Classic Stage Company and Producing Artistic Director Jill Rafson have announced the theater’s 2026-2027 lineup of productions, marking its 59th season.
The three-show mainstage season will feature a revival of Clifford Odets’ “Waiting for Lefty” and the New York premieres of two new adaptations: “Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean” and “Wonder! A Woman Keeps a Secret.”
“As we close out an incredible year at CSC, I’m thrilled to be diving into an exciting 2026-27 season that is full of classics with a twist,” Rafson said. “This year, we’re revisiting iconic works and infusing them with the energy of today’s most innovative theatrical artists. By bringing their unique multidisciplinary talents to these storied texts, our collaborators are showing off classic plays in vibrantly fresh ways.”
The season opens in October 2026 with Odets’ 1935 social protest play, “Waiting for Lefty.” Directed by Steven Pasquale in his directorial debut, the production will feature original music and arrangements by the musical duo Yeller Tooth, which consists of Sahar Milani and Cameron Scoggins. The announced cast includes Tala Ashe, Raffi Barsoumian, Greg Hildreth, and Conrad Ricamora.
In February 2027, the company will present the New York premiere of “Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean,” a musical adaptation of the play by Ed Graczyk. The musical features a book and original concept by Ashley Robinson, music by Dan Gillespie Sells, and lyrics by Shakina. Giovanna Sardelli will direct the production, which will be choreographed by Nancy Renee Braun and produced by special arrangement with Broadway & Beyond Theatricals. The musical previously had its world premiere at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in 2025.
The mainstage season will conclude in May 2027 with the New York premiere of “Wonder! A Woman Keeps a Secret,” written by Talene Monahon. The comedy is adapted from Susanna Centlivre’s 1714 classic farce “The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret” and features an original song by Oscar winner Mark Sonnenblick. The production was originally commissioned by the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation BOLD Ventures, Northern Stage, and Classic Stage Company.
In addition to the mainstage productions, the theater will continue its Rediscovery Readings series. This season’s three-part series will focus on “neo-classics,” highlighting late 20th-century plays that experimented with form and offered diverse perspectives.
Classic Stage Company will also bring back its FlexPass subscription packages, which offer priority booking and seating options for the upcoming season. Additional details regarding performance schedules, full creative teams, and further casting will be announced at a later date.
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