Spring 2026 Department of Theatre Season

Opening the Spring 2026 Department of Theatre Season is a new play with music, Everybody Thrashing. Set in 1518 Strasbourg, the play is inspired by the true events of the "Dancing Plague,” a real incident where around 400 people took to the street and danced frantically without stopping for weeks. The play is co-developed and directed by Jeremy Ohringer and Amelia Hefferon, with original music by Ethan Korvne and Emily Hayman and assistant directed by senior Directing and Dramaturgy major Aidan McGuire.  Everybody Thrashing explores this historical moment of group hysteria and how it connects with contemporary moments of group fervor, madness, and in some cases, exaltation. Co-director Jeremy Ohringer says that the play is “an opportunity to discuss the inexplicable ways that we are challenged and pulled in by others. When is it valuable? When is it resistance? When is it deadly?" Stage manager Ashley Chavez offers that “all of us -- cast, crew, and directorial team, are hands-on in the development of this brand new piece of art.” Cast members share that it’s been a creatively exciting and challenging experience. Sophie Thill, who plays one of the Red Soles, offers that, “Not many people know about the dancing plague, and it is actually quite fascinating…I've never worked on anything like this before.” Noora Kassem says that the play “is funny and thought provoking, and really is an experience that is very unique in today’s theatre world.” Andrew Rascop agrees that “this play has never been done before, so you have all the creative liberty to make choices for your character and for the story of the show but on the other hand that is also what makes the process creatively challenging.“ Isabella Creech speaks to the dancing sequences: “No rules, no choreography. Just allowing myself to do what feels right. Or, allowing myself to do what feels wrong. It’s definitely a change, but I’m really enjoying this process, and I can’t wait to see what it becomes.”

 The cast features Isabella Creech, Josette Falzone, Marcus Fawer, Marina Jòkanović, Noora Kassem, Andrew Rascop, Hope Shawley,  and Sophie Thill. The production is stage managed by Ashley Chavez and Chris Wadsworth, with movement coaching by Sam Doyle, scenic design by Julia Kelly, prop design by Chloe Ossman, costume design by Jabari Thurman with assistant costume design by Beatrice Harbaugh, light design by Momoka Hirano, and hair and makeup by Hadley McFarland. Crew and production team include wardrobe lead Parker Smith, deck lead Aalayiah Brunner, sound board operator Grace Rolston, light board operator Ajoriea Slone, scene shop supervisor Jake Stake, technical director Zach Johnson, and interim production manager Jon Rippe.

 Tickets can be purchased at https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/show. 

Everybody Thrashing runs:

Thursday, February 19, 2026 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 20, 2026 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 21, 2026 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 22, 2026 2 p.m.

Madden Theatre
Pricing: $14, free for NCC students, faculty, and staff with ID