Harvard Theater: Spring 2025 Season Preview

Feeling comedy, dark comedy, or drama? Political commentary or light-hearted fun? Want to know what Harvard’s student dramatists have cooked up? Grab a friend and head to the theater this semester — whether it be the Loeb, Agassiz, or Farkas Hall! Check out this eclectic mix of student-led musicals, plays, and more at Harvard running in Spring 2025.

“101 Damnations”

The Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ “101 Damnations” is a wild romp through Hell: Convinced she is there because of a fluke, Claire Ickle-Eror (Gabrielle M. Greene ’27) must escape from Hell’s CEO Lucy Fur (Bernardo de Moura Sequeira ’26) while banding together with a team of colorful rogues. The 176th installment of the Pudding’s storied annual burlesque musical comedy, which traces its lineage back to 1844, this year’s script is penned by Rodmehr Basidj ’26 and Jackson G. P. Coombs ’26. The Pudding’s 2025 Woman of the Year, Cynthia Erivo herself, watched the show’s premiere — you, too, could be like her.

“101 Damnations” runs at Farkas Hall through March 9.

“Gruesome Playground Injuries”

A dark comedy by playwright Rajiv Joseph brought to Harvard by director Texaco U. M. Texeira-Ramos ’26, “Gruesome Playground Injuries” is the unconventional love story of two childhood friends (Lauren E. Mei ’27 and Andrew A. Spielmann ’25) brought together time and time again by tendencies towards injury and self-destruction. Audiences should be aware that this production contains foul language, blood, and bodily harm — but also compassion and humor.

“Gruesome Playground Injuries” runs at the Loeb Ex from Feb. 20 to Feb. 23.

“Postcard from Morocco”

“Postcard from Morocco” is Lowell House Opera’s 79th season production, the first main stage performance to take place in the historic Lowell House Dining Hall in seven years. Set to music by American composer Dominick Argento and directed by Haley M. Stark ’25, “Postcard from Morocco” is an examination of the human condition within the unusual setting of a waiting room — and fittingly staged in a unique space.

“Postcard from Morocco” runs at Lowell House from Feb. 21 to Feb. 23.

“be cozy”

Written and directed by Zach B. Halberstam ’25 — who was voted Renaissance Person of his class last semester — “be cozy” follows ambitious B-list horror movie actress Emily (Maibritt M. M. Henkel ’25) trapped on a shoot in which she loses sleep and starts to question her own reality. Meanwhile, Emily’s nerdy brother Andrew (Benjamin C. Walter ’26) and compulsive partner Robert (Isaac A. Newman ’25) encounter eerily powerful actor Steve (Matine Khalighi ’25) as they leave their own bubbles.

“be cozy” runs at the Loeb Ex from March 6 to March 9.

“Arcadia”

In 1809, the precocious teenager Thomasina (Natalie A. Bernstein ’28) asks her tutor questions about mathematics and sex both; in the present, the Lord Byron-centered investigation of a researcher (Anna S. Fitzsimmons ’25) and professor (James J. Farr ’25) lead them to the grounds of Thomasina’s house. A brilliant exploration of order, disorder, truth, and time, this critically revered play by Tom Stoppard will be staged at Harvard by director Ben L. C. Arthurs ’27. “Arcadia” was shortlisted for best science book ever written by the Royal Institution of Great Britain in 2006 — proving there’s a place for STEM concentrators in the theater, too.

“Arcadia” runs at the Agassiz Theatre from March 27 to March 30.

“Songs for a New World”

Something between a musical and a song cycle, “Songs for a New World” is written and composed by Jason Robert Brown of “Parade” and “The Last Five Years.” Two men (Kaylor G. Toronto ’27 and Saman de Silva ’26) and two women (Gabrielle G. Medina ’26 and Shannon M. Harrington ’26) shift between myriad characters, from an imprisoned king to reunited lovers to Mrs. Claus, to spin songs scattered in premise but united by the theme of a decisive, life-changing moment. Pop, gospel, and jazz intermingle in Brown’s score, brought to Harvard by director Jess R. Hung ’25.

“Songs for A New World” runs at the Loeb Ex from March 27 to March 30.

“Jesus Christ Superstar”

Presented by BlackCAST and directed by Hannah E. Alexis ’27, “Jesus Christ Superstar” is Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s anachronistic rock opera on the final days of Jesus Christ’s (Kiesse K. Nanor ’26) life, with a focus on narrator Judas’ (Milena J. Manocchia ’28) skepticism about Jesus’ messianic role. Harvard’s production is reset in 1972 Oakland — the headquarters of the Black Panther Party — situating Jesus as an activist facing government and media scrutiny amidst trouble from his own followers. As this semester’s Loeb Proscenium musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar” will enjoy a professional-scale stage — rather fitting for its larger-than-life subject.

“Jesus Christ Superstar” runs at the Loeb Proscenium from April 9 to April 12.

“Starville: The 30th First Year Musical”

“Starville” is the 30th iteration of an annual musical entirely written, composed, and staffed by first-year Harvard students — an educational first foray into the campus theater scene for many. With book by Ana P. Reveles Leon ’28, music by Ian B. Kim ’28, and direction by Abby S. Gerstein ’28, “Starville” will feature an eclectic bunch of characters, the quest to find oneself, and a sci-fi twist. Come for a taste of the first-years’ talents!

“Starville” runs at the Agassiz Theatre from April 10 to April 13.

“SKETCH!”

Featuring comedy sketches from seven Harvard college students spanning all four class years, and directed by Sophie M. Garrigus ’25, “SKETCH!” is the only comedy show to take place in the Loeb this spring. The nature of sketch comedy — a compilation of short, funny scenes performed by actors, perhaps most famously associated with Saturday Night Live — and the numerous writers promise a diverse and lively show unlike any other production this semester.

“SKETCH!” runs at the Loeb Ex from April 11 to April 13.

“The Old Man and the Old Moon”

In this whimsical play suffused with indie-folk music — directed by Ria S. Cuéllar-Koh ’26, a Crimson Arts editor — the Old Man (Jack F. Griffin ’24), must abandon his duty of filling the moon with light in order to embark on an epic adventure in search of his lost wife (Yirenny Cordero ’25). As the Old Man and his shipmates journey across the seas, “The Old Man and the Moon” spins a comfortingly fable-esque yarn for young and old alike.

“The Old Man and the Old Moon” runs at the Loeb Ex from May 1 to May 4.

“9 to 5: The Musical”

Featuring an original score by Dolly Parton — but still borrowing the iconic titular song for the opening number — “9 to 5” is a comedy adapted from the 1980 hit film of the same name. The story centers on working women Violet (Riley M. Cullinan ’27), Doralee (Chelsea J. Bohn-Pozniak ’27), and Judy (Grace G. Hawkins ’28), who take down their firm’s sexist president Franklin Hart (Max B. Allison ’25). Directed by Riley B. F. Jackson ’27 and Mia E. Schenenga ’27, “9 to 5” is sure to bring a burst of fun feminist energy to this theater season.

“9 to 5” runs at the Agassiz Theatre from May 1 to May 4.

—Staff writer Isabelle A. Lu can be reached at isabelle.lu@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @IsabelleALu.