On the eve of her 25th birthday, Catherine, a troubled young woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; a former student of her father’s who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind. Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draw Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father’s madness – or genius – will she inherit?

“Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek…” Thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek.

Join us for an unforgettable night where Broadway meets West Texas, as select area high school theatre students – chosen through a rigorous audition process– take the stage alongside ACU Theatre students. Guests will enjoy live performances in a cabaret-style setting featuring charcuterie boards, conversation and community. Dessert will be served during intermission. Lights Up! is a celebration of talent, mentorship and community through song.

Step into an evening of storytelling through dance as ACU Theatre students take the stage for One Night Only – a dynamic dance concert celebrating traveling stories. Featuring original choreography and powerful collaborations, students work alongside a distinguished industry guest artist each year to bring inspiring performances to life on the stage. Whether lyrical, contemporary or rhythmically charged, each piece shares a narrative that speaks to the beautiful complexity of the human experience – without a single word spoken.

We want to believe that serendipity brings us together, but is that just a myth? Mining the comedy of missed connections, This Random World asks the serious question of how often we travel parallel paths through the world without noticing. From an ailing woman who plans one final trip, to her daughter planning one great escape and her son falling prey to a prank gone wrong, this funny, intimate and heartbreaking play explores the lives that may be happening just out of reach of our own.

Set in 1964, Violet follows a young woman on a journey across the South in search of healing and hope. Scarred from a childhood accident, she dreams of transformation through a TV evangelist’s prayer but discovers something deeper along the way. Through unexpected friendships and the power of love, Violet begins to see herself– and her worth – with new eyes.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a heartfelt musical comedy that follows an eclectic group of six teens who compete for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. A riotous ride, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius.

With the fantastical elements of a fairy tale, Shakespeare’s astonishing romance is a thrilling journey filled with emotional depth, passionate outbursts, complex relationships—and a bear in pursuit. A tribute to the magic of storytelling, The Winter’s Tale presents a rich tapestry of love, strife, hope, and resurrection in a bittersweet and human story about the miracle of forgiveness. “Thou met’st with things dying, I with things newborn.”

Imagine you’ve just arrived in town, unaware that your twin brother (who you were separated from at childbirth) is there as well. Imagine further that your brother’s wife mistakes you for him—but not before you’ve tried to romance his wife’s sister. Director Gary Varner takes an innovative approach to Shakespeare’s funniest play about mistaken identity. The Comedy of Errors is a madcap farce brimming with vaudevillian slapstick and lightning-paced comedy.