Theatre Under the Stars New Season is Set to Take You on the Ultimate Adventure

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is taking audiences on an adventure through time for its 2025/26 Season.

Take off on a whirlwind adventure where words hold power, music shapes history, and dreams defy time. From knightly chaos to rock ‘n’ roll legends, snowy serenades to high-voltage thrills, this season invites guests to experience the magic of every era—one unforgettable moment at a time.

The exploration begins with a new production of The 25TH Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. TUTS Artistic Director, Dan Knechtges, who choreographed the original Tony-Award-winning Broadway production of the show in 2005, will lead you back to a time in middle school where the adults are as awkward as the kids and hilarity reigns. Knechtges returns to the production as both director and choreographer—bringing fresh energy to the musical comedy.

The next stop is 1944 in Pine Tree, Vermont with the beloved holiday classic Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. TUTS Associate Artistic Director, Laura Peete, making her TUTS mainstage directorial debut, along with choreographer, William Carlos Angulo, will guide you on this leg of your journey. Inspired by the iconic 1954 film, this dazzling Broadway musical is packed with show-stopping numbers, heartwarming romance, and timeless holiday cheer.

December 4, 1956 is the next destination on our journey with Million Dollar Quartet. A night when a twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together for an unforgettable jam session at Sun Records in Memphis. Award winning director, Hunter Foster, will take the lead on this part of the journey and give you an all-access pass into this historic night in music.

Photo by McLeod9 Creative

Hop into the DeLorean Time Machine for the next leg of this adventure and go back in time with this direct-from-Broadway National Tour. Back to the Future: The Musical is based on the beloved cinematic classic with Entertainment Weekly saying it “brings all the magic from the screen to the stage!” This award-winning adaptation has set its destination for Houston in 2026.

Jump out of the DeLorean and onto a horse to gallop back in time with Monty Python’s Spamalot. The musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, has everything that makes a great “knight” at the theatre, from flying cows to killer rabbits, dancing girls, rubbery shrubbery, and of course, the Lady of the Lake. The musical includes well-known song titles such as “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” “The Song That Goes Like This,” “Find Your Grail” and more that have become beloved classics in the musical theatre canon. It’s a “knight” of laughter you’ll never forget.

The last stop on our epic adventure begins inside Carnegie Hall in 1971 with the portrayal of the legendary Carole King at the piano singing “So Far Away.” Beautiful: The Carole King Musical follows King’s illustrious career beginning when she was only 18 penning chart-toppers for Aretha Franklin and The Drifters. For this last stop, Knechtges will once again be your guide through King’s dazzling career. It’s a story as legendary as her music.

“This season, we’re bringing you a lineup of shows filled with nostalgia that will make you laugh until you cry and tap your feet until you are standing for an ovation. Join us for a season of music, laughter, and joy —crafted just for you, as only TUTS can!” said Knechtges.

Current TUTS subscribers have priority access to renew their seats for the Theatre Under The Stars 2025/26 season. Subscription packages for the public will be available starting Monday, April 21. Tickets for individual shows will go on sale in June. Visit TUTS.org/subscribe or call 713.558.8887 to learn more.

Featured photo: V. Sweeten