‘A Christmas Carol’ Directed by Richard Jenkins and More Coming to Trinity Rep Next Season
The new season kicks off in September and runs through June 2026.
Courtesy of Trinity Rep
Though a diamond jubilee would normally be a tough act to follow for any theater, Trinity Repertory Company is taking its sixty-second season in stride with a fantastic five-show subscription and, of course, its signature retelling of A Christmas Carol. The new season will kick off in September this year and conclude in June 2025. Note: Due to ongoing renovations upstairs, all of the shows will be held in the downstairs Dowling Theater.
“I am particularly excited about next season because it feels like a homecoming for some of our long-time artistic collaborators,” says Laura H. Harris Artistic Director, Curt Columbus. “Directors like Richard and Sharon Jenkins, Amanda Dehnert and Ben Steinfeld have a long history with our company, but their work hasn’t been on our stages for a while. Newer directors like Tatyana-Marie Carlo and Aileen Wen McGroddy share a vision and passion that falls in that same Trinity Rep tradition. With works from contemporary playwrights and classics such as Shakespeare and Dickens, this season is not to be missed!”
Trinity’s season will kick off with the world premiere of Cold War Choir Practice. Written by Ro Reddick — who recently achieved an MFA in Playwriting from Brown University — and directed by Brown/Trinity Rep alumna Aileen Wen McGroddy, the comedic thriller follows a Black family’s “unexpected forays into cults, espionage, the Cold War, and choir practice.” The show will run from September 4 through October 5, with the opening night performance on Wednesday, September 10, at 7:30 p.m.
The cast of 2023’s A Christmas Carol. Photo by Mark Turek/ courtesy of Trinity Rep
A Christmas Carol 2025 directors Richard and Sharon Jenkins at the 2023 Pell Awards Gala. Photo by Marisa Lenardson / courtesy of Trinity Rep
Next, during the holiday season, Trinity Rep will debut its forty-ninth iteration of A Christmas Carol, staged for the first time ever in the company’s more intimate Dowling Theater. The show will be co-directed by Emmy Award-winner/Academy Award-nominee/former Trinity Rep artistic Director Richard Jenkins (of Step Brothers, the Shape of Water and “Six Feet Under” fame, amongst other titles) along with acclaimed choreographer Sharon Jenkins. The show will run from November 6 through December 31, with the opening night performance on Wednesday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this fan-favorite will be available for purchase beginning September 2.
In the early months of 2026, Trinity will run a rotating repertory between a contemporary and a classic from January 28 through March 22. The Roommate, a one-act comedy about second acts in life written by Jen Silverman and directed by Curt Columbus will come first, followed by William’s Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale under the direction of Fiasco Theater’s Ben Steinfeld. The former play’s opening performance will be Tuesday, February 3, at 7:30 p.m. while the latter will open on Wednesday, February 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Just a month later from April 9 to May 10 comes the Pulitzer Prize-winning Primary Trust, written by Eboni Booth and directed by resident company member Tatyana-Marie Carlo. The hilarious and heartwarming story is said to showcase an “isolated man who finds connection outside his comfort zone.” Opening night is on Wednesday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m.
Finally, the season will end with the Tony Award-winning Next to Normal, featuring a book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, plus music by Tom Kitt. for those unfamiliar with the premise, the rock musical explores “a suburban housewife’s struggle with bipolar disorder, her loved ones’ journey in learning to see each other for who they truly are, and discovering what it means to be family.” Former Trinity Rep associate artistic director, Amanda Dehnert, will return to direct in Providence for the first time in more than twenty years.
“This lineup promises to inspire, engage, and connect us all, while returning us to the roots of what makes Trinity Rep’s brand of theater-making so uniquely captivating,” says Executive Director Katie Liberman. “Each story explores themes of connection, hope, and forgiveness, narratives that resonate deeply with the world we live in today.”
Interested in catching any or all of the above? Learn more about the season and ticket purchases at trinityrep.com.
