It's the busiest time of the year

Jamie Ulmer • November 19, 2024

So much to do, and so much to be thankful for

We’re about to enter what is probably the busiest time of year. That mad dash between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. Filled with pumpkin spice everything, endless rolls of wrapping paper, and bottles of bubbly (followed by resolutions to never have bottles of bubbly again).

It is also a busy time at Theatre Lawrence. Our massive holiday musical “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is about to open for a three-week run. We’re currently casting our first regular season show of 2025, “Native Gardens.” We’re also about to audition our concert staging of “Sunday in the Park with George.” That’s on top of our youth and education programs, and regular day-to-day operations.

We are truly thankful and appreciative of our entire community. Without your support in the audience, as volunteers, and financially, Theatre Lawrence would be a shadow of what we are today. So, we give thanks to you, and hope you are able to take a breath (catch a show) and enjoy this the most busiest wonderful time of the year.

See you at the theatre,
Jamie Ulmer

Executive Director

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Mail

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