Islander
The first show is the Arizona premiere of Islander, running January 13 – January 28, 2024. Winner of Best New Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Islander is a musical showcase of epic storytelling, intimately staged with a contemporary Scottish folk-inspired score as dramatic as the Scottish coastline. Islander is conceived and directed by Amy Draper, with associate direction by Eve Nicol. The book is written by Stewart Melton and music and lyrics are by Finn Anderson.

Two performers create a world of characters while weaving, building, and layering their voices through the ingenious incorporation of live looping technology. This innovative approach produces a mesmerizing and immersive auditory soundscape that transports your senses and stirs your imagination. Don’t miss this internationally-acclaimed hit that tells the story of a community in peril and two young people finding connection inside it. The New York Times calls it “mystical and beautiful.” The Daily Beast touts that “Islander is really gorgeous—sharp, moving, funny.”

The Woman in Black
Running February 8-25, 2024 is the Arizona premiere of The Original London production, The Woman in Black, one of the longest-running plays on the West End. The Woman in Black is a bone-chilling drama, skillfully adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from Susan Hill’s renowned 1983 novel. Mallatratt’s ingenious stage adaptation breathes life into this acclaimed ghost story, capturing its essence with masterful precision. With nothing more than a sheer fabric, a wicker skip, and a door, Mallatratt conjures an entire world, inviting generations of young audiences to immerse themselves in the transformative power of theater: the boundless realm of their own imaginations.

The New York Times calls it “ingenious” and The Daily Telegraph calls it “the most brilliantly effective spine-chiller you will ever encounter.” This adaptation is a brilliantly successful study in atmosphere, illusion and controlled horror that brought audiences to the edge of their seats for more than three decades in the West End.

The Woman in Black is “one of British theatre’s biggest – and scariest – hits” (The Guardian).

Mariachi & Folklorico Festival
In partnership with Maestra Vanessa Ramirez, the Herberger Theater Center and C.A.L.L.E. de Arizona will present the inaugural Mariachi & Folklorico Festival on March 2, 2024. Experience the rich cultural history of Mexico through vibrant music and dance. The event will feature several world-renown Mariachi bands and performers, along with a dazzling array of folklorico dancers from Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli-AZ.

Mad Hatter the Musical
Closing out the season is the exciting world premiere of Mad Hatter: The Musical running May 1 – May 19, 2024.

Long before Alice, there was the notorious Mad Hatter. Discover the tumultuous tale of his haunting backstory and follow his path to Wonderland, where the secrets of his transformation await in this spellbinding new musical.

Audiences at the Herberger Theater Center will be the first to experience this vivid new musical production of Mad Hatter The Musical, which is on course for Broadway and the West End in the future. The creative team consists of award-winning composer and co-creator Michael J. Polo, book writer Vincent Connor, and songwriter Victor Valdez.