Belhaven University Theatre is excited to offer a diverse set of theatrical experiences this season. We hope that you will join us!
Videos can also be viewed on our Theatre Playlist.
To reserve tickets for any Belhaven Theatre production, please call 601-974-6478 or email your request to boxoffice@belhaven.edu with the following information:
- Date and time of show(s) for which you wish to reserve tickets
- Number of tickets
- Please specify ticket type:
- Adult ($10)
- Student/Senior ($5)
- Belhaven Student
- Belhaven Faculty/Staff
- Family member
- Name of pick-up person
Example: "I would like to reserve tickets to 'The Pirates of Penzance' for Saturday, February 15th at 7:30pm. I need 2 adult tickets and 2 student tickets. The pickup person will be Mary Jones."
Tickets may be paid for at the time of the show with cash or check.
Theatre Season 2022-2023
| Sept. 29–Oct. 1 & Oct. 6–8 7:30pm Thurs.–Sat. / 2pm Sat. Blackbox Theatre in the Center for the Arts |
The Spitfire Grill Music & Book by James Valcq Music & Lyrics by Fred Alley Directed by Jeff Allen Young Music Direction by Chrissy Hrivnak “Say what you want, say what you will. Something’s cooking at The Spitfire Grill!” Based on the acclaimed film of the same name, The Spitfire Grill offers a heartwarming story of perseverance, family, and redemption. When newcomer Percy arrives in Gilead with hopes of overcoming a difficult past, she finds a depressed, run-down town that doesn’t look at all as she’d dreamed. With a bit of elbow grease, a nationwide raffle contest, and an openness to joy, Percy and the town’s residents discover that there is, indeed, a balm in Gilead. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain. Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for students/seniors; complimentary for BU students, faculty, staff, and their immediate family members. For information or to reserve tickets, email boxoffice@belhaven.edu. |
| November 3–5 & 10–12 7:30pm Thurs.–Sat. / 2pm Sat. Blackbox Theatre in the Center for the Arts |
The Burial At Thebes by Seamus Heaney Directed by Elissa Sartwell In The Burial at Thebes, Nobel-Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney offers a stunning and profound adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone. The ancient story remains as relevant as ever, as the characters and audience are asked to consider what an individual should do when moral law and civil law are at odds. Don’t expect to see Greek columns or masks; this production brings the story of Antigone into the present day. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain. Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for students/seniors; complimentary for BU students, faculty, staff, and their immediate family members. For information or to reserve tickets, email boxoffice@belhaven.edu. |
| January 28 Saturday, 7:00 PM Center for the Arts Concert Hall |
C2 Arts Concert: Community and Collaboration This event features dance companies, schools, and ministries from the community alongside collaborative works created from the Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Art, Film, and Graphic Design Departments. General Admission, $10, Seniors/Students $5. Complimentary admission for Belhaven Faculty/Staff/Students and immediate families. Doors open at 6:30pm. |
| February 9–11 & 16–18 7:30pm Thurs.–Sat. / 2pm Sat. Blackbox Theatre in the Center for the Arts |
Suite Surrender by Michael McKeever Directed by Elissa Sartwell Two divas. One hotel suite. Countless laughs. It's 1942, and two of Hollywood's biggest divas have descended upon the luxurious Palm Beach Royale Hotel -- assistants, luggage, and legendary feud with one another in tow. Everything seems to be in order for their wartime performance...that is, until they are somehow assigned to the same suite. Mistaken identities, overblown egos, double entendres, and a lap dog named Mr. Boodles round out this hilarious riot of a love note to the classic farces of the 30s and 40s. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain. Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for students/seniors; complimentary for BU students, faculty, staff, and their immediate family members. For information or to reserve tickets, email boxoffice@belhaven.edu. |
| March 29–April 1 7:30pm Wed.–Sat. / 2pm Sat. Blackbox Theatre in the Center for the Arts |
An Evening of One Acts The Man in the Bowler Hat by A.A. Milne Directed by Lamana Stringfellow The Imaginary Cuckold by Moliere (translated by Richard Wilbur) Directed by Aleksandra Erives Belhaven senior theatre majors Lamana Stringfellow and Aleksandra Erives make their directing debuts with two one-act plays dripping with mistaken identity, plot twists, and broad physical comedy. Written by the author of Winnie the Pooh, The Man in the Bowler Hat presents a terribly exciting event that happens in the humdrum life of John and Mary. Moliere’s The Imaginary Cuckold offers a satire of honor and infidelity with accusations of betrayal flying in so many directions that it just might take some common sense to sort things out in the end. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain. Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for students/seniors; complimentary for BU students, faculty, staff, and their immediate family members. For information or to reserve tickets, email boxoffice@belhaven.edu. |
Theatre Season 2021-2022
| Sept. 29-Oct. 2 & Oct. 5-7 7:30pm Wed.-Sat. / 2pm Sat. Blackbox Theatre in the Center for the Arts |
Steel Magnolias By Robert Harling Directed by Jenna Kahley Join Ouiser, Shelby, and M’Lynn at Truvy’s Salon in the classic, heartwarming, southern comedy that is guaranteed to make you laugh, cry, and leave the theatre more grateful for the people you love. Admission is free / Reservations Required / email boxoffice@belhaven.edu to make a reservation / Reservations open beginning September 8. |
| November 11-13 & 18-20 6:30pm Thurs.-Sat. / 2pm Sat. The Commons (between Preston Hall and Fitzhugh Hall) |
Two Gentlemen of Verona By William Shakespeare Directed by Elissa Sartwell One of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, Two Gentlemen of Verona has it all: friendships, romance, outlaws, and a farting dog. Performed outdoors on Belhaven’s beautiful campus, this play reminds us that forgiveness is redemptive. Performance is outdoors / admission is free / no reservations required / seating is limited / blankets and/or lawn chairs welcome. |
| February 9-12 7:30pm Wed. – Sat. / 2pm Sat. Blackbox Theatre in the Center for the Arts |
The Twelve-Pound Look By J. M. Barrie Directed by Lizzy Delp This comedic play by author of Peter Pan will delight audiences who love wit and humor. On the eve of his knighthood, Harry Sims basks in his own sense of accomplishment. He is so certain of the congratulatory praises that he will receive from the masses that he preemptively hires a typist to write thank you notes. But when the typist arrives at Harry’s door, an uncomfortable reality check ensues. Admission is free / Reservations Required / email boxoffice@belhaven.edu to make a reservation / Reservations open beginning January 19. |
| March 31–April 2 & April 7-9 7:30pm Thurs.-Sat. / 2pm Sat. Blackbox Theatre in the Center for the Arts |
The Wizard of Oz By L. Frank Baum With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg Background Music by Herbert Stothart Directed by Elissa Sartwell With a fresh, imaginative approach, Belhaven Theatre closes its season with the classic musical that inspires each of us to have courage and heart as we find where we belong in this world. Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros. |
Theatre Season 2020-2021
| October 28-31 Streaming Online |
Check Please, by Jonathan Rand Directed by Ian Clarke Dating can be hard. Especially when your date happens to be a raging kleptomaniac, or your grandmother’s bridge partner, or a mime. Check Please follows a series of blind dates that couldn’t get any worse – until they do. Could there possibly be a light at the end of the tunnel? |
| November 4-7 Streaming Online |
The Bear, by Anton Chekhov Translated by Julius West Directed by Jenna Kahley |
| November 11-14 Streaming Online |
The Spoon River Project, by Tom Andolora Based on Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters Directed by Elissa Sartwell Music Direction by John Barnts In this beautifully haunting play based on Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology, the former residents of Spoon River examine life and the longing for what might have been. As the citizens reflect on the dreams, secrets, and regrets of their lives, they paint an honest portrait of a community. Woven together with popular songs and hymns from the turn of the century, The Spoon River Project reminds us that while life is not free of hardship, it can still be filled with joy. |
| February 17-20 Blackbox Theatre |
Silent Sky, by Lauren Gunderson Directed by Kerri Sanders Silent Sky is the poignant, inspirational, and entertaining true story of early 20th century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt. When Henri begins work at the Harvard Observatory, she isn’t allowed to touch a telescope or express an original idea. Instead, she joins a group of women “computers,” charting the stars for a renowned astronomer who calculates projects in “girl hours” and has no time for women’s probing theories. As Henrietta, in her free time, attempts to measure the light and distance of stars, she must also take measure of her life on Earth, trying to balance her dedication to science with family obligations and the possibility of love. Audiences and critics agree that Silent Sky is a beautiful, funny, poignant, and luminous play written by the nation’s most performed playwright. |
| April 8-17 Blackbox Theatre |
Pride and Prejudice, Adapted by Jon Jory From the novel by Jane Austen Directed by Elissa Sartwell All of the wit and romance of Jane Austen’s classic 1813 novel come to life in this refreshingly fast-paced and engaging new adaptation. |
Theatre Season 2019-2020
| Aug. 24 7:30 p.m. Barber Theatre |
24-Hour Theatre Event A from-zero-to-ten-minute play is created in 24 hours! Students gather on Friday and create an original piece of theatre in a single day; from idea to script to rehearsal to performance. Complimentary admission. Doors open at 7 p.m. |
| Sept. 26-28, Oct. 2-5 7:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. Saturday Matinee Blackbox Theatre |
The Fantasticks The timeless, charming story of a pair of parents who want their rebellious children to fall in love, and so pretend to feud, enlisting the help of a romantic narrator and two bumbling actors. At one time both nostalgic and universal, The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in history. Join us for this enchanting musical, a sweet fable for all ages. General Admission $10; Seniors/Students $5; Complimentary admission for Belhaven students, faculty, staff and their immediate families. Doors open 30 minutes prior to each performance. |
| October TBA Student Center |
Reading: Greg Iles Greg Iles is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of seventeen novels, including his most recent, Cemetery Road (2019). In a Washington Post book review, Bill Sheehan describes Cemetery Road as "an ambitious stand-alone thriller that...is both an absorbing crime story and an in-depth exploration of grief, betrayal and corruption in a small Southern community." In addition to writing, Iles also performs as a member of the literary musical group The Rock Bottom Remainders, which includes authors Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson, Stephen King, Scott Turow, Amy Tan, Mitch Albom, Roy Blount, Jr., Matt Groening, and James McBride. Iles grew up in Natchez, MS, where he currently lives. Complimentary admission. Open to the public. |
| Oct. 23-26, Oct. 31-Nov. 2 6:00 p.m., 10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Saturday Matinees * TBA performances held around campus and the Jackson area |
The Mysteries The Mysteries follows the medieval tradition of presenting the biblical story of the Mystery of God’s relationship to the world through a series of short plays in common language and understanding in an outdoor festival presentation. The plays range from the fantastic Creation Play to the melodramatic Abraham and Isaac to the slapstick Second Shepard’s Play to the terrifying Hell’s Mouth. Our production will recreate the festival atmosphere by performing on a pageant wagon and holding performances at several locations on our main campus. Complimentary admission. Doors open 30 minutes prior to each performance. |
| Nov. 7-9, 13-16 7:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. Saturday Matinee Blackbox Theatre |
The Illusion A lawyer, facing mortality, desperate to find the son he drove away years before, travels in the dead of night to a mysterious cave. There he engages the services of a wizard, who conjures up visions of the romantic, adventurous, perilous life the lawyer’s son has been living since his father expelled him from home. Admission $10; Seniors/Students $5; Complimentary admission for Belhaven students, faculty, staff and their immediate families. Doors open 30 minutes prior to each performance. |
| Feb. 13-15, 19-22 7:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. Saturday Matinee Blackbox Theatre |
The Women of Lockerbie By Deborah Brevoort |
| Mar. 16 5:30 p.m. Student Center |
READING: Adam Vines, Poet Adam Vines is editor of Birmingham Poetry Review and author of two books of poetry, The Coal Life (2012) and Out of Speech (2018). He also co-authored a book of poems (According to Discretion, 2015) with Allen Jih. Vines graduated with his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in English from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and received his MFA from the University of Florida. He is now an assistant professor at UAB, where he teaches poetry writing workshops. Vines has published work in Kenyon Review, Southwest Review, Poetry, and many other journals. He was named the Tennessee Williams Scholar at the 2008 Sewanee Writers’ Conference and was awarded the William Alexander II & Lisa Percy Fellowship at the Rivendell Writers’ Colony in 2017. Complimentary admission. Open to the public. |
| Apr. TBA 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Student Center |
Reading: The Best of Belhaven's Writers |
| Apr. 2-4, 8-9, 16-18 7:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. Saturday Matinee Blackbox Theatre |
The Pirates of Penzance Music by Arthur Sullivan; Book & Lyrics by W. S. Gilbert; Directed by Joseph Frost From the minds of Gilbert and Sullivan, this timeless tale of topsy-turvydom tells the story of Frederick, an honorable young lad freed from his apprenticeship to a band of misfit pirates by the arrival of his 21st birthday, who falls in love with the virtuous Mabel and, with the help of a bumbling bunch of bobbies, must save her sisters and their father the Major-General from the approach of the Pirate King. |
| Apr. 16 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Student Center |
Reading: The Best of Belhaven's Writers Students currently enrolled in the BFA Program in Creative Writing at Belhaven University will read from their work. Representing many states and several countries, these students have enrolled at Belhaven because of their gift for writing and devotion to craft. Readings will include fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and scripts for screen and stage. Upon graduation, Belhaven’s Creative Writers will join a group of alumni who have published novels, topped The New York Times bestseller list, won national poetry prizes and Fulbright Scholarships, and secured positions with prestigious presses and institutions of higher education. Complimentary Admission / Open to the public / Reception to Follow. |
Verse of the Year
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
Matthew 7:24