Dayton Theatre Guild is Pleased to Announce 2025-2026 Season
A RAISIN IN THE SUN by Lorraine Hansberry
Performance dates: August 22-September 9, 2025
Auditions: July 7 & 8, 2025
[4 women, 6 men (& moving men)]
Set in Chicago’s South Side in the 1950’s, this is about the divergent dreams and conflicts in three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis, and matriarch Lena. When her deceased husband’s insurance money comes through, Mama Lena dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago. Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans: buying a liquor store and being his own man. Beneatha dreams of medical school. Hansberry’s portrait of one family’s struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration. It was the first play by an African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize.
DIAL “M” FOR MURDER by Frederick Knott
Performance Dates: October 10-26, 2025
Auditions: August 25 & 26, 2025
[1 woman, 5 men]
Tony Wendice plots to murder his wealthy wife, Margot, for her money by hiring a criminal to strangle her, but his plan goes awry, forcing him to manipulate the situation to frame her. But Margot engages a clever, quick-witted detective from Scotland Yard who uncovers the truth, leading to a suspenseful climax where Tony’s guilt is exposed.
LIGHT SENSITIVE by Jim Geoghan (Season Extra)
Performance dates: December 5-14, 2025
Auditions: October 13 & 14, 2025
[1 woman, 2 men]
Thomas Hanratty, lifelong resident of Hell’s Kitchen and once the most dangerous white cab driver in New York, was blinded eight years ago in a drunken accident and is fading into a routine of self pity and alcohol. His bartender and only friend is moving to Vermont with his girlfriend, but finds it difficult to abandon Tom. He recruits a slightly handicapped volunteer reader who battles her way through Tom’s shell. By the second act, they are falling in love. His buddy returns with tales of his “Christmas from hell” in Vermont, and doubt arises as to who will hold the number one position in Tom’s life.
MARY JANE by Amy Herzog
Performance dates: January 30-February 15, 2026
Auditions: December 8 & 9, 2025
[5 women]
Mary Jane navigates both the mundane and the unfathomable realities of caring for Alex, her chronically ill young son. She finds herself building a community of women from many walks of life, and dealing with all of life’s realities. Mary Jane is Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Herzog’s remarkably powerful and compassionate portrait of a contemporary American woman striving for grace. It ran on Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club during the 2023/2024 season.
I LOVE YOU BECAUSE
Book/Lyrics by Ryan Cunningham; Music by Joshua Salzman
Performance dates: March 27-April 12, 2026
Auditions: February 2 & 3, 2026
[3 women, 3 men]
This musical from the mid-2000’s is a twist on Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. A young, uptight greeting card writer’s life is changed when he meets a flighty photographer. Along with their eccentric friends and siblings, they learn to love each other, not despite their faults, but because of them.
THE BEACON by Nancy Harris
Performance dates: May 22-June 7, 2026
Auditions: March 30 & 31, 2026
[2 women, 3 men]
Beiv, a renowned artist, has left her suburban Dublin home for a secluded cottage on a rugged island off the coast of West Cork, Ireland. Here, there is no escaping the rumors of her shadowy past, and Beiv lets everyone see right in because she’s having an extension made to the home, and many of the walls are missing. She and her visiting son have a chilly relationship at best — and there is also the question of whether Beiv really did kill her husband. This play ran Off-Broadway with a limited run, and closed in November, 2024.
We are also putting out the call for directors for the season. Those interested can find the directors application, on-line at https://forms.gle/2KXLjgUVGEUtjuUC9.
The deadline to submit the application is February 1, 2025.
For all questions concerning the Director’s call, contact Jared Mola at: mola.jared@gmail.com.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 