The Hartt School Theatre Division at the University of Hartford announces its Fall 2026 season, featuring four productions presented across the Millard, McCray, and Lincoln theaters.
From contemporary political satire and classic drama to two ambitious musicals, the season invites audiences to experience stories that challenge assumptions, celebrate individuality, and examine the forces that bring people together, or drive them apart.
“Our students are approaching this season with courage, curiosity, and tremendous artistic commitment,” said Kevin Ramsey, director of the Theatre Division. “Each production asks urgent questions about identity, belonging, freedom, responsibility, and the kind of society we want to build.”
O Beautiful
By Theresa Rebeck
Mainstage Play | Millard Theater
Oct. 1–4
Theresa Rebeck’s provocative play examines the fractures within contemporary American life through a collision of political debate, religious belief, historical figures, and adolescent experience. At once darkly comic and deeply unsettling, O Beautiful asks what happens when a nation’s ideals collide with its lived realities.
The production is co-directed by Kevin Ramsey and Christopher Andrew Rowe.
The Children’s Hour
By Lillian Hellman
Studio Play | McCray Theater
Oct. 22–25
A malicious lie changes the lives of two women who operate a private school in Lillian Hellman’s landmark drama. Written in 1934, The Children’s Hour remains a powerful examination of rumor, fear, social judgment, and the devastating consequences of weaponizing falsehood.
The production is directed by Annmarie Kelley Davis.
Hair
Book and Lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado
Music by Galt MacDermot
Mainstage Musical | Lincoln Theater
Oct. 29–Nov. 1
The groundbreaking American tribal love-rock musical comes to the Hartt stage with its enduring call for peace, freedom, and social change. Through an electrifying score—including “Aquarius,” “Good Morning Starshine,” and “Let the Sunshine In”—Hair follows a community of young people searching for identity and purpose amid political unrest and cultural transformation.
The production is directed and choreographed by Ralph Perkins.
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Dave Malloy
Adapted from War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Studio Musical | McCray Theater
Nov. 17–20
Inspired by a section of Tolstoy’s War and Peace, this innovative musical transforms a story of romance, betrayal, and redemption into an immersive theatrical experience. Dave Malloy’s vibrant score blends Russian folk and classical music with indie rock, pop, and electronic influences.
The production is directed by Michael O’Flaherty and choreographed by Taylor Zappone.
The Hartt School Theatre Division’s Fall 2026 season reflects its commitment to bold storytelling, rigorous conservatory training, and theatre that engages with the world beyond the stage.
Stories That Challenge. Music That Moves. Theatre That Matters.
Tickets and additional information are available at hartford.edu/boxoffice.