Essential Theatre Past Season Lineups

IRENE C. EDMONDS YOUTH THEATRE: 30 YEAR CELEBRATION 

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY JAMES WEBB

An ICE Youth Theatre Play
July 10 - 11, 2026
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

Join us as we celebrate the Irene C. Edmonds Youth Theatre’s 30th Anniversary and its final year of inspiring young performers. Directed by James Webb, and Featuring children ages 7 to 16, this enchanting production is the grand finale of the five-week performing arts camp.  If you’ve been part of the ICE Camp family, we warmly invite you to return and share in this special occasion honoring the lasting legacy of Dr. Valencia E. Matthews’ cherished youth theatre.  Don’t miss this joyful celebration—come cheer on our young performers and help make this a memorable event.  

TALENT UNLEASHED: SENIOR SHOWCASES

SPECIAL EVENT

Student Showcase
Thursday, April 02, 2026 | 6 p.m.
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage
Free to the public. No ticket required.

Join us for an evening of inspiration and celebration at our annual senior capstone and directing scene showcases. Talented students will present their carefully crafted scenes and heartfelt monologues, demonstrating to the community the skills they’ve developed throughout their journey. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support these emerging artists who are the future of the arts!

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ECHOES OF THE HEART: A MUSICAL REVUE

BY RYAN PETTAWAY
DIRECTED BY JAE EDWARDS

Mainstage Series
February 25 - March 1, 2026
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

Whether you’re in love, looking for love, or disappointed in love, this show will move you.  An original musical revue, written, directed and performed by students, Echoes of the Heart is a multi-act production that combines music, acting and dance.  It features songs that capture the excitement of first love, romance, and heartbreak.  If you’re ready to believe in the power of love, join us at Cabaret “Smoke ‘n Honey” where the broken-hearted finds healing.

^{Suggested Audience: Age 10+}

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ODE TO MARIAH

BY BETH TURNER
DIRECTED BY EVELYN D. HARRIS

Writing For Life Play Series
February 5 - 8, 2026
Ronald O. Davis Acting Studio
(Limited Seating)

Inspired by her African grandfather, 17-year-old Mariah confronts the pressures of family, societal expectations, and the harsh realities of racial and gender stereotyping while dreaming of pursuing a college education in 1898. This inspiring story of resilience and hope follows one young woman’s uphill battle to break free from the constraints of a world determined to hold her back.

^{Suggested Audience: Age 12+}

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SIBLING RIVALRY

BY JAMES WEBB 
DIRECTED BY LUTHER D. WELLS DIRECTED BY RUBEN ARANA

Theatre Unbound Series
NOVEMBER 5 - 9, 2025
Ronald O. Davis Acting Studio
(Limited Seating)

Bring together a family, a funeral, and an ounce of truth . . . and all hell breaks loose. You will die from laughter during this hilarious new comedy exploiting the sometimes-comic complications of sibling relationships before, during and after a funeral.  Composed of short vignettes linked by uproarious funeral advertisements, Webb’s humor allows you to laugh in the face of life’s toughest challenges.

^{Suggested Audience: Age 16+ | Contains mature language and subject matter. Not appropriate for children.}

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FAT HAM

BY JAMES IJAMES
DIRECTED BY LUTHER D. WELLS

Mainstage Series
OCTOBER 22 - 26, 2025
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

A 2002 Pulitzer Prize winning play, Fat Ham is a hilarious reimagined adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The story follows Juicy, an early twenties queer Black man, who is grappling with questions of identity, his father’s death, and the unexpected task to organize a wedding celebration for his mother and uncle/step-father. Get ready to experience ghostly apparitions, a backyard BBQ, a karaoke wedding, spirited tension and plenty of laughs in this compelling examination of love and loss, pain and joy.

^{Suggested Audience: Age 16+ | Advisory: Contains mature language and subject matter.} 

WRESTLING WITH ANGELS: A HIP HOP KIDZ MUSICAL

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY JAMES WEBB

An ICE Youth Theatre Play
July 11-12, 2025
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

Wrestling with Angels: A Hip Hop Kidz Musical is a bold and inspiring performance that follows Cassius, a bright and determined angel on her final mission to earn her wings by guiding Cassandra, a tough young orphan with a hardened heart. What begins as a divine assignment becomes a journey of compassion, trust, and healing, transforming them both along the way. Infused with powerful original hip hop music, Wrestling with Angels blends timeless themes with a fresh, contemporary sound that resonates across generations.

TALENT UNLEASHED: SENIOR SHOWCASES

SPECIAL EVENT

Student Showcase
Thursday, April 02, 2025 | 6 p.m.
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage
Free to the public. No ticket required.

Join us for an evening of inspiration and celebration at our annual senior capstone and directing scene showcases. Talented students will present their carefully crafted scenes and heartfelt monologues, demonstrating to the community the skills they’ve developed throughout their journey. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support these emerging artists who are the future of the arts!

DISAPPEARING ACTS

POOF! WRITTEN BY LYNN NOTTAGE
DAY OF ABSENCE WRITTEN BY DOUGLAS TURNER WARD
DIRECTED BY LUTHER WELLS

Mainstage Series
February 7th-9th, 2025
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

2 One-act plays including: Poof by Lynn Nottage and Day of Absence by Douglas Turner Ward. 

CONFEDERATES

BY DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU
DIRECTED BY ANEDRA SMALL

Mainstage Series
February 26 - March 02, 2025
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

The Confederates follows the harrowing journeys of two Black women, 160 years apart, whose lives collide in a powerful exploration of freedom and identity. This bold satire intertwines the stories of Sara, an enslaved rebel turned Union spy during the Civil War era, and Sandra, a modern-day tenured professor navigating institutional racism at a private university. Drawing striking parallels between their struggles, the story exposes the enduring grip of racial and gender bias in American education.

SHAKIN’ THE MESS OUTTA MISERY

WRITTEN BY SHAY YOUNGBLOOD
DIRECTED BY BRYAN F. MITCHELL

Theatre Unbound Series
November 7 - 10, 2024
Ronald O. Davis Acting Studio
(Limited Seating)

Experience this poignant coming-of-age tale that unfolds through the eyes of “Daughter,” reflecting on her upbringing in a close-knit community of women after her mother’s untimely passing. Set against the backdrop of the 1960s South, this evocative play delves into themes of womanhood, race, and the rich rituals that shape identity and resilience. Join us for a heartfelt journey of survival, healing, and the enduring bonds of sisterhood that resonate across generations.

^{Suggested Audience: Age 13+}

THOUGHTS OF A COLORED MAN

BY KEENAN SCOTT II
DIRECTED BY RUBEN ARANA

Mainstage Series
October 16-20, 2024
Charles Winter Wood Theatre

Dive into the vibrant world of "Thoughts of a Colored Man," where the daily lives of seven Black men intertwine against the backdrop of a rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn. Through the unique storytelling style of SLAM Narrative, witness their hopes, fears, and joys come alive as they navigate the complexities of modern identity—from spirited barbershop debates to heartfelt reflections on ambition, friendship, and fatherhood. This powerful and uplifting play celebrates the rich tapestry of Black manhood in a society that often overlooks their voices, inviting audiences to listen, reflect, and connect.

^{Suggested Audience: Age 16+ | Advisory: This Play Contains Profanity and Discussions of Adult Behavior Such as Sex, Drugs, Violence, Race, and Sexual Identity.}

FAMU Connection

CONCEIVED AND DIRECTED BY ANEDRA SMALL 

Fall Preview
September, 2024
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

Electrifying Choreography. Contemporary Sounds. FAMU Facts! Get Ready for the FAMU Connection!

THE WIZ

ADAPTED FROM "THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ"  BY L. FRANK BAUM
BOOK BY WILLIAM F. BROWN
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY CHARLIE SMALLS
DIRECTED BY EVELYN D. TYLER

Mainstage Series
February 28 – March 3, 2024
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

Like Dorothy, be transported to a magical world of Munchkins, witches, and a yellow brick road.  Experience Dorothy on her way to Emerald City to meet the Wizard of Oz, befriend a Scarecrow, a Tin Man and a Cowardly Lion — friends who help her to battle the Wicked Witch of the West and her Flying Monkeys. Cheer for her and the others as they discover “everything you seek to find is already within you.”   

PIPELINE

BY DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU
DIRECTED BY ANEDRA SMALL

Theatre Unbound Series
January 31 - February 4, 202
Ronald O. Davis Acting Studio
(Limited Seating) Due to the intimacy of the space, infants and small children are not allowed in the theatre.
No late seating. Please arrive on time. No refunds or exchanges.

Nya is a passionate educator working at an urban public high school, pouring her heart and soul into her students’ success. Despite her commitment to her job, she’s faced with a complex dilemma – she wants to offer her son, Omari, a chance at opportunities that appear to be beyond their grasp. As a challenging event unfolds at Omari’s rural private school, risking his expulsion, Nya is compelled to confront not just his frustration, but also the decisions she’s made as his parent.

^{Suggested audience: Age 13+ | ADVISORIES: Strong language and content.}

TWO TRAINS RUNNING

BY AUGUST WILSON
DIRECTED BY LUTHER D. WELLS

Mainstage Series
October 18 – 22, 2023
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

A part of Wilson’s American Century Cycle, Two Trains Running takes place entirely in a diner in Pittsburgh’s Hill District in 1969. While there is plenty of talk about rallies and marches associated with that era, the play explores what it takes to pursue justice in the face of gentrification and racism.

^{Suggested Audience: Age 14+ | Warning: The N-Word Is Used Frequently and There Are Allusions to Sex.}

SINGLE BLACK FEMALE

BY LISA B. THOMPSON
DIRECTED BY DEE SELMORE

Writing for Life Play Reading Series
September 28 – 30, 2023
Ronald O. Davis Acting Studio
(Limited Seating)

Through a series of quick-witted comedic sketches, Single Black Female uncovers the pursuit of love, fashion, and self-respect for women in a society that often overlooks their individuality amid a sea of clichéd portrayals.

^{Suggested Audience: Age 17+ | Warning: Contains Some Strong Language and Adult Themes.}

FAMU Connection

CONCEIVED AND DIRECTED BY ANEDRA SMALL 

Fall Preview
September 23, 2023
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

Electrifying Choreography. Contemporary Sounds. FAMU Facts! Get Ready for the FAMU Connection!

STEAM

BY JAMES WEBB

A New Youth Theatre Play
July 13-14, 2023
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

After a blizzard of biblical proportion causes tremendous damage to a beloved junior high school in Mississippi, the student body president enlists the help of the most creative students she knows—a singer, actress, dancer and musician—to save the school from closing by entering them into the Mississippi High School Math and Science Tournament, proving that if their school can excel in STEM, it’s worth saving.

ROMEO AND JULIET: A MIAMI LOVE STORY 

RE-IMAGINED BY YONEL ARIS AND ANEDRA SMALL
DIRECTED BY ANEDRA SMALL

Mainstage Series
March 1 – 5, 2023
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

FAMU Essential Theatre presents Chicken & Biscuits, a Mainstage Series.

True to its storyline, and blending the bard’s lyrical text with colloquial prose, this re-imagined interpretation of shakespeare’s tragedy is set in the present raging streets of liberty city, miami, florida. At the height of a political campaign, a feud remerges between the montagues and capulets and the families gnaw at the bits for a political seat. What happens when two star-crossed lovers forsake their family's loyalty to defy the odds of hate?

CHANGE IT UP! #GENZ EXPLAINED

CURATED BY KIMBERLY K. HARDING 

Theatre Unbound Series
January 27- 28, 2023
Ronald O. Davis Acting Studio
(Limited Seating)

If you think you know them-you have no idea. The genzoomers are stepping into the spotlight, and you may want to hear what they have to say. Through a blend of spoken word, hip hop, and dance-featuring sketch comedy and team battles in a "Wild'N Out" style showdown-meet Gen Z like you never have befor

CHICKEN & BISCUITS 

WRITTEN BY DOUGLAS LYONS
DIRECTED BY LUTHER D. WELLS

Mainstage Series
October 19 - 23, 2022
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

FAMU Essential Theatre presents Chicken & Biscuits, a Mainstage Series.

In this laugh-out-loud comedy, the Jenkins family is coming together to celebrate the life of their father — hopefully without killing each other. But any hopes for a peaceful reunion unravel when a family secret shows up at the funeral. Rich in laughter, this life-affirming play confronts differences in response to death, oppressive values, and long-simmering prejudices. Audiences are reminded that trauma does not have to define how we move through the world.

^{Suggested Audience: Age 13+ | Warning: Mild Profanity | Mature Themes: Family, Generational values shifts, the Black Church, LGBTQIE+}

WHAT TO SEND UP WHEN IT GOES DOWN

WRITTEN BY ALESHEA HARRIS
DIRECTED BY KIMBERLY K. HARDING

Theatre Unbound Series
October 06 - October 08, 2022
Ronald O. Davis Acting Studio
(Limited Seating)

Nominated for a 2019 Drama Desk Award for a “Unique Theatrical Experience,” What to Send Up When it Goes Down blurs the lines between characters and actors—as well as observers and observed. In a dizzying series of vignettes that builds to a climactic moment, performance and reality collide, highlighting the absurdity of anti-blackness in American society. 

^{Suggested Audience: Age 13+}

FAMU Connection

CONCEIVED AND DIRECTED BY ANEDRA SMALL 

Fall Preview
September 23, 2022
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

Electrifying Choreography. Contemporary Sounds. FAMU Facts! Get Ready for the FAMU Connection!

A COOL DRINK A WATER

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY THOMAS W. JONES II

Mainstage Series
March 30 – April 3, 2022
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

In a house on the brink of sale lives Benita, the wife of Asa, who copes with her struggling marriage by conversing with her deceased mother. Walt, her brother, plots new schemes and battles with his fed-up wife and wannabe rapper son in this imagined sequel to A Raisin in the Sun.

^{Suggested Audience: Age 13+}

THE WAITING ROOM

WRITTEN BY SAMM-ART WILLIAMS
DIRECTED BY LUTHER D. WELLS

Theatre Unbound Series
February 16 – 20, 2022
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

A group of family and friends visit a hospital where a loved one’s life is in jeopardy. In this light-hearted comedy, pressure mounts to resolve unfinished family business, and secrets come tumbling out.

LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL

WRITTEN BY MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
DIRECTED BY VALENCIA E. MATTHEWS

Theatre Unbound Series
January 20 – 23, 2022
Ronald O. Davis Acting Studio
(Limited Seating)

As the fight for social equality escalates protest and tension, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail is as relevant today as it was nearly 60 years ago. Written from his prison cell in 1963 to challenge the social inequities of racial segregation, King explains the cause and effect of civil rights protests. Letter from Birmingham Jail breathes life through a compilation of multimedia and onstage voices.

SWEET MAMA STRINGBEAN

WRITTEN BY BETH TURNER
DIRECTED BY EVELYN D. TYLER

Mainstage Series
October 21 – 24, 2021
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage

In 1957, an elderly Ethel Waters — overweight, ill, and broke from a waning performance career, flashback to an earlier time in her life when a dream about her childhood sparks a spiritual awaking and opens her to a future with Billy Graham.

The musical legacy of Waters is celebrated in this retrospective, featuring "Am I Blue," "Heatwave," "His Eye is on the Sparrow," and other hits.

BOOTY CANDY

BY ROBERT O'HARA
DIRECTED BY LUTHER D. WELLS

Golden Collection Series
October 7 – 9, 2021
Ronald O. Davis Acting Studio
(Limited Seating)

Outrageous and aggressively funny, BootyCandy explores the plight of a gay Black man in America. Based on the author’s own experiences, this satirical comedy unfolds in flamboyant, provocative, and sometimes uncomfortable vignettes that illustrate the intersection of sexuality and Black culture.

^{Suggested Audience: Age 17+ | Warning: Profanity and Mature Themes.}

FAMU Connection Presents: An Epic Return

CONCEIVED AND DIRECTED BY ANEDRA SMALL 

September 16, 2021 @ 7 p.m.
Charles Winter Wood Theatre,
Edmonds Stage
(Limited Seating) FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! (Admission FREE. No ticket is required)

Are you ready for it, Tallahassee?! Electrifying dance numbers. Contemporary sounds. Get ready for the FAMU Connection's Epic Return--The Concert! Dripping in FAMU finesse and facts--see this university recruitment group as you've never seen them before.