2026 North Coast Theatre and Dance Festival
Tragedy Sound
May 14-16, 2026
Panowski Playwriting Award Winner!
Becky, Billie, and Mariel are three lifelong friends in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. When the three young women accept a dare and embark on a canoe trek in frigid waters, they find themselves stranded in the middle of Lake Superior. Dangerous conditions prevail forcing them to face the choices they've made and the trappings of life in their hometown. A story about female friendship, motherhood, and the secrets we keep.
PANOWSKI BLACK BOX THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1HR 30 MINS | NO INTERMISSION
Drag Cabaret
May 29-30, 2026
A Pride Celebration Event!
Join NMU Theatre and Dance for a drag cabaret to start Pride Month! Celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in Marquette and beyond as performers make the stage their own.
PANOWSKI BLACK BOX THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2HRS | 15min Intermission
North Coast Dance Festival
June 24, 2026: Jazz Master Class with Nan Giordano of Giordano Dance Chicago; 6:30-8:00PM (Registration is required and will open June 1)
June 25-26, 2026: Performances, 7:30PM
5th Annual Dance Festival
Join us for the 5th Annual North Coast Dance Festival, a spectacular celebration of dance! Professional dancers from across the country will gather alongside the NMU CO/LAB Dance Company for engaging educational experiences and mesmerizing performances. Don't miss this unforgettable event filled with grace, talent, and artistry. We thrilled to welcome back Giordano Dance Chicago, who will be performing two dynamic concert jazz pieces, Dumb Luck! (musical theatre) and Sabroso (ballroom), and professional ballet dancers, Julia Feldman and Mate Szentes.
This event is generously supported by the Siril Endowment for the Arts.
FOREST ROBERTS THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1HR 15MIN
Wildcat Theatre Follies
September 4-6, 2025
A Celebration of NMU's Brightest Stars!
We’re back, Wildcats! Enjoy a beginning-of-the-year showcase of our theatre and dance students featuring a collection of scenes, songs, monologues, and dance pieces.
For your enjoyment, this year we will include an indoor and outdoor venue with the first act in the Panowski Black Box Theatre and the second act right outside the theater in our outdoor tent packed with seating, cocktail tables, and a spectacular stage set up! There will also be a cash bar and desserts throughout all evening performances!
PANOWSKI BLACK BOX THEATRE & OUTDOOR TENT
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1HR 30MINS | 15min Intermission
Come From Away
September 24-26 & October 1-3, 2026
Come From Away is based on the true story of the time when the isolated community of Gander, Newfoundland, played host to the world. What started as an average day in a small town turned into an international sleepover, when 38 planes, carrying thousands of people from around the globe, were diverted to Gander’s airstrip on September 11, 2001. Undaunted by culture clashes and language barriers, the people of Gander cheered the stranded travelers with music, an open bar and the recognition that we’re all part of a global family.
FOREST ROBERTS THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1HR 40MINS | 15min Intermission
The Rocky Horror Show
October 22-24, 2026
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Richard O'Brien
This cult classic humorously pays homage to B movies from the science fiction and horror genres spanning the 1930s to the early 1960s. The plot follows a newly engaged couple who, after being caught in a storm, find themselves at the mansion of a flamboyant transvestite scientist, Dr. Frank-N-Furter. There, they encounter his latest creation, Rocky—a Frankenstein-like figure who is a fully grown, physically perfect muscle man with blonde hair and a tan.
FOREST ROBERTS THEATRE
MEANT FOR A MATURE AUDIENCE, INTENSE ADULT THEMES AND LANGUAGE | APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1 HR 45 MINS | NO INTERMISSION
This production is a fundraiser and is not included in the Season Ticket Package.
POTUS
October 29-31 & November 5-7, 2026
One four-letter word is about to rock 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. When the President unwittingly spins a PR nightmare into a global crisis, the seven brilliant and beleaguered women he relies upon most risk life, liberty, and the pursuit of sanity to keep the commander-in-chief out of trouble.
PANOWSKI BLACK BOX THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1HR 50MINS | 15min Intermission
The Addams Family
Superior Arts Youth Theatre
November 5-8, 2026
THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and a dilemma that’s every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family—a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before—keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.
FOREST ROBERTS THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2HRS 30MINS | 15min Intermission
A Christmas Story
December 3-5, 10-12, 2026
You’ll shoot your eye out!
Unwrap a holiday classic, just like it was the first time. Adapted from the original movie by the composers of La La Land, The Greatest Showman, and, yes, Dear Evan Hansen, this stage musical delighted Clear Space audiences years ago – and is back for a second helping. Ralphie’s got one Christmas wish: a Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time. But, with a dreaded double-dog dare, a bunny suit, a Cracker Jack prize, and a very grumpy Santa, will he make it til December 25? Relive all the nostalgic holiday fun of the movie… with some new laughs, a big heart, and just the right amount of leg lamp glow to remind you that even if they’re wildly imperfect, our families are who make the holidays special.
FOREST ROBERTS THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2HRS 30MINS | 15min Intermission
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
January 28-30, February 4-6, 2026
15-year-old Christopher stands beside his neighbor Mrs. Shears’ dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight, and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in the book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington the dog.
Christopher has an extraordinary brain and is exceptional at math, but he is ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and he distrusts strangers. But Christopher’s detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that turns his world upside-down.
FOREST ROBERTS THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2HRS 30MINS | 15min Intermission
Medieval Dinner: Immersive Theatre Experience
February 11-13, 2026
Step back in time and into medieval times—an immersive (and sometimes interactive) performance packed with madrigals, jousting, and all the turkey legs you can handle. From the comfort of your table (unless you feel inspired to get up and join in!), enjoy a lively journey as we follow along. Whether you're dancing along or just soaking it all in, this throwback celebration promises heart, humor, and a whole lot of fun.
LOCATION TBA
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1HRS 30MINS | 15min Intermission
Beetlejuice
Superior Arts Youth Theatre
March 4-7, 2026
The ghost-with-the-most comes to the stage in this edgy and irreverent musical comedy based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film. Beetlejuice tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager obsessed with the whole “being dead thing.” Lucky for Lydia, her new house is haunted by a recently deceased couple and Beetlejuice, a delightful demon with a real zest for life. When Lydia calls on Beetlejuice to scare away anyone with a pulse, this double-crossing specter shows his true stripes, unleashing a (Nether)world of pandemonium, and the biggest sandworm Broadway has ever seen.
FOREST ROBERTS THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2HRS 30MINS | 15min Intermission
A Midsummer Night's Dream & The Four Seasons
CO/LAB Dance Company
March 18-20, 2026
A CO/LAB Dance Company original ballet experience.
FOREST ROBERTS THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1HR 30MINS | 15min Intermission
Sister Act
April 8-10, 15-17, 2026
Sister Act is the feel-good musical comedy smash based on the hit 1992 film that has audiences jumping to their feet! Featuring original music by Tony- and eight-time Oscar winner, Alan Menken (Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors), this uplifting musical was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
When disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won't be a found: a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase, only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her newly found sisterhood.
Filled with powerful gospel music, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story, Sister Act will leave audiences breathless. The cast is chock full of amazing roles for women of all ages, making this a perfect choice for high schools and community theatres. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, Sister Act is reason to REJOICE!
FOREST ROBERTS THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2HRS 30MINS | 15min Intermission
Senior Showcase
April 23, 2027
One night only! Join us in celebrating the work of our Class of 2027 Graduating Seniors during this culminating showcase-style performance!
Please note that this production contains adult themes, strong language, and mature subject matter. While these elements are thoughtfully presented as part of the students’ artistic exploration and growth, the content may not be suitable for younger audiences.
FOREST ROBERTS THEATRE
APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1HR 15MIN | No Intermission