CHICAGO — The Theatre School at DePaul University is proud to announce its 2026-27 season, A Season of Childlike Wonder, featuring six productions that explore imagination, identity, family, memory and the experiences that shape how we see the world.
All productions are open to the public and will take place on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus in The Theatre School’s state-of-the-art performance spaces. Spanning fall 2026 through spring 2027, the season includes Coya Paz’s world-premiere adaptation of “Peter Pan,” Brian Friel’s poignant “Dancing at Lughnasa,” Young Jean Lee’s irreverent “Lear,” and the world premiere of Gene Berg’s “The Puppet Show” as part of the New Playwrights Series.
Also this season, Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences will present two plays in Lincoln Park: the Chicago-set world premiere of “A Map of Me,” by Jeremy Ohringer and the imaginative “Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress,” by Juliany Tavera.
Founded as the Goodman School of Drama in 1925, The Theatre School has a more than century-long legacy of training emerging theatre artists through rigorous conservatory education and professional production experience.
A Map of Me
Oct. 24-Nov. 7, 2026
Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences in the Healy Theatre
The season begins with “A Map of Me,” a Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences production written by Theatre School faculty member Jeremy Ohringer and directed by fellow faculty member Alex Mallory. Map enthusiast and fifth-grader Ben Isaac is coping with the loss of his grandmother when he discovers a mysterious map in her coat pocket. Together with his babysitter, Ben sets off across Chicago to visit the locations she marked, encountering the city’s history, communities and culture along the way. Inventive, ensemble-driven and rich with humor and heart, “A Map of Me” is a vibrant story about identity, grief and the communities that shape us. The world premiere was developed as part of the Cunningham Commission for Youth Theatre and continues Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences’ more than century-long legacy, which began as the Goodman Children’s Theatre in 1925.
Peter Pan
Nov. 6-14, 2026
The Watts Theatre
Fall continues with a hauntingly playful new take on J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan,” adapted by faculty member Coya Paz and directed by Paz and senior Sofi Olona, who is enrolled in the BFA in Theatre Arts program. Peeling back the fantastical whimsy of Neverland to reveal the true cost of never growing up, the production follows the Darling children through adventures, pirates, testy fairies and an ever-so-cocky Peter Pan as they grapple with the thinning veil between playing pretend and a dangerous reality. The production marks the World Premiere of this adaptation by Paz, associate dean and head of theatre arts, and a significant Theatre School milestone as Olona becomes the first BFA student to direct a mainstage production at The Theatre School at DePaul University. “Peter Pan” previews Nov. 4 and runs Nov. 6-14. Post-show discussions will take place Nov. 8 and Nov. 13, with an ASL-interpreted, audio-described performance and touch tour Nov. 14.
Dancing at Lughnasa
Feb. 12-21, 2027
The Watts Theatre
The winter season opens with Brian Friel’s “Dancing at Lughnasa,” directed by faculty member Patrice Egleston. Set against the backdrop of 1930s Ireland, the poignant and lyrical memory play follows the Mundy sisters as they navigate love, faith, family and a rapidly changing world. As the sounds of a radio fill their home, long-held hopes and tensions begin to surface in a moving celebration of family, memory and the unexpected moments of joy that stay with us. “Dancing at Lughnasa” previews Feb. 10 and runs Feb. 12-21. An ASL-interpreted, audio-described performance and touch tour will take place Feb. 20.
Lear
Feb. 26-March 7, 2027
The Healy Theatre
Next, The Theatre School presents “Lear” by Young Jean Lee, directed by Carlos Murillo, chair of Theatre Studies at DePaul. In Lee’s brash, Brechtian and irreverent riff on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, “Lear” hopscotches from an Elizabethan court to Sesame Street while exploring timeless and deeply human themes of mortality, grief, identity and family responsibility. Funny, unexpected and highly theatrical, this is definitely not your father’s “King Lear.” “Lear” previews Feb. 24 and runs Feb. 26-March 7. Post-show discussions will take place Feb. 28 and March 5, with an ASL-interpreted performance March 6.
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress
May 8-22, 2027
Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences in the Watts Theatre
Spring brings “Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress,” a Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences production by Juliany Taveras and directed by Reza Mirsajadi, head of the BA in Theatre program at DePaul. Audiences are invited into Morris Micklewhite’s cosmic space jungle wonderland as he discovers a stunning tangerine dress in his school’s dress-up drawer and lets his imagination transform him into an astronaut. When not all of his classmates can see his vision, Morris must find the courage to remain true to himself. Confronting gender norms while encouraging children to embrace who they are and dream freely, “Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress” runs May 8- 22, 2027, in the Watts Theatre. Special programming includes a post-show discussion on May 8, a post-show discussion and sensory-friendly performance on May 15, and an ASL-interpreted and audio-described performance on May 22.
The Puppet Show
May 21-30, 2027
The Healy Theatre
Rounding out the 2026-27 season is the world premiere of “The Puppet Show,” written by Theatre School student Gene Berg and directed by faculty member Katrina Dion. The production was selected for DePaul’s New Playwrights Series, which brings original works by fourth-year BFA playwriting students to the mainstage as fully realized world premieres, selected by faculty and developed through professional collaboration. After a year of residential therapy, El returns home to find their life different in ways they did not expect. Unable to draw and struggling to cope, they seek comfort in Seth, a man they meet at therapy, while a young puppet named Banana tries to discover what love is. After Seth offers El acid in an attempt to cure their artist’s block, their relationship begins to spiral. A dark comedy examining how we define love and the ways we choose to seek it out, “The Puppet Show” previews May 19 and runs May 21-30 in the Healy Theatre.
Tickets and Information
Regular tickets for the 2026-27 season are $30, with preview tickets available for $15, student tickets for $5, DePaul faculty and staff tickets for $15 and senior tickets for $20. Blue Demon Rush Tickets are available for $1 cash only. Performances in the Watts Theatre and Healy Theatre take place at The Theatre School at DePaul University, 2350 N. Racine Ave., Chicago, IL 60614. For tickets, performance information and complete season details, visit theatre.depaul.edu. For the latest news, production updates and behind-the-scenes content, follow The Theatre School at DePaul University on Instagram @theatreschooldepaul and Facebook at The Theatre School at DePaul University.
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About DePaul University: DePaul University provides exceptional academics and real-world experiences to prepare students for a changing world. With more than 20,500 students across more than 300 academic programs, DePaul has two campus locations in Chicago. Students richly benefit from the city’s many opportunities. In turn, DePaul is one of the forces that shapes Chicago’s future. The university was founded in 1898 by the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians), a Roman Catholic religious community dedicated to following the ideals of St. Vincent de Paul. DePaul’s unique educational framework blends classroom instruction, project-based learning and community service experiences into a transformative curriculum. DePaul is one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in the Midwest and one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation. Visit https://www.depaul.edu/ to learn more.
About The Theatre School: The Theatre School at DePaul University is one of the nation’s premier theatre conservatories, dedicated to training the next generation of artists, storytellers, and creative leaders. Acclaimed as “a legendary training ground” by the Chicago Tribune, The Theatre School was founded as the Goodman School of Drama in 1925 and joined DePaul University in 1978.
About Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences: Founded as the Goodman Children's Theatre in 1925 and recognized as a pioneer of theatre for families, Chicago Playworks welcomes more than 25,000 students and families to our highly celebrated productions each season. Today we are dedicated to reflecting our audience's experience in an urban, contemporary and multi-racial environment.