UB Theatre and Dance Announces Fall 2026 Season

Join the University at Buffalo Department of Theatre and Dance for a season of dance, musicals and drama. Nationally recognized directors, choreographers and faculty work with emerging student talent to produce innovative original productions that entertain audiences and explore the human condition. The 2026–2027 season includes performances at the UB Center for the Arts and at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, both on UB North campus.

The UB Theatre and Dance 2026–2027 season is sponsored in part by Fox Run at Orchard Park, celebrating its eighth year in support of the department.

Ticket prices for all shows

$25 Adults | $20 Seniors/Veterans/UB Employees
$15 Students/Children | $10 UB Students
(Ticketmaster fees apply when purchasing online.)

By Hansol Jung
Directed by Janet Werther
Oct. 2–3 | 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3–4 | 2 p.m.
UB Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre
Tickets

“Wolf Play” premiered at several theatres in 2019 and 2020 as part of National New Play Network's rolling world premiere initiative. Premiere theatres included Artists Rep in Portland, Oregon (March 2019), The Gift Theatre in Chicago, Illinois (July 2019) and Company One Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts (February 2020). “Wolf Play” is the 2023 recipient of the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play.

“Wolf Play” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
www.concordtheatricals.com

Content Advisory: This production addresses mature themes, including issues of child welfare, unstable family dynamics and emotional distress.

By William Shakespeare
Adapted and directed by Danielle Rosvally
Oct. 8 | 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 6 | 2 p.m.
UB Katharine Cornell Theatre
Also touring locally; visit the Theatre and Dance website for off-campus performance updates.
Tickets

Shakespeare’s parable about ambition and power is brought into direct conversation with contemporary politics and the ideological fight to belong faced by Americans whose identities remain marginalized. In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth is driven mad by his lust for power and control and mounting violence eventually leads Macbeth’s Scotland to a bloody civil war. Accordingly, “Macbeth” asks us to consider what qualities a good leader needs, how leaders can have healthy relationships to the power they wield and the importance of protecting a nation from greed and corruption.

The Shakespeare Mobile Lab is an initiative launched by Danielle Rosvally, PhD, through UB’s Department of Theatre and Dance. This touring production marks the project’s first iteration. Our fall 2026 production is a streamlined, re‑mounted version of the widely popular spring 2026 production, tailored for local touring and designed to bring our work to stages throughout the greater Buffalo community.

Content Advisory: Depictions of murder and violence, including war and infanticide.

Co-Directed by Kerry Ring and Michael Deeb Weaver
Choreographers: Melanie Aceto, Kurt Adametz, Ephrat Asherie, Richard Ashworth, Michael Deeb Weaver, Madeline Dembowski, Thomas Ralabate, Kerry Ring, Jenna Zavrel

Oct. 22–23 | 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24 | 7:30 p.m.*
Oct. 25 | 2 p.m.**
UB Center for the Arts Drama Theatre
Tickets

The fall program features a diverse array of dance styles, including modern, contemporary, jazz, tap and hip hop. The concert is under the co-direction of faculty members Kerry Ring and Michael Deeb Weaver, who will also set works. Additional pieces will be created by UB Dance faculty Melanie Aceto, Kurt Adametz and Jenna Zavrel. The program also features choreography by accomplished alum Rich Ashworth ’07 and Bessie-nominated guest artist Ephrat Asherie.

The program is punctuated by the contributions of former UB Dance faculty member Thomas Ralabate, professor emeritus and immediate past artistic director of ZDC as well as Madeline Dembowski, third-year MFA candidate. ZDC highlights the versatility and individual artistry of our dance majors through faculty-driven creative research and collaborations with the Theatre Design/Technology program.

Special Experiences:
- Studio Night Out | Oct. 24: Dance studios—10 tickets for $100 and your studio name on the big screen!
- UB Dance Day | Oct. 25: All standard ticketing options are available plus a special $35 UB Dance Day Ticket, which includes:   

• A participatory pre-show workshop for ages 14 and up in the UB Center for the Arts Dance Studios (Rooms B82 and B82 in the basement of building).  Arrive at noon in the hallway outside of the Dance Studios (rooms B82 and B84) for check-in.
• A dance class focusing on movement presented in the 2pm performance and observation of company warm up, plus Q and A with UB dance majors. No specific dancewear required. Come dressed to move!
• Admission to Zodiaque Dance Company 52

Group Sales for Studio Night Out: rjf3@buffalo.edu

UB Dance Day Info: kring2@buffalo.edu

WARNING: This production contains haze, as well as moving, strobing and flashing lights.

Directed by Sarah Bray and Ty Burgess as part of our Student Directed Series
Nov. 7 | 7:30 p.m.
UB Katharine Cornell Theatre
Tickets

Theatre students Sarah Bray and Ty Burgess will host the 4th Annual Shakespeare Showcase, featuring undergraduate student performers. The informal, approximately hour-long program includes a compilation of monologues, sonnets and scenes from across Shakespeare's works.

Directed by Jenna Zavrel
Choreographers: Alyvia Christensen, Erinn Cosgrove, Erin Devine, Ella Hankinson, Kendra Jones, Grace Lamanna, Mackenzie Leone, Kira Sethi

Nov. 13–14 | 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 14–15 | 2 p.m.
UB Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre
Tickets

Celebrating diversity in both genre and theme, Emerging Choreographers Showcase features new dance works created and performed by BA, BFA and MFA dance majors. Student choreographers receive close faculty mentorship and collaborate with student lighting designers, sound designers, costumers and technicians.

WARNING: This production contains haze, as well as moving, strobing and flashing lights.

Book by Joe Tracz
Music and Lyrics by Rob Rokicki
Adapted from the book “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan
Directed by Mason Beggs
Choreography by Madeline Dembowski
Music Direction by Matt Marco

Nov. 20–21 | 7:30 p.m.
Nov.  21–22 | 2 p.m.
Morning Program: Nov. 20 | 10 a.m.*
UB Center for the Arts Drama Theatre
Tickets

Adapted from the best-selling book “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” is an action-packed mythical adventure “worthy of the gods” (Time Out New York).

*The general public is welcome to attend the morning program. Tickets may be purchased online or in person at the Box Office. Schools, senior centers and other groups can purchase discounted tickets for $8 each. To reserve, please contact rjf3@buffalo.edu. Backstage tours for groups are available upon request.

“The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
www.concordtheatricals.com

Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences; approximate 2-hour run time.
Content Advisory: Contains fantasy action, mythological themes and moments of peril.
WARNING: This production contains fog and haze, as well as moving, strobing and flashing lights.

Directed by Madeline Dembowski
Faculty Mentor: Anne Burnidge
Choreographers: Ava Basset, Alyvia Christensen, Madeline Dembowski, Samantha Oliver, Miranda Spada

Dec. 4–5 | 7:30 p.m.
UB Katharine Cornell Theatre
Tickets

The MFA Dance Showcase offers a peek into the creative process of dancemaking, featuring works in various stages of completion from current MFA Dance students. The works are often generated collaboratively with other artists and the Showcase offers a space for choreographers to experiment and innovate movement-based performance. The concert is under the direction of MFA students, with faculty supervision by Anne Burnidge, director of dance and associate professor of dance studies.

UB’s dance program is built upon the belief that dance is a fundamental expression of humanity with the ability to inform, transform, reflect upon and lead local and global change in the 21^st century. With close faculty mentorship and numerous opportunities to create and present work, MFA Dance students engage in advanced practical, theoretical and critical inquiry while honing their abilities as artists, dance makers, educators, writers, innovators, scholars, policy makers and leaders.

WARNING: This production contains haze, as well as moving, strobing and flashing lights.