People’s Light, Chester County’s destination for award-winning theatre and live arts, has announced its 2026/27 season — and family is at the center of it all. From Pulitzer Prize-winning dramas to a Tony Award-winning musical satire, the season explores how family shapes, sustains, challenges, and ultimately binds us together.
“Family is where we first learn love, loyalty, competition, guilt, resilience, and hope,” said Zak Berkman, People’s Light’s Producing Artistic Director. “These plays and musicals are deeply human, wildly entertaining and profoundly connected to the questions we are asking ourselves right now about belonging, identity and community.”
The 2026/27 season features five productions running from fall 2026 through summer 2027.
Topdog/Underdog
Topdog/Underdog (Sept. 16-Oct. 11, 2026) opens the season with Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning darkly comic fable of brotherly love and family identity. Lincoln and Booth — two brothers haunted by abandonment and shaped by rivalry — confront the painful realities of their past in a searing examination of manhood, survival, and familial bonds. Directed by Philadelphia Director Amina Robinson and starring People’s Light Company Artist Akeem Davis, the production is co-produced with Arden Theatre Company.
Cinderella: A Musical Panto
Cinderella: A Musical Panto (Nov. 18, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027) returns in a brand-new staging of People’s Light’s beloved holiday tradition. Packed with larger-than-life characters, audience participation, and festive cheer, this joyful musical adventure follows a determined young heroine forging her own path despite family expectations. Directed by People’s Light Company Artist Liz Filios, the production promises a magical holiday experience for audiences of all ages.
Little Women
Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women (Feb. 10-March 14, 2027) brings Lauren Gunderson’s newly commissioned adaptation of the American classic to Malvern as the culmination of its rolling world premiere, directed by nationally acclaimed director Donya K. Washington. The timeless story follows the March sisters as they navigate the expectations of 19th-century New England while remaining bound by an unbreakable sisterhood — a celebration of love, resilience, and the bonds that shape us.
Harvey
Harvey (April 14-May 9, 2027) reunites audiences with Elwood P. Dowd and his invisible best friend, an exceedingly tall rabbit, in Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy. When Elwood’s sister attempts to have him committed, a whirlwind of misunderstandings and unexpected revelations follows. Directed by Producing Director Molly Rosa Houlahan and featuring People’s Light Company Artist David M. Lutken as Elwood, the production explores what happens when a family’s capacity for acceptance is tested by society’s expectations.
Urinetown
Urinetown (July 8-Aug. 8, 2027) closes the season with the three-time Tony Award-winning musical satire set in a drought-stricken future where citizens must pay to use corporate-controlled public restrooms. Sharp, funny, and surprisingly moving, the show follows a group of underdogs challenging a rigged system — and asks whether a new generation can break free from the failures of the past. Directed by Associate Artistic Director Andrew Watring, the production will feature an all-star cast of People’s Light Company Artists.
In addition to its five mainstage productions, People’s Light will continue its popular Flight Nights at the Farmhouse series, transforming select Wednesday evenings into immersive experiences featuring original short-form performances, artist conversations, and themed drink and light-bite flights. The 2026/27 lineup includes Fright Night (Oct. 28), Holiday Hijinks (Dec. 9), Canceled Flights (Feb. 17), Sci-Flight (May 12), and Murder at the Farmhouse (June 9). Frequent Flyer passes are available.
Season subscriptions for 2026/27 are on sale now, with options including Full Season Subscriptions, Preview Packages, Four-Play Subscriptions, and the 10-Ticket People’s Pass. Subscribers receive flexible scheduling and savings of up to 25 percent. Single tickets go on sale June 15, 2026.
For tickets, subscription information, and a full season schedule, visit People’s Light or call 610-644-3500. Since 1974, People’s Light has been a cultural cornerstone of Chester County — producing bold, award-winning theatre and welcoming audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
