Harvard Theater: Fall 2024 Season Preview

Looking to attend musicals, plays, or theatrical shows at Harvard? Check out this round-up of campus theater productions running in Fall 2024!

“The Human Comedy”

A collaboration between the Office for the Arts and the Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club, “The Human Comedy” is a developmental workshop of a 1983 musical, culminating in a staged reading. Students work alongside Broadway professionals such as producer Jack R. Viertel ’71, director Sammi Cannold ’16, and composer Ian Chan ’23 to rework the musical. The story, set in a Europe devastated by World War II, follows teenager Homer Macauley (Elio R. Kennedy-Yoon ’25), whose job at the local telegram office allows him to hear the stories of those in his community.

“The Human Comedy” runs at the Agassiz Theatre on Sept. 21 at 4 p.m. as part of Harvard’s Creative Careers Conference.

“Krapp’s Last Tape”

Samuel Beckett’s one-act, one-man play follows the 69-year-old Krapp (Jack T. Flynn ’26) as he listens to recordings of himself from 30 years ago. Directed by Gunnar Sizemore ’27, this ponderous and timely play meditates on the interactions between technology and memory, as well as the separation between the past and present. “Krapp’s Last Tape” is a seminal play from one of the world’s greatest playwrights that will leave audience members thinking.

“Krapp’s Last Tape” runs at the Loeb Experimental Theater from Oct. 3 to Oct. 6.

“Spurned: A Wild West Tale of Love, Revenge, and Assless Chaps”

“Spurned” is an original, student-written musical in the style of a Wild West dramedy. With book and lyrics by Olivia F. Data ’26 and music by Preston C. Bushnell ’26 and Jackson Data, the musical promises heartbreak, revenge, and swashbuckling galore. Featuring a soon-to-be nun grieving her lost fiance (Claire Jiang ’28), an outlaw with the titular assless chaps (Cruz G. Allison ’28), and a sheriff ruling with an iron fist (Vander O.B. Ritchie ’26), “Spurned” is guaranteed to be a fun time.

“Spurned: A Wild West Tale of Love, Revenge and Assless Chaps” runs at the Agassiz Theatre from Oct. 24 to Oct. 27.

“Aida”

Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida” gets a new twist under the direction of Eliza Zangerl ’26. Set in Ancient Egypt, the musical follows Aida (Victoria C. Marshall ’27), a Nubian princess enslaved by the Egyptians, and Radames (Jesse E. Hernandez ’25), captain of the Egyptian army. Harvard’s production aims to spark conversation about the reggae, Motown, gospel, and pop influences in the score while merging punk rock with Ancient Egyptian art and architecture.

“Aida” runs at the Agassiz Theatre from Nov. 14 to Nov. 17.

“The Penningtons”

Written by Rave S. Andrews ’25 and directed by Hannah E. Alexis ’27, “The Penningtons” is an original student play in the vein of “Knives Out” and “Succession.” Set in 1976, the play follows an influential family thrown into a fierce power struggle when patriarch (Kavi M. Gasper ’27) is revealed to only have a month left to live. The family is composed of a colorful cast of characters, including the scheming eldest son Daniel (James J. Farr ’25), ex-golden boy Fitch (Kai C.W. Lewis ’27), and wallflower Char (Grace Y. Hur ’28).

“The Penningtons” runs at the Loeb Experimental Theater from Oct. 17 to Oct. 20.

Black Playwrights Festival

Presented by BlackCAST, the Black Playwrights Festival features plays by Black playwrights in the Harvard community that are workshopped by a Black theater professional. Each play will be presented as a staged reading during the two-day festival. This year, the Black Playwrights Festival is directed by Eliza Zangerl ’26 and produced by Gabriel Brock ’26, Makayla I. Gathers ’26, and Sophia E. Lerebours ’26.

“Black Playwrights Festival” runs at the Loeb Experimental Theater from Oct. 24 to Oct. 25.

“Anastasia”

A musical based on the animated classic, “Anastasia” follows amnesiac Anya (Caitlin A. Beirne ’26) as she teams up with charming fraudster Dmitry (Kaylor G. Toronto ’27) and lovable oaf Vlad (Alexander Lee ’27) to rediscover her connection to the deposed Russian monarchy. As sparks between Anya and Dmitry fly, the trio navigate a changing St. Petersburg, evade the Bolshevik secret police, and wrestle with questions of identity and family. Directed by Katie Runions ’25, “Anastasia” will be an enchanting journey to the past.

“Anastasia” runs at the Loeb Proscenium from Nov. 1 to Nov. 9.

“Romeo & Juliet”

Not to be confused with the production of “Romeo and Juliet” currently running at the American Repertory Theater, this production, directed by Adrienne L. Chan ’25, features Sergei Provokiev’s iconic score to investigate Shakespeare’s timeless classic from a different perspective. Through a blend of dance and theater, Elio R. Kennedy-Yoon ’25 (Romeo) and Sachiko J. Kirby ’26 (Juliet) star in the genre-bending production that explores what the world could be.

“Romeo & Juliet” runs at the Loeb Experimental Theater from Nov. 14 to Nov. 17.

“Speed Bumps, And Other Things Jesus Wouldn’t Have Wanted”

“Speed Bumps, And Other Things Jesus Wouldn’t Have Wanted” is unique as a dramedy with double-cast roles: One actor will perform with an emphasis on the drama and the other, the same role with emphasis on the comedy. Ethan (Will Jevon ’27 and Robbie Owen ’25) and Tori (Anna S. Fitzsimmons ’25 and Tia A. A. KwanBock ’25) reunite in their hometown of Harrington Park as they discuss love, loss, and everything in between. As a one-act dramedy written by Matthew W. Cole ’24 and directed by Ava K. Pallotta ’25, this production is a thoughtful exploration on how the same experiences can profoundly impact people in different ways.

“Speed Bumps, And Other Things Jesus Wouldn’t Have Wanted” runs on Nov 17.

“Pippin”

With the help of a traveling performance trope, young prince Pippin (Henry D. Pahlow ’28), the son of Roman emperor Charlemagne (Robert S. Hochstadt ’25), seeks the secret to happiness and fulfillment — and attempts to find it in vicious battle, courtly intrigue, and sexual encounters. Directed by Crystal X. Manyloun ’26, “Pippin” is a hilarious yet thought-provoking treatment on growing up and how easy it is to lose one’s identity.

“Pippin” runs at the Agassiz Theatre from Dec. 5 to Dec. 8.

“Jest the Way You Are”

Written by John “Jack” F. Griffin ’25 and Mack D.W. Webb ’25 and directed by James P. GaNun ’25, “Jest the Way You Are” follows June (Anna S. Fitzsimmons ’25) and August (Matthew J. Given ’25), a pair of court jesters on the run after being falsely accused of attempted assassination. Their journey brings them into contact with a cast of hilarious characters, as they struggle to both keep their coffers filled and find their purposes in life. A hilarious and entertaining romp through medieval England, “Jest the Way You Are” rounds out this semester’s slew of original student productions.

“Jest the Way You Are” runs at the Loeb Experimental Theater from Dec. 5 to Dec. 8.

—Staff writer Angelina X. Ng can be reached at angelina.ng@thecrimson.com.