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Students performing a scence from the play Bull in a China Shop

Theater Performances

Performances are in the Rooke Theatre on the Mount Holyoke College campus, at the corner of Morgan Street and Lower Lake Road in South Hadley MA.

We are committed to collaborating with BIPOC students, and all interested members of the larger community, in every aspect of our production season from casting through to the final product, to shape a department that is relevant, vibrant, inclusive, and firmly antiracist.

Upcoming performances

Upcoming Auditions

Fall 2022 — Spring 2023 season

The Sweet Science of Bruising

We begin the season with Joy Wilkinson’s The Sweet Science of Bruising, a rambunctious new play about the underground world of Victorian female boxing. Four very different women are drawn from different walks of 19th century London and into the boxing ring where their lives are intertwined through bouts of passion and a quest for freedom. In the end, only one can become world champion.

“Wilkinson’s storytelling has an attractive briskness and clarity, which builds up engrossing details about female boxing…. Each of the four main protagonists seeks the power to have some control over their lives, and this remains a radical goal today”
-The Theater Times.

Resplendent with the pugilistic arts, who else should direct this but our own stage combat expert, Assistant Professor Noah Tuleja. Sweet Science runs from October 20-23, 2022.

Short Eyes

We round up the fall semester with Miguel Pinero’s award-winning Short Eyes. Written during Pinero’s incarceration in the 1970s, this gripping drama deals with the complexities of daily life in a New York State Penitentiary punctuated by an ever-looming threat of violence and shifting alliances. When a man accused of molesting a child is brought into the prison, what ensues is a search for morality and justice in an unassuming place.

“This exciting production is dark, exhilarating, and utterly glorious. Pinero flaunts violence and poetry while navigating delicate moral, ethical, and social dilemmas contextualized by power dynamics and incarceration culture”
-The LAist.

The show runs from November 17-20, 2022 and is directed by Visiting Lecturer and Director of Production, Michael Ofori.

Exit Strategy

Ike Holter’s Exit Strategy begins the spring semester. At once funny, angry, warm and sad, this timely and poignant drama deals with an inner city public school on the brink of extinction. The fictional Chicago based Tumbldn High School is severely underfunded and undermined. The impending closure thrusts its vice principal, teachers and a student into a battle to save their beloved institution. Will the bonds forged in this battle be enough to rescue their school from extinction?

“...Holter's beautifully written piece crackles with energy and passion - it hearkens back to those early British plays by Harold Brenton and David Hare in the way it combines issues and politics with emotion and personality.”
-Stage Raw.

Exit Strategy runs from March 2-5, 2023. A guest director for the show will be announced at a later date.

The Moors

The second show in the spring is Jen Silverman’s dark comedy, The Moors. Two sisters, Agatha and Huldey live on the bleak and savage English moors. The arrival of a governess in search of their mysteriously absent brother Mr. Branwell sets the household on a path of confusion, jealousy, betrayal, a quest for love, and a quest to be seen.

“However you classify “The Moors” — comedy, drama, thriller satire, farce all apply at various times — there’s no equivocating on its entertainment value.”
-Chicago Suntimes.

The Moors is directed by FMT graduating senior Nicole Tripp and will run from March 30-April 2, 2023.

We end the academic year with the second annual Mount Holyoke College Film Festival. The festival will feature films made from courses in narrative and documentary filmmaking, acting and design. At the helm of the festival is Assistant Professor, Elliot Montague. The festival will happen on April 30, 2023.

Past Productions

Fall 2021 — Spring 2022 Season

This season we will focus on stories by and about BIPOC individuals.

October 21–24: Lynn Nottage's satirical take on classic American self-reinvention tales, Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine, with Visiting Lecturer Michael Ofori at the helm.

December 3–5: The first annual Student Theater Festival promises to be an exciting weekend of work devised, directed, designed and produced by our own students. Please join us to celebrate the creative energies of MHC's budding theatre artists.

March 3–6: A modem imagining of a hero's journey: Red Rainbow by up-and-coming playwright Azure D. Osborne-Lee, to be directed by Zoe Fieldman '22.

April 22–24: FMT and MHC's first Student Film Festival – a chance for us all to enjoy the culmination of a year's work in film and media, drawn from our courses in documentary and narrative filmmaking, acting and design.

We used a hybrid model for our productions that enabled us to produce an exciting season within the confines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The season began with a radio-play version of William Shakespeare's delightful screwball comedy Much Ado About Nothing. The entire play was rehearsed and recorded during the second Module of the fall term. The production was directed by Noah Tuleja, Assistant Professor and Director of Theatre.

The spring term opened with Naomi Iizuka's eerie Language of Angels, with Visiting Lecturer Michael Ofori at the helm. This will be a video production.

The final performance of the season was Sophie Treadwell's Expressionist masterpiece, Machinal as a video performance, directed by Gracie Donelly-Fisher '21.

Fall 2019

“Pride and Prejudice” by Kate Hamill, directed by Katy Gore ‘19
October 18-20
The classic tale of terrible first impressions, powerful social hierarchies, and the games people play all in the name of love--and money.

“She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen, directed by Noah Tuleja
November 21-24
After Tilly dies unexpectedly, her older sister, Agnes, finds her “Dungeon & Dragons” notebook ...and so begins a journey through grief like nothing you have ever seen, complete with fairies, orcs, sword fights and dragons.

Spring 2020

“Lizzie, the musical” by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer, Alan Stevens Hewitt and Tim Maner, directed by Michael Ofori
March 5-8
This raucous four-woman rock opera delves into the Lizzie Borden myth and has been hailed by critics both here and abroad.

CANCELLED: “The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret” a comedy by Susanna Centlivre, directed by Sophia Kitch-Peck ‘20
April 23-26
Faced with an unwanted marriage Isabella does the sensible thing--she jumps out of her window and escapes. This clever critique of tyrannical patriarchy by one of England’s earliest professional female playwrights proved to be one of the most popular works of the eighteenth-century English stage.

Fall 2018

“T��ڱ��” by Susan Glaspell, directed by Brianna Sloane
October 18-21, 2018
An important early feminist drama from 1916, the play explores the divide between men and women and poses the questions "What is justice?" and "Who gets to judge?"

“American Moor” – Keith Hamilton Cobb brought his thought-provoking and acclaimed one man show to Rooke Theatre from November 8-11.

“The House of Bernarda Alba” by Federico Garcia Lorca, adapted by Emily Mann, directed by Miranda Wheeler '19
December 6-9, 2018
After her husband's death, iron-fisted Bernarda imposes an eight-year mourning period on her daughters, trapping them in a claustrophobic house teeming with jealousy and repressed desire under the burning Spanish sun.

Spring 2019

“The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde, directed by Noah Tuleja
February 21-23, 2019
Considered one of the greatest comedies of the English-language stage, this play of false identities and fiction vs. truth is a delight for all audiences.

“When We Were Young and Unafraid” by Sarah Treem, directed by Abby Carroll '19
April 11-14, 2019
Treem "finds the feminist flux and foment in an era that has been more traditionally presented as comically awkward and quaint. She has come up with a smart and exciting premise to bring characters of different backgrounds-and different notions of what it means to be a women at a pivotal historical moment-into proximity and conflict." — New York Times

Slideshows from previous performances can be found in the .

Fall 1999 — Spring 2000

"Lysistrata" — Rena Down — Oct. 28-31, 1999
"Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery" — Celia Hilson — Dec. 2-4, 1999
"Counter-Clockwise" — Laconia Koerner — Feb. 24-27, 2000
Cabaret — Joyce Devlin — Apr. 6-9, 13-16, 2000

Fall 1998 - Spring 1999

"Dancing at Lughnasa" — Joyce Devlin — Nov. 5-8, 1998
"Golden Age" — Alberto Casilla — Dec. 11-13, 1998
"Quabbin Dance" — Robbie McCauley — Apr. 8-11, 1999
"Strings" — Liz Wiesner — Apr. 23-25, 1999

Fall 1997 - Spring 1998

"Cloud Nine" — Awam Amkpa — Oct. 23-26, 1997
"Shay's Rebellion" — Robbie McCauley — Nov. 20-23, 1997
"My Sister in This House" — Anna Labykina — Feb. 27-Mar. 1, 1998
"Guttural Scream" — Beth Jugerheimer — Mar. 6-8, 1998
"Chekhov one-acts" — Rhea Gaisner — Apr. 16-19, 1998

Fall 1996 - Spring 1997

"I Stand Before You Naked" — Devlin — Lucier — Oct. 24-27, 1996
"Leonce and Leona" — Holger Teschke — Dec. 5-8, 1996
"Short Eyes" — Elizabeth Ruchti — Mar. 5-8, 1997
"Devotees in the Garden of Love" — Suzan-Lori Parks — Apr. 10-13, 1997
"Le Medecin Malgre" —Louis Paul Anis — Apr. 24-27, 1997

Fall 1995 — Spring 1996

"Flyin' West" — Roberta Uno — Oct. 26-29, 1995
"To Dance with Dionysos" — Awam Amkpa — May 2-5, 1996
"Machinal" — Stacie Ponder — Mar. 8, 10, 12, 1996
"Good Night Desdemona" — Rebecca Frank — Mar. 9, 11, 13, 1996

Fall 1994 — Spring 1995

"Mask Dance" — Dong-Il Lee — Oct. 27-30, 1994
"The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant" — Michael Birtwistle — Dec. 8-11, 1994
"Ice Cream" — Marth Elliot — Mar. 2-5, 1995
"Into the Woods" — Joyce Devlin — Apr. 21-23, 27-30, 1995

Fall 1993 — Spring 1994

"Side Effects" — Alberto Sandoval — Oct. 28-31, 1993
"Kimchee and Chitlins" — Sue Lawless — Dec. 9-12, 1993
"The Trojan Woman" — Eric Hill — Feb. 4-6, 11-13, 1994
"The Dining Room" — Stephanie Laffin — Apr. 28-May 1, 1994

Fall 1992 — Spring 1993

"To Be Young, Gifted and Black" — Paul Jackson — Oct. 22-25, 1992
"Big Tim and Fannie" — Sue Lawless — Dec. 4-6, 10-13, 1992
"Coastal Disturbances" — Allison Ballantine — Mar. 4-7, 1993
"Jay" — Tony Giordina — Apr. 29-May 2, 1993

Fall 1991 — Spring 1992

"The (Female) Odd Couple" — Jim Cavanaugh — Oct. 25-27, Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 1991
"Tea" — Roberta Uno — Dec. 5-8, 1991
"The Cherry Orchard" — Judy Braha — Mar. 5-8, 1992
"Plath in Performance" — Devlin — Snow — Apr. 30-May 3, 1992

Fall 1990 — Spring 1991

"Medea" — Jim Cavanaugh — Oct. 25-28, 1990
"Life After Love" — Hope Willard — Dec. 6-9, 1990
"Ma Rose" — Rochelle Calhoun — Mar. 7-10, 1991
"Quilters" — Joyce Devlin — Apr. 27-29, May 2-5, 1991

Fall 1989 — Spring 1990

"Crimes of the Heart" — Joyce Devlin — Oct. 20-22, 26-29, 1989
"A…My Name Is Alice" — Nancy Enggass — Dec. 1-3, 7-10, 1989
"House of Bernarda Alba" — Nancy Enggass — Mar. 8-11, 1990
"On the Verge" —Jim Cavanaugh — May 3-6, 1990

Fall 1988 — Spring 1989

"A Month in the Country" — Joyce Devlin — Oct. 27-30, 1988
"Tennessee Williams one-acts" — Calhoun — Hollander — Phillips — Dec. 8-11, 1988
"Noises Off" — Jim Cavanaugh — Mar. 3-5, 9-12, 1989
"Country Wife" — Nancy Enggass — Apr. 27-30, 1989

Fall 1987 — Spring 1988

"The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" — Jim Cavanaugh — Oct. 22-25, 1987
"Isn't It Romantic" — Joyce Devlin — Dec. 10-13, 1987
"Toys in the Attic" — Nancy Enggass — Mar. 10-13, 1988
"Top Girls" — Joyce Devlin — Apr. 29-May 1, May 3-6, 1988

Fall 1986 — Spring 1987

"Round and Round the Garden" — Nancy Enggass — Oct. 24-27, 1986
"The Club" — Jim Cavanaugh — Dec. 4-7, 10-12, 1986
"Ring Round the Moon" — Jennifer Wirth — Mar. 5-8, 1987
"As You Like It" — Joyce Devlin — Apr. 24-26, Apr. 30-May 3, 1987

Fall 1985 — Spring 1986

"Lysistrata" —Joyce Devlin — Jennifer Wirth — Oct. 25-28, 1985
"Vanity Fair" — Jim Cavanaugh — Dec. 1, 4-9, 1985
"The Importance of Being Earnest" — Nancy Enggass — Dec. 5-8, 1985
"Summer and Smoke" — Eleanor Ahlborn — Mar. 6-9, 1986
"Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You" — Jim Cavanaugh — Apr. 25-27, May 1-4, 1986

Fall 1984 — Spring 1985

"And, Oh What a Terror Was She" —Nancy Enggass — Mar. 7-10, 1985
"A Little Night Music" — Joyce Devlin — Apr. 25-28, May 2-5, 1985

Fall 1983 — Spring 1984

"Tartuffe" — Joyce Devlin — Apr. 27-29, May 3-6, 1984
"Tango" — Jim Cavanaugh — Mar. 9-13, 1984

Contact us

Department of Film Media Theater

The Department of Film Media Theater oversees an innovative, project-based curriculum that integrates practices of critical study with production and performance in the fields of film, media and theater.

413-538-2834
101 Rooke Theatre

Amanda Dumais

Department Coordinator

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Theater Performances

Upcoming performances

Upcoming Auditions

Fall 2022 — Spring 2023 season

The Sweet Science of Bruising

Short Eyes

Exit Strategy

The Moors

Past Productions

Fall 2021 — Spring 2022 Season

Fall 2019

Spring 2020

Fall 2018

Spring 2019

Fall 1999 — Spring 2000

Fall 1998 - Spring 1999

Fall 1997 - Spring 1998

Fall 1996 - Spring 1997

Fall 1995 — Spring 1996

Fall 1994 — Spring 1995

Fall 1993 — Spring 1994

Fall 1992 — Spring 1993

Fall 1991 — Spring 1992

Fall 1990 — Spring 1991

Fall 1989 — Spring 1990

Fall 1988 — Spring 1989

Fall 1987 — Spring 1988

Fall 1986 — Spring 1987

Fall 1985 — Spring 1986

Fall 1984 — Spring 1985

Fall 1983 — Spring 1984

More in Theater Performances

Contact us

Department of Film Media Theater

Amanda Dumais

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