Circle Theatre’s thrilling 45th Season, ICONIC, dives headfirst into exploring the power, pressure, and paradox of what we consider “iconic.”
Included in this Season are shows, ideas, and icons that shaped generations. They are stories that are timeless and continuously remind us of what it means to be human. From Janis Joplin to LeBron James, from teenage obsession to family secrets, from Alanis Morissette to Elton John, and finally, the incomparable Jonathan Larson... These works of art crack open the things we cling onto and examine what is hiding underneath with fervor. Through ICONIC, Circle Theatre aims to offer our patrons a season that is daring, electric, and deeply alive. It demands to be seen, heard, and felt, just as we do today. —Ashley H. White, Artistic Director
SEASON 2026: ICONIC
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT | BONUS SHOW:
A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN | BOOK BY RANDY JOHNSON | Directed by Ashley H. White+
January 29 - February 14, 2026 | Regional Premiere
A Night with Janis Joplin is a vibrant, electrifying tribute to the legendary rock and blues singer, celebrating her life, her influences, and the raw power of her music. Through a concert-style journey, Janis shares the stage with the voices of trailblazing women who shaped her sound—from Aretha Franklin to Bessie Smith. It’s a soul-stirring night of music, memories, and the unapologetic spirit of a true original.
*contains adult language and situations*
KING JAMES | BY RAJIV JOSEPH | Directed by Cherish Love Robinson*
March 5 - March 28, 2026 | Regional Premiere
King James by Rajiv Joseph is a sharp, heartfelt play about the unlikely bond between two men brought together—and pulled apart—by their shared love of basketball and the rise of LeBron James. Written by Pulitzer Prize Finalist playwright Rajiv Joseph, this piece is set over the course of nearly two decades, the play traces the evolution of their friendship alongside the highs and lows of a sports dynasty. It’s a funny, moving exploration of loyalty, identity, and the connections we build through fandom.
*contains adult language and situations*
%20(1).png)
RENT | BY JONATHAN LARSON | Directed by Garrett Storms
April 17 – May 10, 2025 | Regional Premiere
RENT by Jonathan Larson is a groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize and four time Tony Award Winning rock musical by Jonathan Larson that follows a group of young artists struggling to survive, create, and love in New York City under the shadow of poverty and the AIDS crisis. Set in the late 1980s, the show captures the urgency of a generation living without guarantees and fighting to hold onto their dreams. With its iconic score and message of community, resilience, and “no day but today,” RENT remains a powerful anthem for chosen family and living life on your own terms.
*contains adult language and situations*
Alanis Morissette's JAGGED LITTLE PILL | By Alanis Morissette + Diablo Cody
Directed by Ashley H. White+ | Music Directed by Cherish Love Robinson*
June 25 – July 18, 2026 | Regional Premiere
Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette and Diablo Cody is a Grammy And Tony Award Winning powerful rock musical inspired by Alanis Morissette’s iconic album, weaving together the lives of a seemingly perfect suburban family as they confront buried trauma, addiction, identity, and the struggle for authenticity. With a searing original story by Diablo Cody and songs that defined a generation, the show channels raw emotion into a celebration of resilience and healing. It’s a bold, urgent, and cathartic theatrical experience that asks what it takes to truly feel and be seen.
*contains adult language and situations*
.png)
I'M GONNA MARRY YOU TOBEY MAGUIRE | BY SAMANTHA HURLEY | Directed by Alejandro Saucedo
August 20 - September 12, 2026 | Regional Premiere
I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire by Samantha Hurley is a darkly funny, poignant coming-of-age play by Samantha Hurley that follows a teenage girl in the early 2000s whose obsession with actor Tobey Maguire becomes a lifeline during a time of personal crisis. Blending pop culture, fantasy, and raw emotional truth, the play explores how celebrity fixation can serve as both escape and self-discovery. It’s a bold, surreal look at adolescence, identity, and the blurred lines between reality and the worlds we build to survive.
*contains adult language and situations*
THE LEOPARD PLAY or sad songs for lost boys | By Issac Gomez | Directed by Sasha Maya Ada
October 15 - November 7, 2026 | Regional Premiere
The Leopard Play, or sad songs for lost boys by Isaac Gomez is a haunting and lyrical exploration of masculinity, lineage, and the scars we inherit. Set in a small Texas town, the play follows a young man as he returns home to confront family secrets, generational trauma, and the ghosts of who he might have been. Blending magical realism with raw intimacy, it’s a deeply personal story about love, identity, and the longing to break free from cycles that bind us.
*contains adult language and situations*
