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When we shaped this season, we asked not what was fashionable, but what felt urgent. What stories would meet this moment. What would allow us to laugh, to remember, to hope. And the answers led us here — eight stories, from the intimate and the epic to the inherited and the newly imagined.
This season moves intentionally across time and tone — classic thrillers and brand-new voices, intimate conversations and sweeping questions of history and law. Because a living theatre must hold all of it. The comfort of tradition and the spark of something unexpected. And we cannot wait to share them with you.
Dial M for Murder
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
From the original by Frederick Knott
September 2 – 20, 2026
Clarence Brown Theatre
A jealous husband. A flawless plan. One deadly phone call. Jeffrey Hatcher’s electrifying adaptation of the classic thriller crackles with danger as a meticulously plotted murder begins to spin out of control. Secrets surface, alibis crumble, and every heartbeat heightens the suspense. Dial M for Murder is a breathless game of cat and mouse where the stakes are life — and death.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
From the book by Kate DiCamillo
Adapted by Dwayne Hartford
October 1 – 18, 2026
The Lab Theatre
Enter a world of wonder, where a proud porcelain rabbit begins an extraordinary journey that will change his heart forever. When Edward Tulane is lost, he is carried from place to place, meeting a remarkable cast of strangers whose kindness, courage, and sorrow slowly reveal the magic of love. Filled with imagination, theatrical enchantment, and moments of breathtaking tenderness, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is a spellbinding adventure for audiences of all ages, a luminous story about loss, hope, and the miraculous power of the heart to open again.
Clyde’s
By Lynn Nottage
October 28 – November 15, 2026
The Jenny Boyd Theatre
In a roadside sandwich shop where second chances are rare and the boss rules with a hard hand, a group of formerly incarcerated cooks begin to dream again, one sandwich at a time. As bread is toasted and sauces swirl, something unexpected rises in the kitchen: pride, possibility, and the fragile hope of redemption. From two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage comes the Tony-nominated hit play that became one of the most-produced plays in America, a funny, soulful celebration of resilience, and the small, daily miracles of starting over.
A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens
Adapted by Edward Morgan and Joseph Hanreddy
Music by John Tanner
November 19 – December 19, 2026
Clarence Brown Theatre
The Clarence Brown Theatre Company brings A Christmas Carol to life in a glowing celebration of the season, filled with heart, humor, and dazzling theatrical spectacle. When the lonely Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, he is given one extraordinary chance to rediscover generosity, compassion, and joy. Overflowing with music, wonder, and the warmth of the holidays, this beloved production reminds us that hearts can change, kindness can flourish, and the spirit of Christmas lives within us all. Join us for Knoxville’s most cherished holiday tradition.
Appropriate
By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
February 3 – 21, 2027
The Jenny Boyd Theatre
This 2024 Tony Award–winning play erupts with dark humor and ferocious family drama. When the estranged Lafayette family gathers to settle their late father’s crumbling Arkansas estate, grief quickly gives way to accusation, resentment, and long-buried secrets clawing their way to the surface. A shocking discovery in the attic throws their history into question, and the reunion spirals into a volatile mix of outrage, revelation, and razor-sharp comedy. Dark and fiercely dramatic, Appropriate is an explosive American family story from one of the most daring voices in contemporary theatre.
Indoor Cats
A Play for Humans
By Mora V. Harris
February 25 – March 7, 2027
The Lab Theatre
Recently dumped and creatively unraveling, filmmaker Jules escapes to her parents’ cabin in Central Pennsylvania just as the world seems to be shutting down around her. When a flirtatious encounter with her naturalist neighbor pulls her into the bizarre world of filmmaking for cats, she finds herself navigating art, desire, and uncertainty in ways she never expected. Wry, original, and wonderfully strange, Indoor Cats is a fresh new comedy about creativity, connection, and finding meaning when the world no longer makes sense.
What the Constitution Means to Me
By Heidi Schreck
March 24 – April 11, 2027
The Jenny Boyd Theatre
In this spirited, deeply personal theatrical event, playwright Heidi Schreck revisits the teenage speech competitions where she once earned college tuition by debating the U.S. Constitution. Blending storytelling, history, humor, and live debate, What the Constitution Means to Me turns the stage into a lively civic arena where ideas clash and the audience is invited into the conversation. Funny, moving, and thrillingly alive, this Tony-nominated Broadway hit sparks a powerful exploration of rights, citizenship, and what the Constitution means — to each of us — today.
9 TO 5
Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton | Book by Patricia Resnick
Based on the 20th Century Fox Picture
Originally produced on Broadway by Robert Greenblatt, April 2009
April 14 – May 2, 2027
Clarence Brown Theatre
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! This spring, we’re honoring Dolly Parton’s legacy the way we know best: by bringing the musical 9 to 5 to the Clarence Brown Theatre stage April 14–May 2!
Set in 1979, this hilarious and heartfelt musical follows three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and discover their voices, recognize their worth, and imagine a better future. Featuring Dolly’s iconic title song “9 to 5” and an exciting score of 18 original numbers that blend Broadway and pop with her signature witty lyrics, it’s a story of friendship, possibility, and taking charge.
“In many ways, 9 to 5 is a story about people who refuse to accept that the world has to be the way they found it. They discover their voices, recognize their own worth, and imagine a workplace — and a life — that could be better,” said Kenneth Martin, Artistic Director. “So this spring, we will celebrate Dolly’s music, her humor, and her unmistakable spirit. But we will also celebrate something larger: the belief that imagination can create possibility, and possibility can change lives.”
Outrageous and filled with sentimentality and heart, the musical 9 to 5 is coming to the Clarence Brown Theatre this spring. You won’t want to miss it!
*The musical 9 to 5 replaces the previously announced production of She Loves Me in our 2026–2027 season.
Community Partner
Our tribute will reach beyond the stage through a partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Knox County. We’ll share more about ways to support its work during the production’s run.