West Liberty University Theatre Announces 2026–27 Season

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — West Liberty University Theatre invites audiences to join the Hilltop Players for a 2026–2027 season featuring a dark comedy, a world-premiere adaptation, an iconic rock musical, a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, and a special Theatre for Young Audiences presentation. The season offers audiences a diverse range of theatrical experiences while giving West Liberty students opportunities to perform, design, create, and collaborate at a professional level.

“This season represents what we want the Hilltop Players to be: ambitious, imaginative, varied, and deeply connected to our students and our community,” said Michael Aulick, Professor of Theatre and Theatre Director. “We pride ourselves in selecting shows that will provide a vast array of educational opportunities for our theatre majors. This year is no different, but I also think it will be extremely entertaining for audiences as well. Every show will be a ‘must-see!’”

The season opens October 15–18 with Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan, a darkly comic tale set on the remote Irish island of Inishmaan in 1934. When a Hollywood film crew arrives on a nearby island, Billy Claven, a young man with a physical disability, sees an opportunity to escape the limitations of his small community and pursue a dream of becoming an actor. Equal parts hilarious, heartbreaking, and unexpectedly tender, the play explores what happens when people who feel trapped are suddenly given the possibility of a different life.

“This script has always been one of my favorites, and I am honored to have the opportunity to help produce it! Our students are already hard at work bringing the characters of Inishmaan to life.” said Alexandra Burdick, Adjunct Faculty in Theatre. “The characters are complex, the humor is sharp, and underneath it all is a story about belonging, ambition, and the desire for something more. I’m excited for our students to bring this unique world to life for our audiences.”

The Saturday, October 17 performance will include a special Hilltop Players Wall of Fame induction, celebrating individuals whose dedication and accomplishments have helped shape the history of theatre at West Liberty.

The fall semester concludes with the December 3–6 world premiere of I AM ALICE, an original adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Created specifically for the Hilltop Players, the production approaches the familiar story from an unexpected perspective, exploring Alice’s journey not simply as an adventure through Wonderland, but as a journey of self-discovery. As Alice encounters a world where nothing is quite what it seems, the characters and creatures she meets become reflections of the questions, fears, possibilities, and competing voices within her own imagination.

“I have had a lot of fun creating this script,” said Aulick. “It is heavily influenced by my love of story-theatre. The best part was adapting it in a way that features the talent of the theatre program. The revisions were made to make sure all of the students get to show their best work.”

During the season, West Liberty University Theatre will also present a special Theatre for Young Audiences performance of Jeremy Worried About the Wind, a new musical written by Wheeling playwright Jeremy Richter. Created with younger audiences in mind, the production brings new, locally created musical theatre to the stage while giving WLU students the opportunity to participate in the development and performance of new work. Performance dates are still being determined.

“Following an incredible run in the Hollywood Fringe Festival,” said Richter, “I knew I wanted to continue developing the show. As a West Liberty graduate and a longtime fan and friend of Mike and the work he produces within the department, it was a no-brainer to put the script and songs into his hands as the first collegiate workshop. I look forward to the collaboration and can’t wait to see the life they breathe into the story.”

In the spring, the Hilltop Players take on one of musical theatre’s most iconic works with Jesus Christ Superstar, running March 18–21. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, the groundbreaking rock musical retells the final days of Jesus through a contemporary musical lens, focusing on the relationships, conflicts, ambition, and uncertainty surrounding the central figures. Known for its demanding music and electrifying score, the production offers WLU students the opportunity to tackle one of musical theatre’s most challenging and enduring works.

“While this is a classic musical, we have a concept that should make it feel fresh and new,” according to Christopher Rees, Technical Director and Assistant Professor of Design. “You won’t want to miss it.”

The season closes April 29–May 2 with Beth Henley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Crimes of the Heart. Set in Mississippi, this Pulitzer Prize-winning play follows three sisters who reunite after the youngest shoots her husband. As old wounds, family secrets, and long-buried resentments surface, the Magrath sisters struggle to make sense of their shared past—and their uncertain future. Funny, painful, and deeply human, Crimes of the Heart examines the complicated bonds that hold families together. The production is being directed by WLU Theatre major Eva Tennant as her capstone project.

“I have loved this play for a long time, so getting to direct it as my capstone project is incredibly exciting,” said Tennant. “I am grateful that the program has expanded my interests into directing and given me the ability to learn more working on a show that is near and dear to my heart.”

Together, the productions reflect West Liberty University Theatre’s commitment to creating challenging, entertaining theatre while providing students with meaningful, hands-on experiences across genres and theatrical disciplines. From a classic work of Irish dark comedy to a brand-new musical created in the Ohio Valley, the 2026–27 season offers something for audiences of every age.

Performances will take place in the Kelly Theatre on the West Liberty University campus. Additional information about performance times, tickets, content advisories, and the Theatre for Young Audiences presentation will be announced by West Liberty University Theatre.

For more information, email Michael Aulick at maulick@westliberty.edu.

West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students’ aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. To apply or learn more about West Liberty University, visit westliberty.edu.

Media Contact:
Rhone Thrash
West Liberty University
rhone.thrash@westliberty.edu