On Stage
A New Brain
Music & Lyrics by William Finn & Book by Finn & James Lapine | Directed by Cooper Ellis & Roy Lightner | Musical Direction by Carolyn Violi
October 12-16, 2022
By the Tony Award-winning authors of Falsettos, here is an energetic, sardonic, often comical musical about a composer during a medical crisis. (Strong language & mature themes.)
Sense & Sensibility
By Kate Hamill | Directed by Santiago Sosa
November 9-12, 16-19, 2022
A playful new adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved novel follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Dashwood sisters—sensible Elinor and hypersensitive Marianne—after their father’s sudden death leaves them financially destitute and socially vulnerable.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
By Tom Stoppard | Directed by Dennis McLernon
February 22-25 @ 7:30pm; February 26 @ 2pm
Acclaimed as a modern dramatic masterpiece, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead is the fabulously inventive tale of Hamlet as told from the worm's-eye view of the bewildered Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters in Shakespeare's play.
Sanctuary City
By Martyna Majok | Directed by Bailey Dumlao
March 6-10, 2023
The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright returns with an unforgettable account of two young immigrants fighting to establish a place for themselves and each other in America. (Strong language & mature themes.)
Tour Showcase 1: Alice in Wonderland + Loving Shakespeare
August 31, 2022
Tour Showcase 2: Heroes vs Villains + Contemporary Broadway
September 1, 2022
Freshman Showcase
September 30, 2022
We are Proud to Present…
A Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Südwestafrika, Between 1884-1925 | By Jackie Sibblies Drury | Directed by Mona Eldashoury
October 14-18, 2026
In this boundary-pushing play by acclaimed playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury, the haunted past of the Nama/Herero genocide collides with 21st century conceptions of cultural identity within the United States.
Cabaret
Music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masteroff | Directed by Santiago Sosa | Music Direction by Jonathan Parks
November 11-15, 2026
In this stylish, classic jazz musical, American writer Cliff Bradshaw, falls in love with English cabaret performer, Sally Bowles, at the decadent Kit Kat Klub in 1930s Weimar Germany. They navigate the complexities of love against the hedonism of Berlin’s nightlife and the looming threat of the rising Nazi Party.
Artemisia
By Lauren Gunderson | Directed by Kelley Schoger
February 24-28, 2027
Artemisia Gentileschi was the most celebrated female painter of the 17th century, yet her name was all but lost for centuries. Attacked at just seventeen, publicly shamed, and tortured to prove her truth, Gentileschi’s painterly prowess equaled the men of her time, and she fought to make art on her own terms. Gunderson is one of our most exciting contemporary playwrights, whose work of humor and warmth celebrates the courage, artistry, and humanity of a woman who attacked the glass ceiling with every brush stroke.
Twelfth Night
By William Shakespeare | Directed by Santiago Sosa
March 31-April 4, 2027
Twins Viola and Sebastian are separated by a shipwreck and washed ashore in the land of Illyria. Protectively disguising herself as a boy in this unknown and dangerous territory, Viola gets caught in a love triangle between the infatuated Duke Orsino and noblewoman Olivia, while struggling to reunite with her lost brother.
Mean Girls
Book by Tina Fey, lyrics by Neil Benjamin, and music by Jeff Richmond | Directed by Roy Lightner
April 2-18, 2027
Cady Heron, the new girl at school, tries to adapt and belong, befriending outsiders and infiltrating the "Plastics" clique run by queen bee Regina George. Mean Girls, inspired by Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 book Queen Bees and Wannabes, is a high-energy rock musical that addresses the power plays of high school life, including the pressure to fit in, the consequences of blind judgment, and the struggle to be true to oneself amidst social pressures.
The ASC is easy to find on Birmingham's Southside, at 1200 10th Avenue South. Parking is free for most events, with a shuttle service running from area hotels. Read more about the Alys Stephens Center here.
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We've produced hundreds of full-length shows in our Department's history, plus short films, student showcases, and more than 100 original ten-minute plays. Our touring groups perform all over the state and our alumni are working professionally all over the country.
Our plays are cast entirely, with very rare exceptions, from the student body. In our auditions, equal consideration is given to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Students who demonstrate exceptional ability are frequently allowed to design and even direct our main-season productions.
Our stages are stars in their own rights: the Sirote Theatre and the Odess Theatre, both in the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center in Birmingham's Southside.