2025-2026 theater and dance season celebrates discovery and imagination
A new season celebrating discovery and imagination is about to begin for the Casper College Theatre and Dance Department. The season will feature four productions designed to reach audiences of all ages while challenging students with diverse and meaningful material.
According to Joel Shura, instructor of theater and theater performance degree coordinator, season selection involves balancing multiple priorities, including student capacity, material relevance, audience outreach, and technical feasibility. “I found it particularly important to make an intentional outreach to younger audiences and build our long-term audience bases,” Shura said.
The season opens with “Elephant and Piggie’s ‘We are in a Play!” a wild, wacky, and fun Theater for Young Audiences production perfect for Casper’s youngest theatergoers and their families. According to Shura, the play is based on Mo Willems’ award-winning book series and follows Gerald and Piggie, as well as the Squirrelles, through their most famous stories. Shura directs the production, which features catchy songs, colorful characters, lots of dancing, and a funny script that serves as a perfect introduction to live theater for young people.
The second production, “Silent Sky” by Lauren Gunderson, celebrates curiosity, discovery, and the power of perseverance. The play tells the story of Henrietta Leavitt, an often-overlooked pioneer in astronomy whose work made it possible to measure the universe. “It shines a light on an important woman in science and history who, along with other important women, all too often, have had their voices left out,” Shura said. The play has been one of the most produced across the country in recent years. Shura also directs this production.
The third production, “The Old Man and The Old Moon,” is described by Shura as “a fun, magical, music-filled adventure about love, memory, and the power of storytelling.” The production invites both students and audiences into a world where imagination leads the way, featuring theatrical creativity through a live folk band, shadow puppetry, singing, dancing, stage combat, and ensemble storytelling. Under Shura’s direction, the production promises to be entertaining for the whole family.
The season concludes with the dance concert “Clock In!” written, directed, and choreographed by dance instructor Amy Fitzsimmons. From the creative mind behind “Pencils Down!” comes this exploration of the rhythms, routines, and realities of the modern workplace. With her signature blend of humor and insight, Fitzsimmons dives into the universal experience of work — meetings, deadlines, coffee breaks, and office dynamics. The performance invites audiences to see their 9-to-5 in a whole new light.
“In short: I am stoked for the upcoming season!” Shura said. “We are already having a blast working on these shows, and our community will be, too.”
The department made an intentional push to recruit students from Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado this year. “We have such a fun, good-natured, collaborative, exciting, hardworking group of students this year,” Shura said. “The vibes in our building just seem to be brimming with good energy. I speak for all faculty when I say we wake up every day excited to work — and play! — with this cohort of students.”
Tickets for all productions are now on sale online or available two weeks before the first show date at the box office or by phone at 307-268-2500. The box office is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for each performance are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students aged 5 to 18. Evening performances begin at 7 and matinees at 2 p.m.