SDSU School of Theatre, Television, and Film Unveils 2025–26 Theatre Season

San Diego, CA — The San Diego State University School of Theatre, Television, and Film has unveiled its 2025–26 theatre season, showcasing a dynamic lineup of classics, reimagined favorites, and groundbreaking new work, including the premiere of an original musical developed through the university’s New Musical Initiative.

"We are thrilled to launch a vibrant and daring 2025–26 season that provides our students with an extraordinary range of artistic challenges and opportunities,” said Stephen Brotebeck, Director of the SDSU School of Theatre, Television, and Film. 

“From reimagined interpretations of Shakespeare and Sophocles to bold new works, including the fourth original musical developed through our SDSU New Musicals Initiative, this season embodies our commitment to honoring the classics while championing innovation. It’s a powerful showcase of the creativity, versatility, and talent of our students, faculty, and staff."

For tickets or more information, visit https://ttf.sdsu.edu.

Season Lineup

Merrily We Roll Along in Concert
Main Stage Theatre

October 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m.; October 25 and 26 at 2 p.m.
Book by George Furth | Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim | Directed by Amy Schwartzreich
Featuring the SDSU Jazz Ensemble

Stephen Sondheim’s brilliant and bittersweet musical Merrily We Roll Along comes to life in a dynamic concert presentation featuring the electrifying sounds of the SDSU Jazz Ensemble. Tracing the turbulent journey of three lifelong friends—composer Franklin Shepard, writer Charley Kringas, and novelist Mary Flynn—the story unfolds in reverse, moving from disillusioned adulthood back to their idealistic beginnings. With a dazzling score that includes “Not a Day Goes By,” “Old Friends,” and “Our Time,” this special concert version highlights Sondheim’s intricate music and razor-sharp lyrics. It’s a moving, time-bending exploration of ambition, friendship, and the cost of chasing dreams.

Twelfth Night
Prebys Stage
December 3–6 at 7:30 p.m.; December 7 at 2 p.m.
By William Shakespeare | Directed by Dani Bedau

Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1980s San Diego, this radical reimagining of Twelfth Night swaps Elizabethan garb for neon windbreakers, beachballs, and synth beats. When a shipwreck strands Viola on the sun-soaked shores of SoCal, she disguises herself as a dude named “Cesario” and meets the music-obsessed Duke Orsino, who’s pining for the wealthy Olivia. But when Olivia falls for Cesario and Viola falls for Orsino, things get gnarlier than a beachside love triangle. Throw in a crew of mischievous music fans, a power-tripping Malvolio, and plenty of mistaken identities, and you’ve got a hilarious, high-energy romp full of heart, hijinks, and hairspray. Shakespeare meets mixtapes in this totally tubular take on love, gender, and finding your true self.

When She Became The Moon
Prebys Stage
February 20, 21, 24–27 at 7:30 p.m.; February 22 and March 1 at 2 p.m.
By Mabelle Reynoso | Directed by Peter Cirino

Twelve-year-old Jesse is desperate for answers about her sister’s mysterious death, but the adults around her won’t talk. When she befriends Olivia and Beck Rose, two sisters staying at their Tía Gaby’s haunted house, the trio begins uncovering secrets hidden in shadows and stories rooted in Mexican folklore. As they venture into a world where spirits linger and old legends come to life, Jesse must face the truth about loss, love, and what it means to keep moving forward. When She Became the Moon is a poignant, supernatural coming-of-age story that weaves horror, heart, and heritage into a powerful exploration of grief and girlhood.

Sophocles’ Elektra
Prebys Stage
April 8–10 and April 16–18 at 7:30 p.m.; April 12 and 19 at 2 p.m.
Translated and Adapted by Timberlake Wertenbaker | Directed by Jesca Prodencio

A searing tale of vengeance, justice, and the unbreakable bonds of blood, Elektra, adapted by acclaimed playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker, brings new urgency and clarity to Sophocles’ timeless tragedy. In a world still reeling from war and betrayal, Elektra burns with unrelenting grief and rage over the murder of her father, Agamemnon, by her mother, Clytemnestra. Wertenbaker’s sharp, poetic language breathes contemporary life into ancient themes, as Elektra awaits the return of her brother Orestes to help her exact revenge. Taut, fierce, and emotionally raw, this powerful adaptation confronts the cost of justice and the haunting legacy of violence. A gripping drama where the past refuses to stay buried—and where fate and fury collide.

Tomorrow, The Island Dies (A New Musical)
Main Stage Theatre
May 1, 2, 5, and 6 at 7:30 p.m.; May 3 at 2 p.m.
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver | Directed and Choreographed by Stephen Brotebeck
Part of the SDSU New Musical Initiative

On the storm-ravaged island of Haverness—soon to be lost to rising seas—18-year-old Widow Clack, pregnant and living in exile at the lighthouse with her brother, prepares for the island’s final evacuation. But when a young man is found dead on the beach, the few remaining youth tasked with closing up the village turn on each other, unraveling into paranoia, betrayal, and violence. Set in a not-so-distant future shaped by climate catastrophe, Tomorrow The Island Dies is a chilling new folk-horror musical by Ryan Scott Oliver. Blending gothic tradition with a razor-sharp contemporary lens, the show explores fear, fractured communities, and the haunting question: can we escape the storms we create?

Tickets to SDSU Theatre productions are $20 for General Admission, and $17 for Students and Seniors. For more information, visit https://ttf.sdsu.edu.