Summer Theatre Returns to Mount Holyoke College

After a 25 Year Hiatus

By: Mount Holyoke - May 27, 2026

 

After a hiatus of 25 years, the curtain is rising once again on an ambitious and exhilarating new chapter of summer theatre at Mount Holyoke College. Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre will open this summer with two exciting productions, “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express” adapted by Ken Ludwig and “The 39 Steps,” adapted by Patrick Barlow. More than a summer stock company, this initiative is designed as a professional launching pad, bridging the gap between academic theatre training and the realities of the professional industry.

“It’s deeply exciting to bring summer performances back to Mount Holyoke College,” said Noah Tuleja, associate professor of Film Media Theater and chair of the Film Media Theater department at the College, and former participant of the original Summer Theatre at Mount Holyoke College. “Mount Holyoke students will be collaborating with alums, faculty, staff and local theatre professionals as they hone their craft by working on professional theatrical productions.” 

The Summer Theatre at Mount Holyoke College was founded by James T. Cavanaugh, professor emeritus of theatre arts, at Mount Holyoke College in 1970. Cavanaugh founded the theater for students who wanted more practical experience in acting and technical skills during a summer internship in the department. A usual summer season would consist of eight plays for adults and two or three plays for children. Former patrons will remember that the plays were performed in the round in a large orange and white striped tent. 

Reviving the spirit of a once-thriving summer theatre tradition, thanks to the support of a generous anonymous donor, this new company will now be staged in the Kendall Sports & Dance Complex. Even though this reimagined theatre will look and feel different from the company under Cavanaugh, it still focuses on being a training ground for the next generation of theatre artists. Students from various colleges and universities will work alongside professional theatre artists, fostering a collaborative atmosphere rich with mentorship and creative exchange. 

This company also aims to become a cultural destination for the city of South Hadley, bringing audiences together with a renewed commitment to live theatrical performances during the summer season. With a legacy reborn and a new generation ready to take the stage, Mount Holyoke College is once again poised to become a summer home for community engagement and entertainment. 

Performance Information:

 “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express” will run June 30-July 11, 2026 

“The 39 Steps” will run July 17–25, 2026

Tickets: $15 General Admission (Starting June 1, 2026)  | $25 Season Passes (Available now!)

For more information or to reserve tickets, please visit mhcsummertheatre.ludus.com or contact us at MHCSummerTheatre@mtholyoke.edu.