Cape Breton University’s Boardmore Theatre Announces 54th Season of Plays

Cape Breton University’s Boardmore Theatre is proud to announce its 54th Season of Plays, featuring four mainstage productions, two returning annual festivals and an expanded calendar of creative programming. This year’s lineup will bring beloved classics, contemporary favourites and fresh adaptations to the stage, alongside unique opportunities for students and community members to get involved.

Season Line-Up

Special Partnership Production
Secret Shakespeare – November 1 at 7:00pm
In partnership with local theatre company, Parking Lot Players, this one-night-only event will keep audiences, and even the actors, guessing. Roles are assigned in secret and the play itself is revealed only when the curtain rises. Expect audience participation, prizes and plenty of surprises. Admission is pay-what-you-can at the door.

Mainstage Productions
The Addams Family (School Edition) – November 24-30
Directed by Holly Schaller, with musical direction by Barbara Stetter
This hit musical brings the ghoulish Addams family to the Boardmore stage in a delightfully quirky story of love, secrets and family chaos. Performances include school matinees (Nov. 24–26, 10:00am) and public shows (Nov. 27–29 at 7:00pm, Nov. 30 at 2:00pm).

Lysistrata – January 27-February 1
Directed by Jule Ann Hardy
Aristophanes’ classic comedy finds the women of Greece, led by Lysistrata, banding together in an unconventional protest to end the Peloponnesian War.

The Walworth Farce – February 24-March 1
Directed by Todd Hiscock
Enda Walsh’s darkly comic play blends farce with tragedy as three Irish men re-enact their own twisted family history within the confines of a London council flat.

Mulan – May 4-10
Adapted and directed by Xiaojing Huang
Inspired by the legendary Chinese heroine, this production follows one young woman’s defiance of tradition and her courageous journey to become a warrior. School performances run May 4-7 at 10:00am, with public shows May 8-9 at 7:00pm and May 10 at 2:00pm.

Festivals
The Elizabeth Boardmore One-Act Play Festival – March 12–15
An annual showcase of new and emerging talent in writing, directing and performance. Full schedule to be announced in December 2025.

The Cape Breton Youth Theatre Festival – April 16–19
Featuring productions by young theatre practitioners from schools and youth drama groups across the Island.

Creative Campus Events
Throughout the year, Boardmore Theatre will also present Creative Campus productions and workshops, designed to foster collaboration across disciplines and highlight the creativity thriving at CBU.

New Ticketing System

This season also marks the launch of a new ticketing system at Cape Breton University. Tickets for all Boardmore Theatre productions can be purchased online at cbu.universitytickets.combeginning September 1.

The new campus box office is located in the Kehoe Forum and will be open September through April: Monday-Friday, 4:00pm-9:00pm, and weekends from 9:00am-9:00pm. On performance days, tickets will also be available at the Boardmore Playhouse one hour before showtime.

Ticket prices remain: $20 general admission, $10 student/senior, free for CBU students and $18 for CBU faculty/staff. Ticket packages are also available:

• Mainstage Package (4 shows) – $75 general | $40 student/senior | $68 faculty/staff
• One-Act Festival Package (4 nights, 8–10 plays) – $75 general | $40 student/senior | $68 faculty/staff
• Youth Theatre Festival Package (4 nights) – $39 all ages

(Prices include applicable fees. The Youth Festival is $10 + $3 service fee for single tickets.)

General Auditions

General auditions for all mainstage productions and the annual One-Act Play Festival will take place on September 13 and 14. To book an audition space, please email todd_hiscock@cbu.ca.

For more information about the 54th Season of Plays, auditions, or ticket packages, visit cbu.ca/boardmore or follow the Boardmore Theatre on social media.