Actors Theatre Brings Back Holiday Classic For ’25-26 Season

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 8, 2025) –Actors Theatre of Louisville unveiled its 2025-26 season, a lineup of inventive new works, daring theatrical collaborations, and the return of a holiday classic. From Shakespeare to the underworld, the season invites audiences to gather for unforgettable stories rooted in creativity, connection, and community.

"We are thrilled to announce this season full of magic, music, and memories," shares Interim Artistic Director Amelia Acosta Powell. "From reimagining Actors Theatre of Louisville's beloved holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol, to premiering brand new plays and welcoming some familiar figures like Shakespeare and Franklin Delano Roosevelt in fresh, surprising ways, this season has something wondrous to offer for theatre aficionados and first-time audience members alike."

This season’s performances include:
Dreamgirls
Dates: September 19–28, 2025
The iconic musical about ambition, fame, and the cost of success takes the stage with powerhouse vocals and dazzling performances.

FDR’s Very Happy Hour (World Premiere)
Dates: October 15–26, 2025
Inspired by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s daily cocktail hours, this immersive play blends humor and history to explore civic connection in divisive times. Created by Regan Linton and M. Graham Smith, it’s designed with accessibility in mind, honoring FDR’s own use of a wheelchair.

Dead as a Dodo
Dates: October 30 – November 9, 2025
From the Obie Award-winning Wakka Wakka company, this fantastical journey through the underworld features puppetry, music, and visual magic. A dodo and a boy—both skeletons—navigate a surreal realm in a battle between extinction and existence.

A Christmas Carol
Dates: December 5–21, 2025
The cherished holiday classic returns to the stage, bringing warmth, redemption, and festive spirit to Louisville audiences once again.

Emma
Dates: January 9–17, 2026
Jane Austen’s beloved heroine comes to life in this charming adaptation, full of wit, matchmaking mischief, and romantic entanglements.

To help with planning a trip to Louisville for the Actors Theatre season, guests can download a copy of Louisville Tourism’s annual Visitor Guide to see the city's top attractions and bourbon distilleries.