Spring into theatre fun!

Jamie Ulmer • April 15, 2025

Spring is always an exciting time. We get more hours of sunlight, the landscape transforms from brown and gray to vibrant shades of green, and everyone just seems a little bit happier. It’s also an exciting time at Theatre Lawrence!

This week, we officially announced our 2025–2026 regular season—a fantastic mix of beloved classics and fresh contemporary hits. Get ready for plenty of laughs, catchy music, and stories that entertain while also offering something to reflect on. Early bird season tickets and renewals will be available very soon!

But let’s not forget everything happening in our current season. Audiences are loving the fast-paced comedy of Clue—so much so that we’ve already added another performance! And coming up, Escape to Margaritaville will soon begin rehearsals. It’s the perfect way to kick off a fun, laid-back summer. (Spoiler alert: there’s a new machine in the bar—can you guess what one of the specialty drinks will be?)

Speaking of summer, it’s not too early to plan for the kids. Our summer classes are enrolling now, and several are already more than halfway full!

So get outside, soak up that sunshine, and be sure to enjoy everything Theatre Lawrence is bringing to life this spring.

See you at the theatre,

Jamie Ulmer

Executive Director

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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