2026–27
SEASON
Following our landmark 25th Anniversary Season, The Civilians launches its next chapter with an extraordinary slate of artists and new work in development. Across commissions, workshops, readings, residencies, and performances, our community of adventurous theater-makers is shaping the next generation of Civilians plays and musicals.
EXPLORE THE HIGHLIGHTS ↓
Oct 2 - 4
50 STATES OF RESISTANCE
Across one weekend, artists around the country sit down with activists to capture the human stories behind resistance to authoritarianism: what moves people to act, what works, what doesn’t, and what it feels like to stand up for democracy.
Mar 30 – Apr 4 // Coffey Street Studios
JANUARY IN NEW YORK
This new play with music explores the line between freedom and responsibility in a marriage of equals, inspired by NY artists from the 60s and 70s and from interviews with 2 older artists on the subject of love and art.
By Andromache Chalfant
Music by Robert M. Johanson
Featuring Marianne Rendón and Robert M. Johanson
Dec 21, 2026 // New York City
THE GULF
Built from a decade of interviews along the Gulf Coast, The Gulf follows fishermen, cleanup workers, scientists, and activists living with the human aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, and fighting to make sure their stories aren’t erased.
By Steve Cosson
Mar 1 // Princeton & NYC
THE NEXT FOREVER
Our collaboration with Princeton brings one generation of climate and environmental commissions to the stage while another begins: new works by Gloria Majule and Lightning Rod Special receive public presentations, as Lyndsey Bourne and SEVAN begin immersive new investigations alongside scientists, scholars, and fellow artists.
GRANT RECIPIENTS
Gloria Majule | Lightning Rod Special
Lyndsey Bourne | SEVAN
May 3, 2027 // Joe’s Pub, NYC
SPRING BENEFIT
Our biggest night of the year brings the Civilians community together for an only-at-The-Civilians evening honoring theater artists Kathleen and Andromache Chalfant, celebrating their place in the Civilians’ family, and the extraordinary community of artists and supporters who make our work possible.
SAVE THE DATE!
June 2027 // New York City
THE FINDINGS SERIES
Free public readings of six brand-new works developed through The Civilians’ year-long R&D Group, offering audiences a first look at the stories, discoveries, and experiments emerging from a year of artistic investigation.
Featuring the 2026–27 R&D Group
Behind the scenes, an even bigger universe of work is expanding. This season brings continued development of Sex Variants of 1941, with new writing and music following its NYU Skirball premiere; a workshop of The Devils by John Whiting; new commissions from Brittany Allen, Liza Birkenmeier, and Julian Hornik; a February workshop of Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby’s Listen When the Elders Speak; and ongoing development from Gloria Majule and Lightning Rod Special on their Next Forever projects.