The Arkansas State University Department of Theatre recently announced its season for 2022-2023.

“Gruesome Playground Injuries” opens the season, followed by “Little Women,” “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “The Trail to Oregon.” Tickets for all events are available in advance at astate.edu/tickets. A-State student tickets are free at the box office with a student ID.

“Gruesome Playground Injuries” is one of the most intimate plays produced at A-State. Written by Pulitzer Prize nominee Rajiv Joseph, this intense, dark-humored, contemporary drama spans the course of a 30-year relationship between two broken souls. It is a compelling and unconventional love story that reveals what can happen when two people drop their defenses and allow their wounds to show. Enjoy this life-affirming play in Fowler Center’s Simpson Theatre on Sept. 23, Sept. 24 and Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 2 at 2 pm. Tickets are $10-15.  

A-State’s second fall production is an iconic story of resilience, ambition and sisterhood. Set in 1860s America, this powerful musical chronicles the coming-of-age journey of four young women during the turmoil of the Civil War. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s wildly popular semiautobiographical novel, the fall musical production will be Alan Knee, Jason Howland and Mindi Dickstein’s adaptation of “Little Women.” The show is scheduled for Nov. 11 and Nov. 18-19 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. in Fowler Center’s Drama Theatre. Tickets are $12-17.  

The first show of the spring semester features ingenious theatricality and character tracks that span up to half a dozen characters for a single actor. This inventive adaptation completely reimagines the origin story of one of the world’s most beloved children’s books. Rick Elice’s “Peter and the Starcatcher” is a prequel for the familiar characters of the classic Peter Pan. This family favorite will be produced in Fowler Center’s Drama Theatre on Feb. 17-18 and 24-25 at 7:30 pm.  

The season will close with an irreverent musical satire based on the famous educational video game, “The Oregon Trail.” “The Trail to Oregon” by Jeff Blim, Matt Lang and Nick Lang is part of the master satirist collective known as Starkid Productions. This musical parody will make audience members laugh until their ox dies of dysentery. To be presented in Fowler Center’s Simpson Theatre, show dates are April 14-15 and 21-22 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $12-17.  For more information, please visit the Arkansas State University Department of Theatre website at astate.edu/theatre.