Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre returns after 25 years
Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre is relaunching in 2026 with two productions that will bridge the gap between academic theatre training and the realities of the industry.
After a hiatus of 25 years, the curtain is rising once again on an ambitious and exhilarating new chapter of summer theatre at Mount Holyoke College. Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre will reopen this summer with two exciting productions, “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express,” adapted by Ken Ludwig, and “The 39 Steps,” adapted by Patrick Barlow. More than a summer stock company, this initiative is designed as a professional launching pad that bridges the gap between academic theatre training and the theatre industry.
“It’s deeply exciting to bring summer performances back to Mount Holyoke College,” said Noah Tuleja, associate professor of Film Media Theater and chair of the Film Media Theater department at the College, who participated in the original Summer Theatre at Mount Holyoke College. “Mount Holyoke students will be collaborating with alums, faculty, staff and local theatre professionals as they hone their craft by working on professional theatrical productions.”
The Summer Theatre at Mount Holyoke College was founded by James T. Cavanaugh, professor emeritus of theatre arts, at Mount Holyoke College in 1970. Cavanaugh founded the theater to provide students pursuing a summer internship in the department with more practical experience in acting and technical skills. A typical summer season consisted of eight plays for adults and two or three for children. Former patrons will remember that the productions were staged in the round in a large orange-and-white striped tent.
Reviving the spirit of a once-thriving summer theatre tradition, thanks to the support of a generous anonymous donor, the new company will perform in the Kendall Sports & Dance Complex. Even though this reimagined theatre will look and feel different from the company Cavanaugh once led, it still serves as a training ground for the next generation of theatre artists. Students from various colleges and universities will work alongside professional theatre artists in a collaborative environment rich in mentorship and creative exchange.
This company also aims to become a cultural destination for the city of South Hadley, bringing audiences together with a renewed commitment to live theatrical performances during the summer season. With a legacy reborn and a new generation ready to take the stage, Mount Holyoke College is once again poised to become a summer home for community engagement and entertainment.
Performance Information
“Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express” will run June 30–July 11, 2026
“The 39 Steps” will run July 17–25, 2026
Tickets: $15 General Admission (Starting June 1, 2026) | $25 Season Passes (Available now!)
For more information or to reserve tickets, please visit the Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre page or contact us by email.
