Theater J Announces 2026–2027 Season
Theater J announced its 2026–2027 season, a dynamic lineup of five productions that traverse centuries and continents to explore friendship, identity, love, and the transformative power of human connection. From Belarus to Brooklyn, Pittsburgh to Pakistan, and Cuba to California, this season invites audiences into stories that illuminate both the complexities of our past and the urgent questions of our present.
“We are thrilled to welcome audiences to our 36th season,” said Artistic Director Hayley Finn. “These plays explore the enduring power of friendship, the complexities of love, and the moments that shape who we are and who we become. Each story reminds us how courage, creativity, and connection can inspire change.”
The season opens with the DC premiere of The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk by Daniel Jamieson, a visually stunning and deeply moving portrait of Marc and Bella Chagall set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution. Blending paintings, poetry, and history, the play offers a valentine to artistic imagination and the transformative power of love.
In December, Theater J presents Tropical Secrets, adapted by LM Feldman from Margarita Engle’s poetic novel. This mesmerizing story for ages 8 and up follows Daniel, a young Jewish refugee fleeing Nazi Germany who arrives in Havana and forms a powerful friendship with a Cuban girl named Paloma. Their story celebrates resilience and reminds us that young people can make a profound difference in the world.
Following his Broadway debut, Michael Shayan comes to Theater J with Avaaz, a poignant and often hilarious solo performance structured around an elegant Nowruz (Persian New Year) dinner party. As he portrays his mother Roya, Shayan explores his Iranian heritage, his family’s complicated history, and the journey that brought his family from Iran to the United States.
In March, Theater J will present the world premiere of American Girls, commissioned by the company and written by Emily Feldman. This coming-of-age story follows two friends navigating the cultural touchstones of Millennial girlhood as their decades-long friendship evolves. Feldman’s play asks a timeless question: can a love born in innocence survive everything that comes after?
The season concludes in June with the DC premiere of Becoming Eve, adapted by Emil Weinstein from the critically acclaimed memoir by Abby Chava Stein. The play tells the remarkable story of Stein’s journey growing up in a prominent Hasidic rabbinical dynasty and her decision to live openly as a transgender woman. As three rabbis debate how to reconcile tradition with identity, the play invites audiences to consider how ancient texts can be understood in new ways.
“The season ahead offers powerful new stories that reflect the breadth and depth of Theater J’s mission,” Finn said. “Through these extraordinary artists, we continue our commitment to producing work that illuminates the past, engages the complexity of our present moment, and strengthens our community. I look forward to welcoming audiences to the theater.”
Subscriptions are on sale now at theaterj.org or call the ticket office at 202-777-3210. Single tickets will go on sale in August.