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Dogged detectives, tenacious trailblazers, literary disruptors and one heroic act of hospitality add up to an extraordinary , featuring acclaimed comedies, contemporary dramas, exciting producing partnerships and two daring world premieres.

“We’re thrilled to share our 54th season—a new season that boasts exciting, memorable, one-of-a-kind experiences—created especially for Central New York,” says artistic director Robert Hupp.

“There’s nothing like coming together to share these dynamic and diverse stories in the Archbold Theatre. I hope you’ll make Syracuse Stage a part of your life in the coming year—you won’t want to miss it.”

The six-show subscription season, including a full schedule of educational, family and community related programming, will run Sept. 16, 2026, to June 20, 2027. Subscription packages are on sale now at or at the Box Office, 315-443-3275. Single tickets will go on sale in July.

Subscription season at a glance

“Come From Away” (Sept. 16 to Oct. 11, 2026), “Les Misérables” (Nov. 27, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027), “The Book Club Play” (Jan. 27 to Feb. 14, 2027), the Central New York premiere of “John Proctor is the Villain” (March 3 to 21, 2027), the world premieres of Kyle Bass’ “The Black Nationals” (April 7 to 25, 2027) and “Dust and Shadow: The Unraveling of Sherlock Holmes” (June 2 to 20, 2027).

Opening the season is “Come From Away,” the uplifting, Tony Award-winning musical about the residents of the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, who opened their doors—and their hearts—to stranded travelers after flights were grounded in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. A co-production with Indiana Repertory Theatre, “Come From Away” is directed by James Vásquez.

Next up is a brand new production of “Les Misérables,” the smash-hit musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale of romance, rebellion and redemption, directed by Hupp. Central New York audiences will experience this legendary show like never before when the Syracuse Stage and Syracuse University Department of Drama co-production of “Les Misérables” storms the holiday season.

In the new year, Syracuse Stage will present “The Book Club Play,” a delicious and relatable comedy about an ambitious woman who invites chaos into her closely guarded book club when she allows a famous filmmaker to document their meetings. Written by Karen Zacarías, the playwright behind “Native Gardens” which delighted critics and audiences at Syracuse Stage in 2018, “The Book Club Play” is directed by Rebecca Martínez.

Then it is a witch’s brew of pop music, classic plays and teenage angst with Kimberly Belflower’s “John Proctor is the Villain,” the whip-smart and wickedly funny story of a group of high school girls on a literary crusade to reclaim their voices in the classroom and beyond. The play was a recent hit on Broadway, earning 7 Tony Award nominations, and is being adapted into an upcoming film from producer Tina Fey. Directed by Syracuse Stage associate artistic director Melissa Crespo, the Central New York premiere of “John Proctor is the Villain” is a co-production with the Syracuse University Department of Drama.

“[This] is a play about who gets labeled a hero, who gets silenced and what happens when young women decide they’ve had enough,” says Crespo. “There’s no better setting for that conversation than a collaboration between Syracuse Stage and the Syracuse University Department of Drama—where learning and professional artistry collide.”

Syracuse Stage celebrates a defining moment in Central New York and NBA history with the world premiere of Resident Playwright Kyle Bass’ “The Black Nationals,” inspired by the Syracuse Nationals, Syracuse’s own professional basketball team, and its 1954-55 championship season. This fast-paced and imaginative new play, directed by Gilbert McCauley, tells the story of the team’s two African American players, among the first Black athletes to compete professionally, as they fight to leave their mark on the history of the game at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement.

“The Black Nationals” will also mark the end of Bass’ tenure at Syracuse Stage, as he steps away from the role of resident playwright at the closing of the 26/27 season. A celebrated playwright, screenwriter, librettist and educator, Bass has played a pivotal role in helping shape the artistic identity of Syracuse Stage over the past 30 years. Along with spearheading the creation of the theatre’s new play festival, Bass penned five world premieres for Syracuse Stage, including “Possessing Harriet,” “Citizen James, or the Young Man Without a Country” and “Cry for Peace: Voices from the Congo” with Ping Chong. He became the first resident playwright of Syracuse Stage in 2022.

“It’s every playwright’s dream to have an artistic home, a dream that rarely becomes a reality for most,” Bass says. “I have cherished my time with Syracuse Stage, particularly my years working alongside Bob Hupp, first as associate artistic director and especially as resident playwright. I am thankful for the continued support of my work by my Stage colleagues, our Board and especially our audience.”

Finishing out the subscription season is the world premiere of “Dust and Shadow: The Unraveling of Sherlock Holmes,” a new musical thriller based on the nail-biting novel by Lyndsay Faye. True crime meets murder mystery when Sherlock Holmes, along with his trusted partner Doctor Watson, races to stop Jack the Ripper as he terrorizes the gritty streets of Victorian London. Co-directed by Madsie Flynn and Melissa Crespo, and produced in association with Amanda Dubois Productions and HudsonMann, music is by Jonathan Reid Gealt, lyrics are by Dustin Sullivan and the book is by Kasey Marino.

“We are honored to collaborate with Broadway producers Amanda Dubois Productions and HudsonMann to bring this exciting and thrilling new show to Central New York,” says managing director Carly DiFulvio Allen. “Syracuse Stage has a strong track record of developing new musicals for big futures, such as ‘How to Dance in Ohio’ and last season’s ‘The Hello Girls,’ and we can’t wait for our audiences to once again see an amazing world premiere musical here first.”

“The Julie Lutz New Play Festival,” which celebrates “works in progress” by providing a dedicated space for audiences and artists alike, will return at a soon-to-be-announced date, once again curated by Crespo. The festival is part of Syracuse Stage’s ongoing commitment to fostering new work; past festival playwrights include Rogelio Martinez (“The National Pastime”) and Ty Defoe (“Our Words Are Seeds”).

Supporting each production is a strong lineup of supplementary special event programming, including Prologue, a series of insightful pre-show conversations, talkbacks with cast and creative teams and a complimentary Tuesday evening trivia event hosted by “Jeopardy!” champion Dillon Hupp.

In addition, Syracuse Stage will offer a host of educational and community outreach programs, the return of Sensory Friendly/Relaxed performances for select shows and an array of accessibility offerings throughout the season, including audio description, open captioning, ASL interpretation and a Pay-What-You-Will program.

In the fall, the Children’s Tour resumes performances live in elementary schools with “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” by Finegan Kruckemeyer and directed by Leslie Noble. Returning, too, is Theatre for the Very Young with “Click, Clack, Create,” a program that invites children five and under to experience the magic of theatre through a playful and interactive live performance.