For a company entering its fifth decade, Shadowland Stages shows no signs of settling into repertory comfort. The Ellenville institution’s 2026 season—its 41st—leans into what artistic director Brendan Burke describes as “a very Shadowland mix of plays and musicals,” a lineup that balances new work, familiar titles, and music-driven crowd-pleasers.
The season opens with “The Reservoir” (May 29-June 14), a recent off-Broadway play that arrives in Ellenville almost immediately after its New York run. The story follows a young man forced to leave NYU and return home to Denver to confront alcoholism, only to find unexpected connection with his grandparents. “It’s hopeful, it’s funny, and in its own way, very profound,” Burke says, pointing to the play’s exploration of “connection across generations.” The choice signals Shadowland’s ongoing commitment to contemporary writing that resonates beyond the moment.
From there, Shadowland pivots to theatrical sleight-of-hand with “Around the World in 80 Days” (June 19-July 12), adapted from Jules Verne’s adventure novel. Staged in the company’s Studio space, the production uses a small cast to play dozens of roles—a device familiar to audiences who caught the company’s 2023 production of “The 39 Steps.” “It’s a very theatrical family show,” Burke says, “where a small company of actors take on all the characters and adventures of that story,” staged in the round for immediacy and invention.
The comic centerpiece of the summer is “Brighton Beach Memoirs” (July 17-August 9), Neil Simon’s semi-autobiographical portrait of adolescence in a crowded Brooklyn household on the brink of World War II. Burke calls it “a family tale that’s heartwarming and hilarious,” following young Eugene as he navigates the awkward passage into adulthood amid financial strain and global uncertainty.
August brings a tonal shift with the jukebox musical “Never Can Say Goodbye: The ’70s Beehive Musical” (August 14-September 13), a sequel to Shadowland’s earlier hit “Beehive.” “It’s a wonderful revue by six amazing songstresses singing all the great hits of a very dynamic decade,” Burke says, citing artists like Gloria Gaynor and Linda Ronstadt as part of the mix. The show tracks the era’s shifting politics and the rise of women’s voices in popular music, turning nostalgia into narrative.
In September, the Studio transforms into a late-night club for “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill” (September 18-October 4), the Lanie Robertson play built around the final performances of Billie Holiday. “We’re going to transform the studio into a seedy South Philly bar in 1959,” Burke says, framing the production as “a very searing, intimate musical experience.” It’s also a first for Shadowland: a musical staged in the Studio, where proximity sharpens the emotional stakes.
The season closes with a world premiere: “Flawless” (October 9-25), a new play by John J. Wooten, presented in collaboration with regional partners. The premise—a playwright entangled with artificial intelligence in pursuit of “the next great American play”—plants Shadowland squarely in the present moment. “It’s a timely piece about artificial intelligence and the intersection between creativity, and technology,” Burke says.
2026 season subscriptions are now available.
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