UNCSA Presents: April performance highlights
The UNCSA 2025–26 performance season, “UNCSA Presents,” continues this April with a vibrant lineup of shows from the schools of Dance, Drama and Music. Highlights include the new Classics in Rep productions of “Present Laughter,” “The Cherry Orchard”and “Troilus and Cressida”; as well as “TartuffeNation,” a bold new adaptation by Drama faculty member Cliff Odle; and Spring Dance, featuring works by celebrated choreographers. The month also features “Of Sorcery and Songbirds,” an evening of French opera presented by the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute.
Tickets to most events are $25 for adults and $20 for non-UNCSA students with a valid ID, but some events are free. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 336-721-1945.
Spring Dance 2023-24 / Photo: Luke Jamroz Photography
Classics in Rep – Apr. 9-19
The School of Drama presents its new Classics in Rep, a lively repertory series in which student actors perform multiple plays in rotation. This season features three distinctive works spanning comedy, tragicomedy and drama including Noël Coward’s “Present Laughter,” Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” and William Shakespeare’s “Troilus and Cressida.”
In Coward’s witty comedy “Present Laughter,” charismatic stage actor Garry Essendine prepares for an overseas tour while navigating a whirlwind of admirers, ex-lovers and eccentric acquaintances. As doors fly open and secrets spill out, Essendine’s midlife crisis unfolds in a fast-paced farce full of charm and wit. The production is directed by Drama faculty member Adam Marple.
Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” offers a poignant portrait of a world on the brink of change. As an aristocratic Russian family struggles to hold on to its beloved estate and the vast cherry orchard that defines it, the play balances humor and heartbreak in a timeless exploration of nostalgia, social upheaval and the cost of inaction. This production is directed by Drama faculty member Quin Gordon.
Shakespeare’s “Troilus and Cressida” transports audiences to the final days of the Trojan War, where love and loyalty unravel amid ambition, pride and betrayal. Blending tragedy with biting satire, the play follows young lovers caught in the machinery of war while legendary warriors confront the limits of honor and heroism. The production is directed by Dean of the School of Drama John Langs.
“Present Laughter” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 17, and at 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, April 12.
“The Cherry Orchard” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 10, Tuesday, April 14, and Wednesday, April 15, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18.
“Troilus and Cressida” will be performed at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19.
All performances will take place in Catawba Theatre of the Alex C. Ewing Performance Place, located on the UNCSA campus at 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem.
Of Sorcery and Songbirds – Apr. 22-26
The A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute presents “Of Sorcery and Songbirds,” an evening of two French operas that moves from dark tragedy to sparkling comedy. The program pairs Darius Milhaud’s “Médée” with Charles Gounod’s “La Colombe,” offering audiences a striking contrast in tone while showcasing the versatility of UNCSA’s opera performers.
Milhaud’s “Médée,” a tragedy in three scenes with a libretto by Madeleine Milhaud, draws on the ancient myth of Medea to tell a chilling story of betrayal and revenge. When Médée’s lover abandons her to marry another woman, she sets in motion a devastating plan that builds to a shocking finale.
In contrast, Gounod’s “La Colombe” (“The Dove”), with a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, offers a lighthearted tale of romantic mischief. The opera follows Horace, a poor nobleman determined to impress the wealthy Countess Sylvie. In a desperate attempt to serve her an extravagant meal, he considers sacrificing his beloved pet dove, setting off a comic chain of misunderstandings that ultimately test his devotion.
The production is conducted by A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute Music Director James Allbritten and directed by A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute Artistic Director Steven LaCosse, with music preparation by Eric McEnaney.
Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, and Friday, April 24, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 26, in Agnes de Mille Theatre on the UNCSA campus at 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem.
Spring Dance – Apr. 23-26
The School of Dance presents Spring Dance, a vibrant program celebrating classical tradition, contemporary innovation and the creative voices shaping the next generation of dance. The evening features a diverse lineup of works staged by renowned artists, distinguished alumni and current faculty.
Former Houston Ballet principal ballerina Lauren Anderson returns to campus to stage a selection from Ben Stevenson’s “The Sleeping Beauty,” set to Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score.
The program also includes a restaging of Jessica Lang’s “Escaping the Weight of Darkness,” originally commissioned by the National Ballet of Japan. Madison Ballet Artistic Director Ja’ Malik premieres a new work, while faculty member Abigail Yager restages an iconic piece by postmodern dance pioneer Trisha Brown for contemporary dancers. The School of Dance also welcomes back alumna and retired faculty member Dayna Fox (’99) to restage a work by Charles Czarny.
Spring Dance is presented with support from the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts’ Alumni in Residence (AIR) Project.
Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, in Freedman Theatre in Alex C. Ewing Performance Place on the UNCSA campus at 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem.
TartuffeNation – Apr. 23-25
The School of Drama presents “TartuffeNation,” a modern political remix of Molière’s classic satire that relocates the story from a wealthy household to the governor’s mansion of an unnamed American state. Like the original play, the production examines the dangers of religious hypocrisy while expanding its satire to include a broad range of contemporary American political culture, from conservative talking points to the pitfalls of progressive overreach.
The adaptation was written by Drama faculty member Cliff Odle and retains the spirit and structure of Molière’s original, with much of the script written in rhyming couplets. Tartuffe himself stands apart with an even more elaborate rhyme scheme, adding heightened theatrical flair to the production. Audiences may even witness an unexpected rap battle before the evening is over.
The production is directed by UNCSA directing alumnus Robby Lufty (H.S. '05, B.F.A. ’20), recipient of the 2019 Craig Noel Award for Director of the Year. Lufty previously directed Martin McDonagh’s “The Pillowman” for the School of Drama and has extensive experience developing new work, having served as head of new play development at Cygnet Theatre, where he collaborated with playwrights including Miranda Rose Hall, Herbert Siguenza and Nathan Alan Davis.
“TartuffeNation” is presented as part of Rep Forward, a new initiative within the UNCSA Patrons Series that allows students to explore contemporary adaptations of classical plays. The Patrons Series features performances produced outside the Mainstage season and offers audiences a broader view of the artistic work at UNCSA, highlighting guest artists, special projects and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, and Friday, April 24, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25, in the Patrons Theatre in the Alex C. Ewing Performance Place on the UNCSA campus at 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem.
Tickets and information about additional “UNCSA Presents” performances can be found at uncsa.edu/performances.
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March 31, 2026