Just as classes start up, the School of Dramatic Arts is ramping up their productions in what has been titled “A Year of Adaptation.” The season features adaptation in the work itself — as in adapted from different source material — as well as adaptation to circumstances within and outside of the stories on stage.

In the past, the larger shows such as musicals and some mainstage productions would begin one weekend, break and then continue the following weekend. But this year, there are only two Spring shows that have two weekends — “Legally Blonde” and “Blue Window.”

Despite a decrease in performances, there are still shows that will contain talent across SDA in everything from a hit musical to an Anton Chekhov classic.

‘The Heidi Chronicles’

As an expert art historian, Heidi Holland can look at a painting and deeply understand the past worlds in which it was created; however, reality isn’t quite as simple for her. With complicated relationships with her friends, she works to navigate the difficulty of connecting with others.

Regardless of the art references, the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning show will be kicking off the 2025-26 SDA season in the Bing Theatre from Oct. 2–5, primarily featuring the BFA senior acting majors. The play features a depiction of contemporary American feminism and is told through interrelated scenes.

‘Guys and Dolls’

“What’s playing at the [Bing]? / I’ll tell you what’s playing at the [Bing]. A [musical] about a [New York] man … That’s what’s playing at the [Bing],” according to the famous lyrics at the top of the song “Guys and Dolls” from the award-winning musical of the same name. 

Having made audiences laugh, sing and most importantly, “sit down” for over 70 years, the show, written by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, will be opening to USC audiences this fall. With well-known music by Frank Loesser and plenty of pinstriped suits to go around, SDA has practically loaded the dice for a season favorite with this show.

The show will run from Nov. 6–9 and will primarily feature the BFA senior musical theatre students.

‘Three Sisters’

Olga, Masha and Irina, all dissatisfied with their current situation in their small Russian town, long for a return to Moscow. Moscow, where the three sisters grew up, is an idea of joy and excitement for them. 

In a difficult struggle of yearning for disillusionment alongside joy and dreams, the Chekhov classic will explore themes of human connection and the emotional feeling of the world passing by. The play, set 125 years ago, maintains its relevance with the deeply human aspects of delusion and dissatisfaction.

Chekhov will be making his exciting return, with a translation by Paul Schmidt, to the Sanctuary Theatre in the Dick Wolf Drama Center. The show will see five performances in the Sanctuary Theatre from Oct. 23 until 26, cast primarily from the MFA year-three acting students.

‘Animal Farm’

Looking at the Second Stage program, the book you read in eighth grade is coming back with an exciting new direction by SDA professor Zachary Steel. The story is adapted from George Orwell’s novel which is based on Russia’s Bolshevik Revolution, but set on a farm with pigs and various other farm animals. The show primarily features the BFA junior class and will run Nov. 6–9 in the Sanctuary Theatre.

‘Anyone Can Whistle’

Taking on the Second Stage is a social satire about miracles with a cult following. With a book by Arthur Laurents and music by Stephen Sondheim, the show follows a corrupt government brainwashing its people — an all too relevant tale. With an initial Broadway run that closed after nine performances, the show gained a following post-mortem with many fans supporting the music but feeling wary of the book.

The show will be performed primarily by the BFA junior musical theater students and will take the Sanctuary Theatre stage from Nov. 20 to 23. This lesser-known show written by some of the most iconic theater writers is sure to draw in audiences curious to see what the Laurents-Sondheim duo has to offer.

‘Antigone X’

This modern retelling of the 2,466-year-old play — written by SDA professor Paula Cizmar — will be produced as an undergraduate staged reading, having been done previously by MFA students in 2017. 

Thebes finds itself amid refugee camps, police violence, terrorists and corruption in a story that reworks Sophocles’ tale from a modern and increasingly relevant viewpoint. Depicting the cast as they work to fight against the injustices and inch towards rebellion, the show’s reading will run from Oct. 24–27 in McClintock Theatre.

‘Pass Over’

Continuing the theme of adaptation, a reimagined “Waiting for Godot” lives within Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s “Pass Over.” In the three-person cast — taken from the MFA year two acting students — Moses and Kitch stand with each other chatting and yearning for change when a stranger comes and changes their plans. 

The show will be presented in McClintock Theatre from Nov. 13–16, directed by Tony Award-nominated SDA professor Michele Shay. Having last directed at SDA last year with “Skeleton Crew,” Shay is likely to bring a unique view on this special story of a notable show.

‘Please Don’t Feed the Pigeons’

“Please Don’t Feed the Pigeons” is a play written by second-year MFA dramatic writing student Nena Martins and will be performed by the MFA year two acting students who are not in “Pass Over.” There is little information available about the show with it being such a unique and new piece of work.

Spring semester shows will include “Twelfth Night,” “Legally Blonde,” “Blue Window,” “The Gods Are Not to Blame,” a “The Laramie Project” staged reading, Second Stage’s “Julius Caesar,” Second Stage’s “Love and Information” and Second Stage’s “Working.”