Last June was the official opening of the Northern Stage 2021-2022 season along with the construction of a new, seasonal outdoor performance Courtyard Theater. Audiences returned to live and in-person theatrical productions through Shakespeare's play and rock 'n roll legends, and will look forward to understanding human connections and laughing with Monty Python. 

The company produced the first two shows – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare and Million Dollar Quartet – of their four-show main stage season outside at the newly unveiled Courtyard Theater before returning to the Byrne Theater for the second half of the season.

From February 16-March 6, 2022, the breathtaking pas-de-deux play, Heisenberg, will bring audiences to an electric encounter between two strangers in a train station. Their relationship grows over six scenes into one that is complex and life-changing. Written by Simon Stephens and starring Northern Stage favorite Jamie Horton, the quietly powerful Heisenberg lays bare the beauty in the natural unpredictability of human connection.

Topping off the season is the hilarious Monty Python's Spamalot from April 13-May 15, 2022, in the Byrne Theater. With a book and lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, this musical is derived from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It is the entertaining story of King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake as they search for the Holy Grail and "always look on the bright side of life."

Northern Stage's Producing Artistic Director Carol Dunne indicated that the new hybrid season is due to putting audience safety first. 

"When we searched for an outdoor venue, we found the best spot is behind our buildings in the heart of White River Junction," she said. "We (created) a simple space that celebrates the industrial feel of White River while offering a beautiful and intimate place to enjoy joyous performances."

Designed by Scenic Designer Michael Ganio, the Courtyard Theater was created to hold an audience of up to 250 people but sat initially 120- audience members to adhere to pandemic safety precautions.

Northern Stage will also present workshop productions during the 2021/22 season of two new pieces most recently featured in its New Works Now Festival: Shook and Enough. With music and lyrics by Zoe Sarnak and a book by Alexis Scheer, Shook marks Northern Stage's first-ever commissioned musical work. The story of high school thespians that have been preparing for the highly anticipated National Shakespeare Competition, Shook takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride through song and sonnet, foes turned friends, and kingdoms lost and won. Enough, written by Celeste Jennings (Citrus), focuses on a family discovering beauty and strength in things not remembered as they realize that some things are meant to be forgotten. More information about these workshops and calendar information will be announced later. 

This spring, Northern Stage presents Mud Season Mystery: The Lodger, a witty new adaptation of the classic mystery, created for Zoom and performed live each night, April 14 through May 2, 2021. The Lodger, adapted by Brenda Withers (Jordan), uses suspenseful storytelling to engage the audience in a live, interactive, communal experience guaranteed to entertain and provoke. Tickets for The Lodger are $29, with a maximum of 40 participants per performance. Private group parties are encouraged. For tickets, visit northernstage.org, or call the Box Office directly at 802-296-7000. The Lodger is supported in part by Mascoma Bank. 

Northern Stage's 2021-22 Season is underwritten by Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, who has been a season's underwriter for the past two years. As a part of its Anti-Racism Community Dates series, Northern Stage will be offering Understanding: A Workshop in Cultivating Empathy and Peace this May. This workshop will introduce participants to the world of duality to bring us closer to understanding the social conflict that we are facing at this current time. Led by peace activist Mohsen Mahdawi, a third-generation Palestinian refugee, this four-week workshop will give participants the tools to find and create peace between communities made up of different races, classes, religions, or political views. For more information, contact the box office at 802-296-7000.

Northern Stage is currently offering "Portraits of the Pandemic," a weekly podcast series running every Thursday through the end of March. Director of Education Eric Love has curated the stories of 34 young actors from 6th to 12th grade into a devised theater piece that explores the first eight weeks of the pandemic from the teenage perspective. Tickets are FREE with a $25 suggested donation. To subscribe, please visit northernstage.org/youth-training/portraits-of-the-pandemic/