.D.

All events and performances are subject to change. Please be sure to visit www.dean.edu/performance for all up-to-date and applicable venue policies. Ticket holders who do not comply with venue policies will not be admitted.

Please note: Dean College welcomes children and families to all of our performances. However, infants and children under 2 years of age are not allowed in the theatre, and children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. All patrons must have their own ticketed seats; lap sitting is not permitted. Only ADA-certified service animals are allowed in the theatre.

2023-2024 School of the Arts Theatre Season breakdown

The Play That Goes Wrong

October 25-28, 2023 – 7:30 p.m.

October 28-29, 2023 – 2:00 p.m.

Main Stage

By Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields

An Olivier Award-winning comedy that is a hilarious hybrid of Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes. A farcical murder mystery, a play within a play that was conceived by the hysterical Mischief Theatre Company from London.

It’s the opening night of “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. There’s an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, actors who trip over everything (including their lines) and lots of laughs for everyone in the audience.

“By far the funniest show of the season.” – Forbes.

“The Play That Goes Wrong” is presented by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service under license from Mischief Worldwide Ltd.

RENT”

November 15-18, 2023 – 7:30 p.m

November 18-19, 2023 – 2:00 p.m

Main Stage

Music, lyrics, and book by Jonathan Larson

The iconic musical “RENT” is finally coming to Dean College! “RENT” opened on Broadway in April 1996. The Pulitzer Prize-winning show ran for 12 years and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning five including Best Musical.

Based loosely on Puccini’s “La Boheme,” Jonathan Larson’s “RENT” follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

“There’s only us, there’s only this. Forget, regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way. No day but today.” – “RENT”

“RENT” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI.

She Loves Me

February 28-March 2, 2024 – 7:30 p.m

March 2-3, 2024 – 2:00 p.m

Main Stage

Book by Joe Masteroff, Music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick

An intimate and touching show perfect for the Dean College Main Stage! “She Loves Me” was nominated for five Tony Awards in 1964. The 1993 Broadway revival won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical and the 1994 Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

Considered by many to be the most charming musical ever written, “She Loves Me” is a warm romantic comedy with an endearing innocence and a touch of old-world elegance. The Mikos Lazlos play “Parfuemerie,” on which it is based, has inspired many adaptations, including the beloved film “You’ve Got Mail” starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

The New York Times wrote, “This musical is remarkably generous to all its performers: a half-dozen supporting characters are given showstoppers, too.” 

“She Loves Me” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

Pocatello

April 4-6, 2024 – 7:30 p.m

April 6-7, 2024 – 2:00 p.m

Main Stage

Written by Samuel D. Hunter

In its regional premiere, the bittersweet comedy “Pocatello” will close the 23-24 theatre season at Dean College.

Eddie manages an Italian chain restaurant in Pocatello – a small, unexceptional American city that is slowly being paved over with strip malls and franchises. But he can’t serve enough soup, salad & breadstick specials to make his hometown feel like home. Against the harsh backdrop of Samuel D. Hunter’s Idaho, this heartbreaking comedy is a cry for connection in an increasingly lonely American landscape.

People have raved about “Pocatello” – “Skillful and moving, humanely rendered and shrewdly structured.” – TimeOut New York and “Hunter, as warmhearted a dramatist as can be experienced these days, crafts Pocatello as if it were a Robert Altman film.” – Entertainment Weekly. Pocatello premiered off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in 2014. The perfect show to close an outstanding season of theatre at Dean.

“Pocatello” was originally conceived and developed under the title “When You’re Here …” at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Jenny Gersten, Artistic Director and further developed at Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, New York.

2023-2024 Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance Season breakdown

Arts Mosaic

November 3-4, 2023 – 7:30 p.m

November 4, 2023 – 2:00 p.m

Guidrey Center

Enjoy select student works and collaborations, integrating dance, theatre, music, film and much more. Join us as we celebrate the diversity of the arts on the Dean College campus.

Faculty Dance Works 

December 7-8, 2023 – 7:30 p.m

Main Stage

Join us for two energetic and exciting evenings of dance, featuring outstanding works conceived by the Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance faculty and renowned guest artists. Dean College Dance students will perform in a diverse variety of dance styles, from modern dance to ballet to tap and more.

Choreographers’ Concert

March 22-23, 2024 – 7:30 p.m

Main Stage 

Student choreographers will have selected works showcased and adjudicated by renowned industry professionals in this two-night opportunity. You will have the chance to see the creative talents of emerging student choreographers in a full production setting. Friday evening’s presentation will feature live commentary from the guest artists following each work, while the program will be reprised as a regular concert on Saturday evening.

Dance Company 

April 25-27, 2024 – 7:30 p.m

April 27-28, 2024 – 2:00 p.m

Main Stage

Award-winning faculty and guest choreographers showcase the impressive talent of our dance majors through a mixed bill of new and restaged dance works, ranging in style from hip-hop to jazz dance, tap to modern and ballet. 

To learn more about performances, venue policies, and to purchase tickets, visit www.dean.edu/boxoffice.