Out Front Theatre has announced its 2025/26 season lineup with a slew of LGBTQ+ musicals, plays, and performances to look forward to.
The season opens with the Tony Award-nominated “9 to 5 the Musical” on Oct. 23. Based on the music of Dolly Parton, the show follows the lives of three female coworkers as they concoct a plan to get even with their sexist, bigoted, and deceptive boss and transform the company that had always kept them down.
“There has been no better time to tell the story of a group of marginalized people who have been kept down by an unfair system, and how they come together to fight back against a lying, sexist, hypocritical bigot,” Paul Conroy, the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Out Front, said in a statement. “And the most powerful weapon they use in their rebellion? The music of Dolly Parton! ‘9 to 5’ is a truly classic, joyous story that almost everyone is familiar with, and to have it kick off our 10th anniversary season – well, I can’t think of a better way to start the year!”
Following the closing of “9 to 5” on Nov. 8 is “Mamma Dearest! Here We Joan Again” by Blake Fountain, just in the time for the 2025 holiday season. Christina Crawford has one Christmas Wish: to uncover her birth mother’s identity. But when Joan’s scandal-packed diaries point to one of three Hollywood goddesses — Bette Davis, Judy Garland, and Eartha Kitt — Christina invites them all over for a holiday meltdown of epic proportions. “Mamma Dearest!” runs Dec. 11- 21.
2026 kicks off with the Southeastern premiere of “BLKS” by Aziza Barnes. As funny as it is poignant, the story follows three twenty-somethings in New York City hunting for intimacy and purpose in a city that doesn’t seem to care. When they need each other the most, the women rally to “resurrect their fly” in a day full of humorous and painful attempts to be heard through the noise that surrounds them. “BLKS” will run from Jan. 29 to Feb. 14.
“BLKS” isn’t the only premiere in store for Out Front’s upcoming season. Out Front will present the Georgia premiere of “Which Way to the Stage.” The year is 2015, and Jeff and Judy are right where they’re supposed to be: waiting outside the stage door of a Broadway musical hoping to meet their idol. But the conversation they have while they wait will change the course of their decades-long friendship forever.
“Which Way to the Stage” will run March 12 – 28 before the season concludes with “Clue” from April 30 to May 16. Inspired by the board game we all know and love, “Clue” is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery that begins at a remote mansion among the six colorful guests at an unusual dinner party – where murder and blackmail are on the menu!
“To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we really wanted to be sure that queer joy and comedy would be found in every piece of programming this year,” said Justin Kalin, Associate Artistic Director. “While most of our musicals in years past have been splashy and fun, we’re extremely excited to double down on a season of joy by programming a spring line up that is packed with comedic plays too. Both ‘BLKS’ and ‘Which Way to the Stage’ are equal parts raw, raunchy comedy, and heartfelt reflection on the power of friendship. They’re honest, hilarious, and even a little cringey. And to top off the whole thing with Clue? It really is going to be a season that gives you all kinds of laughs.”
With local and national funding for LGBTQ+ arts dwindling, Out Front is calling on the community for support through donations, ticket purchases, and season memberships. To learn more and purchase tickets for the upcoming season, visit outfronttheatre.com.
