A robust range of plays is scheduled for Northwest theatergoers in a 2025-2026 season varied enough to rival the stage fare offered in Center City.

Quintessence Theatre Group takes on the Harlem Renaissance while The Stagecrafters Theater is inspired by a case argued before the Supreme Court. The Drama Group of Germantown, recently revived, examines teen struggles in turn-of-the-century Germany, and a thrilling Stephen King adaptation takes the stage in productions at Old Academy Players and Act II Playhouse.

More is on the way. Allens Lane Art Center may have discontinued its full play presentations following the pandemic in favor of one-night improvisational comedy, readings, and cabaret shows, but last year, the center ran a trial production of “Crossing Delancey.” Allens Lane plans another mainstage production this February, while Lantern Theater intends to open its Germantown Avenue branch in the fall of 2026.

Here is a glimpse of what lies ahead.

The Stagecrafters Theater

Stagecrafters opens on Sept. 12 with “The Cake” by Bekah Brunstetter, inspired by the Supreme Court case “Cakeshop V. Colorado Civil Rights Commission,” which examined whether a bakery could refuse to design a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.

On Feb. 6, a condemned man seeks redemption from a priest in “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” by Stephen Adly Guirgis. And on April 10, a bullied teenager seeks revenge by creating a robot savior in “The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow” by Rolin Jones. On June 12, Stagecrafters concludes with “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Simon Stephens.

The Drama Group

Opening Nov. 7, the revived Drama Group presents “Spring Awakening” (1891) by German playwright Frank Wedekind. The play languished in obscurity until the hit Broadway musical adaptation in 2006 brought it back to public consciousness. The raw portrayal of teenage struggles, especially emergent sexuality, was scandalous in its day and somehow remains shocking.

Act II Playhouse 

Act II Playhouse will initiate its new season Aug. 5 with a production of “Theater People” by Paul Slade Smith. This farce builds on Smith’s political comedy, “The Outsider,”which Act II produced last season. “Misery” follows Oct. 7, an adaptation of Stephen King’s thriller by William Goldman. “Proof” by David Auburn opens Jan.27, and Artistic Director Tony Braithwaite stars in “Say Goodnight, Gracie,” a salute to George Burns and Act II favorite, that opens on March 31.

Old Academy Players

Old Academy opens on Sept. 12 with “Crimes of the Heart” by Beth Henley, an affecting story in the tragicomic, Southern Gothic tradition. Terrence McNally’s farce, “It’s Only a Play,” follows Nov. 7. On Jan. 9, “Dog sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” by Bert V. Royal, reimagines “Peanuts” characters as disturbed teenagers. And on March 6, Nia Vardalos’ adapts Cheryl Strayed’s “Tiny Beautiful Things” in which advice columnist Sugar celebrates human resilience.

Quintessence Theatre Group

Opening on Oct. 8, Quintessence Theatre presents “Fire!!” Written and adapted by Marilyn Campbell-Lowe and Paul Oakley Stovall, the production is an original play based on the life of Wallace Thurman, a rebellious writer in the Harlem Renaissance who challenged both the white and Black establishments.

Opening Feb. 11, “Rare Accidents” is Artistic Director Alex Burns’ adaptation of scenes from “Henry IV” spotlighting Falstaff, Prince Hal’s favorite bad influence. Quintessence concludes with Moliere’s “The Hypochondriac” (better known as “The Imaginary Invalid”) on April 15, in which Moliere uses the character of Argan to satirize the hypocrisy of aristocratic society.

Musicals

Two theaters have a tradition of ending their season with a musical. On May 26, Act II Playhouse presents “Annie Get Your Gun,” the long-running Broadway hit by Irving Berlin and Dorothy Fields. And at Old Academy Players, opening on April 24, Josh Tull directs “Carrie,” the musical adaptation of the Stephen King novel by Lawrence D. Cohen, Dean Pitchford, and Michael Gore. A Broadway flop in 1988, “Carrie” now has a cult following.

Holiday season

Several theaters give us something different for the holidays. Opening Nov. 19, Quintessence presents “The Pirates of Penzance,” the groundbreaking comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan designed to entertain the whole family.

At Act II Playhouse, Artistic Director Tony Braithwaite helms “Most Wonderful Time,” opening on Dec. 2. First produced in 2023, the show is a holiday special featuring improvisational and stand-up comedy, as well as songs and stories.

Stagecrafters presents “A Sherlock Carol” by Mark Shanahan. Opening on Nov. 28, the show reimagines Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” as Sherlock Holmes tries to figure out the mysterious death of Ebenezer Scrooge.