Dramatically Speaking: Working together

Jamie Ulmer • October 15, 2024

Collaboration and community on display

Creating theatre is all about collaboration, and that has been especially evident at TL over the past few weeks.

First, the cast of “Young Frankenstein” demonstrated incredible teamwork. When illness kept some actors and crew from performing, everyone pulled together to cover roles and keep backstage operations running smoothly. Bravo to everyone involved for showing that the show truly must go on!

Next, we partnered with the enthusiastic artists from the newly formed Bicycle Face Productions. Their presentation of new 10-minute works by local playwrights—graduates of TL’s playwrighting workshop over the past year—was a fantastic showcase of the creative energy alive in our community.

Finally, we want to extend a heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to our recent fundraising concert featuring Yesterday and Today: The Beatles Interactive Experience. With a new format and date, this event was a departure from our traditional fundraiser (Dueling), but thanks to everyone in the audience and behind the scenes, we raised funds to support the theatre, particularly The Penguin Project.

All of this success is a result of extraordinary collaboration—on stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience. Together, we continue to prove just how much the community is at the heart of everything we do.

See you at the theatre,

Jamie Ulmer

Executive Director

Dramatically speaking is a monthly blog by TL's executive director. This column also appears in our weekly e-newsletter.

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Theatre Lawrence News & Announcements

Next to Normal starts season journey

By Jamie Ulmer • September 8, 2025

Welcome to the 2025–2026 Theatre Lawrence Season! This year promises a wide variety of theatrical destinations designed to entertain, expand, and enliven audiences and participants alike. We begin our journey with the Pulitzer Prize–winning musical Next to Normal . This groundbreaking work opened on Broadway in 2009, after first appearing as a 10-minute workshop in 1998. An unconventional topic for a musical, the show centers on a family navigating grief and mental health. In her book Feeling Pain is Normal, Rebecca Cecilia Kidwell writes, “Next to Normal provides a safe community for grief. Many of the audience members have experienced loss, and many of them will cry and hug each other—even if they are strangers—because they finally feel that someone is permitting them to be open with their emotions.” Paired with a contemporary rock score, the show asks honest, sometimes uncomfortable, questions. In rehearsals, we’ve reflected on how the themes and emotions explored by the characters are universal, reaching beyond the specific circumstances of the script. The excitement in our acting community has been remarkable: over 70 performers auditioned for this six-person cast. Casting was both a challenge and a gift, resulting in a group of performers who are giving their all every night as we explore this complex, rewarding material together. All of this makes me truly excited to share Next to Normal with you. Theatre offers the unique opportunity to share an experience—even when it is challenging. We thank you for joining us on this journey and encourage you to talk with one another, share your feelings, and seek support if this story resonates deeply with you. Enjoy the show! Jamie Ulmer Executive Director