September 9, 2025 - 9:00am
Inside a theatre, as the lights dim and the spotlight reveals the stage, you become part of something bigger – an unfolding story full of emotion, energy and imagination. Fans of live theatre can expect exactly this in the University Theatre’s 2025-2026 season.
At the University of Oregon, the Miller Theatre Complex hosts an array of plays, musicals, and other drama performances. The multi-venue establishment, run by University Theatre as part of the Theatre Arts department, presents performances open to UO students and residents of Eugene alike.
Each year, the complex’s two theatres – Hope and Robinson – offer distinctive and contrasting experiences. The Hope Theatre is a small black box venue that draws the audience directly into the story. In contrast, the Robinson Theatre, originally built in the 1950s, is a traditional proscenium auditorium – with a stage and curtain – and seats up to 300 people. After undergoing renovations over the last two years as part of a bigger renovation project on campus, the Robinson Theatre is finally ready to welcome audiences again.
Janet Rose, teaching associate professor and production manager in the Theatre Arts department is excited to host big productions in the Robinson Theatre once again. “That’s our main stage, our main home,” she said. “There were a few times in the last couple of years where we put aside plays that would be better in the Robinson, and now we have it back.”
This year, the University Theatre’s season includes an exciting range of productions by Shakespeare, Jen Silverman, D.W. Gregory and Monica Sanchez. Each of the plays offers a mix of historical and contemporary themes, while also speaking of such timely issues as immigration, gender roles, and workplace safety. Best of all, every UO student gets in free – and any student, regardless of major, can audition.
“It's humans working together,” Rose said. “And I think that's one thing that we should stress more. Especially in this business-oriented world, we're producing a product, but also, we're a bunch of human beings bringing it together.”
Fall production
“The Moors” by Jen Silverman
Opens November 7 – Hope Theatre
Directed by Tricia Rodley
In a dark and comedic play written by Jen Silverman, somewhere in the bleak, windswept countryside of England in the 19th century, two sisters live in a decaying manor, far removed from industrious life.
When a young governess arrives from the big city, the sisters are led down a dark and twisted reality filled with yearning for love and an obsession with power.
The award-winning play draws heavily on themes presented in the works of acclaimed novelists, the Brontë sisters, mirroring modern gothic ideas of isolation and desire.
Senior Instructor Tricia Rodley will direct this season opener in the intimate Hope Theatre, complete with an intricate Victorian-style set. Expect twisted humor, haunting themes and a setting that places you right into the manor.
Winter production
“Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare
Opens February 13 – Robinson Theatre
Directed by Jerry Ferraccio
Shakespeare’s classic about gossip, deception and sharp-tongued lovers never gets old.
His 1600s comedy, “Much Ado About Nothing,” is a complicated yet deeply encapsulating play, packed with clever banter and unexpected twists. Beneath the comedic value lies a deeper commentary about gender roles and scandals – much like what we see in the present day with social media.
“You can’t go wrong with choosing Shakespeare,” Rose said. “Especially ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ which is one of his funnier plays, but it has some serious sides as they all do.”
The play will have period-accurate sets and costumes, adding to the sense of realism and authenticity.
Guest director, Jerry Ferraccio, coordinator of Santa Fe Shakespeare Society, will bring fresh insight to the production with his vast experience in classical plays.
“We thought, ‘Wow, what a great combination – to bring these new directors for the students to work with,’” Rose said. “We're really looking forward to that.”
Spring production
“Radium Girls” by D.W. Gregory
Opens April 17 – Hope Theatre
Directed by Willow Jade Norton Zolan
In the 1920s, no one knew why the women who were painting the dials on clocks were glowing – then dying. Workers often painted with a radium-based coat, and at the time, health experts were unaware of its cancer-inducing effects.
Based on a true story, D.W. Gregory’s play follows five factory-working women who sued their employers because of their exposure to radium.
Though set over a century ago, this play explores modern themes such as medical exploitation, labor rights and gender inequality.
Since its debut in 2000, D.W. Gregory’s play has earned national acclaim, receiving numerous awards and being reproduced in theatres nationwide.
For this production, the university called upon award-winning guest director Willow Jade Norton Zolan, an Oregon-based theatre director and producer. She has worked in numerous cities across the US, including Seattle, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York City and Eugene.
“We’ve seen Willow Norton work in town,” Rose said. “She's directed at the Oregon Contemporary Theatre, and she’s got a great background. I think this will be a huge benefit for students to get to work with her.”
Spring production
“Los Dreamers” by Monica Sanchez
Opens May 22 – Robinson Theatre
Directed by Malek Najjar
It’s been several years since the University of Oregon hosted a Latine-centered production, according to theatre arts professor and director Malek Najjar.
At a time when Hispanic communities are facing serious obstacles when it comes to birthright citizenship, DACA recipients and mass deportation, the faculty committee selecting this season’s shows wanted something to address these issues head on.
Los Dreamers, written by Latina playwright Mónica Sánchez, follows Scoobi, a DACA recipient and a law student navigating national identity, immigration and other personal struggles. Petra, her mother, and a former revolutionary, is also undocumented. Scoobi’s husband, Dylan, is her ticket to US citizenship. This odd triad navigates personal and political borders. Other interesting characters appear, like Roko, Scoobi's dead soldier-ghost soulmate, who will haunt the play.
This will be the first full production of Los Dreamers, and it will open on May 22 in the 300-seat Robinson Theatre. “This gives us an opportunity to do a big staging of this play,” said Najjar.
He hopes this play will resonate with Latine students and encourages them to both attend and audition. “This is an opportunity for our Latine students to play Latine characters on stage, to share their cultural specificity, to express themselves in Spanish onstage,” he said.
As for outreach, Najjar wants to find important places in the Latine community to talk with the residents, hand out bilingual flyers and encourage them to attend the production.
“The play asks really important questions: what does it mean to be born here and to be considered "illegal" by some ? What do those who immigrate here do when they are in constant fear of deportation? How does one survive when ICE is a constant threat knocking on one's door? What does the future hold for a nation of immigrants that swings between nativism and open-door policies?” Najjar said. “I'm excited to direct a play that focuses on the lives of Latine students at the University of Oregon.”
Find details on the shows and tickets at University Theatre’s website.
—By Leo Brown, College of Arts and Sciences