Zach Theater, Texas’ longest-running professional theater, announces its full 2026-27 Season, reflecting the organization’s commitment to bold, inclusive storytelling that speaks to today’s Austin and Central Texas audiences.
The slate includes the newly announced 2026 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama and five-time 2026 Tony Award nominee, the acclaimed new play Liberation by Bess Wohl. Over the next three seasons, Zach will present a trilogy of works by remarkable female playwrights. Liberation begins this journey. Zach will announce the additional titles in the trilogy at a later date.
Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley said of the three-season commitment, “These stories bridge generations. Stories about women who refused to wait their turn, who stepped forward, and who changed the narrative because they had to. These plays shine a light on both how far we’ve come, and how far we can all go together.”
Additionally, Steakley spoke of the broader programming for the upcoming season as an invitation for the community to gather and connect. “Great storytelling needs an audience. Told sitting close and passed from voice to voice, stories are shaped by the people who tell them and the people who lean in to listen. That’s the soul of our 2026-27 Season. Join us in the room where strangers become neighbors.”
Early 2027 brings the international comedy sensation and Austin premiere of Peter Pan Goes Wrong. The team behind the Tony Award-winning global hit, The Play That Goes Wrong, unleashes their trademark comic mayhem on the J.M. Barrie classic Peter Pan with a raucous family-friendly comedy disaster. Brace yourselves for an awfully big adventure when an inept and accident-prone drama club sets out to present the much-loved classic tale of Peter Pan, their most audacious production to date, in Peter Pan Goes Wrong.
Spring at Zach brings the Tony Award-winning musical The Color Purple. With a soul-raising, Grammy®-winning score of jazz, gospel, ragtime and blues, The Color Purple gives an exhilarating new spirit to Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Set against the backdrop of 40 years, The Color Purple chronicles the inspiring journey of Celie, following her evolution from a downtrodden young woman to a beacon of hope and empowerment. Discovering her inner strength and voice amidst a lifetime of adversity, this musical celebration is a testament to the human spirit and the healing power of love.
Fresh off an acclaimed Broadway run, Summer 2027 brings the daring new play Liberation—fiery, funny, and unafraid to ask what happens when a fight doesn’t end but evolves. Liberation blends the past and present, following a daughter as she pieces together her mother’s revolutionary past.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid will soar to breathtaking new heights with extraordinary aerialist staging in this magical under-the-sea spectacle. Follow the enchanting journey of Ariel, whose quest for love and self-discovery reminds us to cherish our dreams and find the courage to pursue them against all odds. With timeless songs like “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World,” this family classic will be Austin’s most unforgettable summer adventure.
Zach serves up another stylish whodunit with Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. On the heels of the 2026 smash hit production of Murder on the Orient Express, Zach brings Agatha Christie back for another evening of primal murder that keeps the mystery going, and audiences guessing.
Holiday Season add-ons include Dave Steakley’s modern hit musical and family-friendly adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Sold out seven years running, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens returns for the 12th year with its annual refresh including new songs and surprises for the season.
Also returning for the holiday is A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz, based on the beloved Peanuts special. Featuring Vince Guaraldi’s iconic jazz score, this stage version brings the simplicity of the original to life.
Zach’s 2026-27 Family Series includes two season add-ons starting with the remount of Zach’s 2017 production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, adapted from C.S. Lewis’ classic tale. Journey through the Wardrobe to Narnia for an imaginative adventure to help Aslan defeat the White Queen. With just two actors and a lot of theatrical magic, this classic tale comes to life in a way never before experienced.
Spring 2027 will bring Go, Dog. Go! | Ve Perro ¡Ve!. Adapted by acclaimed playwriting duo and local Austinites Allison Gregory and Steven Dietz, this classic book becomes a bilingual fiesta following delightful dogs and their fantastic adventures with pure joy from start to finish.
Patrons may visit zachtheater.org/seasonpreview to sign up for updates and notifications on the upcoming season. Season Subscriptions are available now to renewing and new subscribers. Single tickets to go on sale later this Summer.