Look for classic musicals and plays and more in an upcoming season that the Virginia Samford Theatre is calling “The Season of Hope.”
In addition to its lineup of shows – which includes “Rent,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Our Town” and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the VST is celebrating its history as Birmingham’s most enduring little theater.
“We’re pleased to roll out our new ‘Season of Hope’ in tandem with VST’s newly launched Preservation Campaign to preserve our nearly century-old theater. Classic American plays, new works and culturally relevant musicals are in our wheelhouse, and this season reflects our continual desire to return VST’s focus to building community through the arts,” Philip Mann, executive director, says in a news release. “I’m also very pleased to announce that after 98 years of operation and several months of work, The Virginia Samford Theatre (originally The Little Theatre) has been formally recognized by the United States Department of the Interior on the National Register of Historic Places. This is long overdue and we’ll celebrate soon.”
Here’s a look at the VST’s 2025-2026 season:
Mainstage Shows
- “Carole Cook Died for My Sins” (Sept. 18-21). Birmingham native Mason McCulley will perform his own one-man piece about two influential women in his life – his mother and actress Carole Cook, who was a friend. “Through candid storytelling, McCulley navigates his journey from conservative Alabama to the heart of Hollywood, exploring themes of grief, addiction, and self-discovery,” the theater says. Cameron Watson will direct.
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” (Dec. 11-21). In honor of Harper Lee’s 100th birthday, the VST will present Christopher Sergel’s stage adaptation of her beloved novel about lawyer Atticus Finch, his daughter, Scout, and racial turmoil in small-town Alabama. David Strickland directs.
- “Rent” (Feb. 12-22, 2026). Jonathan Larson’s acclaimed and groundbreaking musical set among young artists navigating New York in the 1980s. Sam Torres directs.
- “Our Town” (April 15-19, 2026). David McMahon directs Thornton Wilder’s classic play about the people of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire.
- “Bye Bye Birdie” (June 18-28, 2026). Teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie, on his way to his duty in the Army in the 1950s, turns a small town upside down with his final performance before enlisting. Chelsea Reynolds directs the musical.
STARS Season
Shows that are part of the STARS (Students Take a Role at the Samford) season include “Beetlejuice Jr.” (Oct. 23-26), “Junie B’s Essential Survival Guide to School” (March 12-15, 2026) and “Grease “ (July 30-Aug. 2, 2026).
VST Community Series
Two shows are planned for VST’s Community Series:
- “Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory” (Dec. 4-7). Philip Mann, executive director of the VST, takes to the stage with his mother, Suzanne Mann, to read Capote’s autobiographical holiday story set in rural Alabama. This is a fundraiser for the VST Preservation Campaign.
- “The Complete History of America (Abridged)” (March 19-22, 2026). About 600 years of American history is condensed into 6,000 seconds in this comedy featuring three actors playing numerous characters.
For information about tickets, contact the VST box office at 205-251-2306 or boxoffice@virginiasamfordtheatre.org.
