Perisphere Theater Unveils 2026 Season
Perisphere Theater, based in Montgomery County, has revealed its slate for the 2026 season, signaling an ambitious year ahead. The company will present two works at The Writer's Center in Bethesda: the acclaimed Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson and a bold new solo piece titled I Know How To Curse: a re-blackening of Shakespeare, penned and performed by Perisphere's co-artistic director, Gerrad Alex Taylor.
The season will open with Silent Sky, under the direction of Susan Stroupe of Submersive Productions. Gunderson's play traces the true story of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, a hearing-impaired mathematician in early twentieth-century Wisconsin who struggles with her place in the cosmos while working as a human "computer" at the Harvard Observatory. Leavitt's story raises questions about how to balance personal ambition with earthly obligations, and about the role of women in science and society at a time when even touching a telescope was not permitted for her. In Perisphere's production, Silent Sky will run from January 30 to February 14, 2026, with the company's co-artistic director Lizzi Albert in the lead role of Henrietta.
Later in the spring, Perisphere premieres I Know How To Curse: a re-blackening of Shakespeare, a single-performer piece confronting the legacy of minstrelsy in American theater and examining how Black actors are seen — or unseen — within the classical canon. Drawing on the structure of a minstrel show, the work reclaims Shakespearean forms by subverting expectations and challenging audiences to reconsider how race has shaped theatrical practice. Nigel Semaj will direct Taylor in his solo show debut, and the piece will run April 3–25, 2026.
These two productions reflect Perisphere’s ongoing commitment to exploring stories both historical and structural. Since its founding in 2015 by Heather Benjamin, the company has focused on plays that probe personal and collective history, especially those voices left out of traditional narratives. In its mission statement, Perisphere emphasizes wanting audiences to emerge with a deeper appreciation for history — and for perspectives often marginalized in its retelling. In recognition of its work, the Washington Post included Perisphere in a 2023 roundup of small companies “worth bookmarking” for its thought-provoking productions.
By pairing a lyrical biographical drama about a pioneering woman scientist with a searing theatrical intervention on race and dramaturgy, Perisphere’s 2026 season promises both emotional breadth and intellectual rigor. For local audiences in the DMV, the season will unfold in Bethesda beginning early in the year — a welcome invitation to witness diverse stories told with curiosity and urgency.