You wish to go to the— METstival? And it’ll be AGONY if you don’t get a ticket? A season ticket!? Or a ticket to any of their terrific five-mainstage, four-Fun-company— yeah it doesn’t really work after that because their Comedy Nights are sooooo expansive— at least five active teams plus the return/kickstart of some other fun endeavors— but you get the idea! Maryland Ensemble Theatre is kicking off their 29th season and there is so much in-store— you might even say they are not throwin’ away their shot!*
In fantastical Maryland Ensemble Theatre fashion, the ‘Launch Party Preview’ kicked off the 2026/2027 on Tuesday evening, June 30th 2026— the exact halfway point of this calendar year— at Rockwell Brewery in Frederick. It was a celebration for everyone and a really fun ‘sneak-peek’ of what’s in-store for the main-stage season— including mini performances from all five of the shows.
Season Tickets for the Main Stage Series can be purchased here. (STARTING MONDAY JULY 6th 2026)
The MET Main Stage season for the 2026/2027 season features the following:
Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, directed by MET Ensemble Company Member Shea-Mikal Green. MET brings fairy tales in all their wonder, humor, and heartbreak to the black box stage with an intimate production of Stephen Sondheim’s beloved musical. As Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, and a Baker and his Wife venture into the woods in pursuit of their wishes, they soon discover that every choice carries consequences. Into The Woods serves as the inaugural production of the season and opens on Friday September 11th 2026 and plays through Sunday October 4th 2026.
Coming into the holiday season strong, in addition to their annual production of A Christmas Carol (as directed by MET Fun Company Artistic Director Julie Herber just across the street at The Weinberg Center), the main stage will feature The Crater Sisters’ Christmas Special, written by area playwright John Morogiello and MET Ensemble Company Member Lori Boyd, and directed by Lynn Sharp Spears. “When the entire cast and crew quit thirty minutes before her comeback special, a diva is forced to reunite with the sister she’s not spoken to in three decades. A zany, musical romp filled with ghosts, wonder, delusion, and the magic of the holidays!” This zany, original work is the perfect way to kick-off the holiday season, opening Friday November 20th 2026 and plays through Sunday December 20th 2026.
As 2027 begins, the MET will present The Moors by Jen Silverman, directed by Nicole Mattis. “Far from civilization, a crumbling manor sits amid the windswept moors. Within its walls, two sisters, their maid, and a melancholy dog dream of romance, adventure, and escape. When an unexpected visitor arrives, their secluded world begins to unravel in this lush, queer Gothic comedy filled with mystery, yearning, and mischief.” The Moors opens Friday February 12th 2026 and plays through Sunday March 7th 2026.
Going from gothic and glorious into something spectacular, the 2027-half of the season continues with the critically acclaimed play Appropriate by two-time Tony Award Winner Branden Jacob-Jenkins (2024 Best Revival- Appropriate; 2025 Best Play- Pulitzer-Prize-winning drama Purpose.) Directed by Gené Fouché, this play features “a family who gathers to settle an estate in the shadow of a decaying plantation home, where long-buried tensions and unexpected discoveries force a confrontation with the past. Blending razor-sharp humor with gripping drama, Appropriate examines memory, inheritance, and the complicated legacies that shape us” and plays the main stage Friday April 2nd 2026 through Sunday April 25th 2026.
And the 2026/2027 Main Stage season will conclude with a rare-reprisal of a high-stakes comedy, The 39 Steps (an original concept by Simon Corble & Nobby Dimon, from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock.) Returning triumphantly to the MET Main Stage after a smashing success as the season opener in the 2012/2013 season (under the direction Gené Fouché and featuring Tad Janes as one of the clowns!) this time the madcap comedy will be directed by Tad Janes! “Murder! Espionage! Romance! Trains! Four actors tackle nearly 100 characters in this wildly inventive and laugh-out-loud spoof of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film. Bursting with quick changes, physical comedy, and theatrical wizardry, this high-energy comedy keeps audiences guessing — and laughing.” The 39 Steps will open on Friday May 21st 2026 and plays through Sunday June 13th 2026.
The MET Fun Company’s season features four fabulous productions for younger audiences as well:
Opening the Fun Company season, a new devised work by Fun Company Artistic Director Julie Herber, Moon Festival Alice will take Alice in Wonderland to new explorative depths. “A curious child falls down a rabbit hole during a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration and enters a magical world inspired by Asian folklore, festivals, and modern Asian American life. Presented in partnership with The Asian American Center of Frederick” Moon Festival Alice opens Saturday September 26th through Sunday October 18th 2026.
Flying in for the holiday season, based on the book and characters by Mo Willems, the Fun Company holiday show will be none other than The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! (At least he’s not driving a bus— but maybe he’ll drive a sleigh!?) “When Mo Willems’ characters get together for the holidays, it’s bound to be the biggest extravaganza ever! The Unlimited Squirrels deck the halls and Elephant and Piggie come ready to celebrate! But will The Pigeon join in the festivities, or will he run all the way to the North Pole in search of the greatest gift ever? Terrific tunes, silly stories, goofy gifts, audience antics: it’s all in this brand-new musical party that sleighs!” The Pigeon Gets a Big Holiday Extravaganza opens on Saturday November 28th and plays through Sunday December 20th 2026.
Rolling into 2027, a childhood classic, The Velveteen Rabbit, adapted by James Still from the story by Margery Williams and Directed by Matt Harris, “The Velveteen Rabbit is an emotional journey through time, as told through the eyes of a young man looking back on his childhood. By reliving the relationship between his 4-year-old self and his favorite toy, the Velveteen Rabbit, he rediscovers the true meaning of friendship. Central to the story is, of course, the Velveteen Rabbit, who is introduced to the idea of becoming real by the old rocking horse. The play explores the rewards of loyalty, the poignancy of loss, and the wonderful, surprising powers of love.” (The perfect hopping spring tradition as last spring, the Fun Company featured their lovely devised work Peter Rabbit and the Secret Garden Gate.) The Velveteen Rabbit opens on Saturday February 20th and plays through Sunday March 14th 2027.
Concluding the 2026/2027 Fun Company season is another literary classic— Charlotte’s Web, based on the book by E.B. White and adapted by Joseph Robinette. “When Wilbur the pig learns his future is uncertain, an extraordinary friend steps in to help! Through courage, compassion, and a little bit of magic, Charlotte the spider shows that even the smallest among us can make a lasting difference. This heartwarming adaptation celebrates friendship, community, and the power of believing in one another.” The final show of the Fun Company 26/27 season, Charlotte’s Web opens on Saturday April 17th and plays through Sunday May 9th 2027.
In getting to spend some time with lots of the company members in attendance at the evening’s event, we had the delightful opportunity to pick their brains about the shows and things they’re looking forward to the most this season and their responses were as follows:
TAD JANES (producing artistic director) “The thing I’m most excited about this season is absolutely the connection to our community. How’s that, yeah? It’s true! All our shows are very eclectic— everything in the Main Stage season, everything in the Fun Company season, everything we’ve got happening with our Comedy Night programing— and I love that. I love having an eclectic season.” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “Best thing? That we have a short-hand. We get from A to B faster than most people.”
Jennifer Pagano (ensemble company member) “Everything is so different! All of the shows make the audience feel such different things. There is something for everyone!”
Jeremy Myers (ensemble company member) “Oh gosh, I love Into The Woods, it’s a great piece! I’m excited to see what Shea-Mikal (Director Shea-Mikal Green) does with that material in that space and reimagining that whole thing. I’m really excited for that. And I really love Appropriate, I think it’s a fantastic text, and I can’t wait to see it really stripped down and not this big elaborate set that might dominate the stage. I’m just really excited to see the text and I cannot wait to see what we do with it. Those are my two favorite shows that I’m really excited for in this season! {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “I love having an artistic home here where we collaborate time and time again. We support one another, we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we help each other grow.”
Gené Fouché (associate artistic director) “I am most excited about Appropriate because I have been working on it, I’m directing it and I’m very excited about it. It’s just so intense and it’s so emotionally charged. That’s my kind of beast. I feel like that’s what I’m good at? Getting those emotional layers out of actors. I’m looking forward to this, because although I got to do it last season with The Shark is Broken, I don’t always get to do that. Sense and Sensibility was fun and delightfully simple for the intellectual and emotional palette.”
Stephen Craig (ensemble company member) “I’m stoked about season preview because it’s one of the events as an ensemble member where I get to interact with the people who love the MET so much and they get to buy subscriptions! Of course, if you’re reading this then you might not have made it to season preview were you could have bought season subscriptions at a discounted rate, but you’re still going to want to buy one because our season is going to be awesome!” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “I get to be on the sidelines a little bit, help out with the programs that I support the most— because there are so many things that the MET does that I can’t have a part in all of it— but like my wife? Karli Cole? She does the in-school program, so I will show up and do setup and strike for those, I did host a cabaret recently, I’m always, ALWAYS there for the full day of Retro Prom, our biggest fundraiser, the best party here in downtown Frederick, and of course I’m always here for season preview, because there’s tech-load-in for that. But those are the ones I’m for sure to hit every year and sprinkle in a little extra here and there.”
Mallorie Stern (ensemble company member) “I am really excited about two different shows. I’m excited about Into The Woods, which opens the season, and I’m really excited about The 39 Steps, which closes the season. Into The Woods is a show that I’ve been wanting to do for a very long time, I’ve never gotten to work on a full production of it and I think the story is beautiful. And The 39 Steps? I love a comedy, I do. In my heart I love a comedy and I think it’s going to be really challenging and I think it’s sometimes harder to do comedy than drama. {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “The Community. The people I get to work with. We have tons of fun together and we get to create really cool things.”
Matt Harris (production manager) “The show I’m most excited about this season is The Moors by Jen Silverman. It’s a cool, creepy, dark, gothic comedy. I say it’s like if The Bronte Sisters wrote a Sam Shepherd play. I just really love all of it; it’s just going to be really cool.” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “The Community.”
Ray Hatch-Terbush (ensemble company member) “You know, I don’t know. This is going to be a surprise for me! I’m healing from hip surgery so I haven’t been up to date about what’s coming up for this season. I’m really excited for the whole thing!” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “Oh the fact that you get to act! Period. When you’ve been in musicals for 50 years, and you get to a place where you get to act that’s just a gift.”
Julie Herber (associate artistic director/director of the Fun Company) “I’m most excited about The Moors. I’m excited about how quirky it is, how darkly funny it is, the characters are brilliantly written and they are going to be such a surprise to the audience, I can’t wait!” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “Being a MET company member. Being part of this wonderful group of artists and creators.”
Lisa Burl (emeritus ensemble member) “Working with all my fellow ensemble members. Oh, you meant show. The Moors, damnit! Because it is definitely a MET show. If there was ever a MET show in this season it’s The Moors. It’s dark, it’s funny, it’s got the romance, the queer angle, I think it’s going to appeal to multiple audiences, it’s going to be amazing.” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “Oh my God, I don’t know if I can pick just one thing. It literally is just working with all of my friends.”
Rona Mensah (ensemble company member) “Right now? I’m just excited about getting to see little pieces of all the different shows tonight. I didn’t read all of them so I can’t wait to hear the bits from each one, and see and hear everyone’s reactions. This is my favorite part because you get to see it go from selection to preview to when it’s finally up on its feet and this is the preview.”
Bill Dennison (ensemble manager) “There’s a lot of things I’m excited for. I’m excited for Into The Woods, I’m very excited for The Moors it’s a great play. We’re doing a lot of ‘big titles’ this season, Into The Woods, The 39 Steps, but I just love the story behind The Moors.” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “The opportunities that you have to perform, to serve the artistry and also the people you get to build it with. I love ensemble theatres because you get to work with the same people over and over again. There’s just trust there that’s not there otherwise and getting to play with all of that, that’s the best thing.”
Willem Rogers (ensemble company member) “Honestly? I’m most excited about The 39 Steps, I know that they’ve done it before, but just like the new take that we can do on it, it’s going to be so funny and new and exciting, I’m so pumped for it!” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “It’s just the community. Everyone is there all the time to support you. Whenever you come into Frederick, there is always a MET person there to say hi, it’s just so nice.”
Olivia Pietanza (development associate) “I’m really excited for Into The Woods and The Moors because Into The Woods is going to be so much fun and The Moors is written by a queer, non-binary playwright and it’s going to be really cool and there’s a dog in it!” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “I love getting to work on the shows, working with a really strong group of artists and creative individuals.”
Joe Waeyaert (ensemble company member) “What am I most excited for? Hmm. 39 Steps because it’s right up my alley. It’s a few actors playing a bunch of different characters, it’s really fun, and it’s hilarious, so I’m really excited about it.” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “The people.”
Karli Cole (lead teaching artist) “Okay— I don’t even know if I’m allowed to say it— {we checked with all the appropriate authorities to clear this announcement} – I’m going to be The Witch in Into The Woods! And that is going to be a really fun challenge for me and I’m excited to do that. It’s a little out of what I think people would expect from me so I’m really excited to get to do that! Other than that, I love The Moors. I love something spooky. I love a little haunted tale.” {we asked Karli which Fun Company show she is most excited about} “Although I love Mo Willems {The Pigeon series} those are so fun, those are the best, but I love Charlotte’s Web, it’s been my favorite book since I was a kid. So I’m really excited for that! {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “The community! The people! I love it!”
Molly Parchment (comedy night manager) {we asked Molly to share a little bit about the most exciting things happening for Comedy Night coming into the new season} “We’re hoping to bring back Stand-Up. The most exciting thing is probably going to be the return of The Sketch Show in January. That’s going to be really exciting, and that’s going to be led by Laura Stark and Rob Hughes, and that’s going to be awesome. They’re already writing stuff for it! We’re also looking for ways to grow our teams. We have a bunch of House Teams— The Comedy Pigs, Oh Crit!, That’s What She Said, Key City Improv, and Off-Key Musical Improv, Lightning Round, Austen Improv, and The Last Hurrah. But we have all of those and then we invite visiting teams, we have new people coming up with things all the time. AJ George is going to put together an improvised wedding at the end of August for our extravaganza! So much is unknown as we’re continuing to build but we want to reach the people of Frederick and find new and exciting fun stuff! And we have shows in all four Fridays in July and heading into August.” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “All of the people that are here. Being with all my friends. It’s the most wonderful, supportive theatre community ever. I did not have one of those for a really long time and I have one now here at MET.”
Melynda Burdette Wintrol (managing director) “Oh my gosh, I am really excited about the holiday show— The Crater Sisters’ Christmas Special— because it’s an original, local playwright piece, and I think it’s going to be something that’s a little different than what you might traditionally expect at the holidays but still has a lot of fun and is very endearing and will be something that people leave feeling really excited about the holidays after seeing it.” {we also asked what is the best thing about being a MET Company member} “The other MET ensemble members. The fellowship and the community.”
For more information about the Maryland Ensemble Theatre 26/27 Main Stage Season, click here.
For more information about the Maryland Ensemble Theatre 26/27 Fun Company Season, click here.
For more information about the Maryland Ensemble Theatre 26/27 Comedy Series, click here.
*No Hamiltons were harmed in the referencing of this article.
