The Rich Past and Present of World Premieres in the Southeast
Theatre in the Southeast region has long been a place of innovation and groundbreaking new works. Professional theatres such as the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia; Actor’s Theatre of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky; Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida; and PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, among many others, have been remarkable contributors to the American theatre canon. In the last century, countless plays have been produced for the first time at these theatres—such as So Long on Lonely Street by Sandra Deer, produced in the 1980s, and Alfred Uhry's The Last Night of Ballyhoo in the 1990s, which premiered at the Alliance Theatre before debuting on Broadway. Those are just two of eleven Alliance productions that transferred to Broadway. New works aren’t just a thing of the past in the Southeast. In 2022, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville produced a new adaptation of Dracula titled Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy by Kate Hamill. That same year, Asolo Repertory Theatre premiered the original musical Knoxville by Frank Galati, Lynn Ahrens, and Stephen Flaherty. In 2024, PlayMakers Repertory Company introduced a new holiday classic, The Christmas Case of Hezekiah Jones by Howard L. Craft and Mike Wiley. And the list goes on.
World premiere productions are a big undertaking and deserve recognition for their contributions to American theatre. This is especially true now, as the industry continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic amid a turbulent political landscape. For theatre artists in the Southeast, it’s more important than ever to know what has happened, what’s possible, and what opportunities and collaborators exist across the region. In this article, I explored two new world premieres currently in pre-production: one at Goat in the Road Productions in New Orleans, Louisiana, and another at the Ramsey Theatre Company in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Carlota, premiering March 2026 at Goat in the Road Productions in New Orleans, LA
Costume designer Suellen Coelho shared her excitement for the show Carlota, described as “a new play with music that weaves together the extraordinary life and legacy of Carlota Ruíz de González, a fictional character rooted in the rich tapestry of Cuban and New Orleans history.” She added, “I am super excited about the process. As designers, we are invited to participate in workshops with the company, some days dedicated to thinking and talking about the show, as well as experimenting with possibilities as designers.”
The play will incorporate music directed by Dr. Denise Frazier and award-winning powerhouse musician Yusa. When asked how she felt about working with Yusa, Coelho commented joyfully, “being able to work with [her] – I am a big fan.” Goat in the Road has conducted a series of work-in-process creation workshops of the show, lightly staging them throughout 2024, to develop and refine the new piece, preparing it for its first full production.
The company describes Carlota as a journey through time, where 19th- and 20th-century stories intertwine with vibrant Afro-Cuban and Creole rhythms. The title character is painted as “a grandmother, a revolutionary, a healer, and a pain in the ass.” Her life story includes a dramatic list of exploits: “she stabbed a Spanish colonel (maybe), met the goddess Oya, survived a flood, crisscrossed Cuba, abandoned her son (no she didn’t), played the lotto, smoked too much, saved lives, survived enslavement and laughed when she wanted.”
Coelho also noted, “I’m also excited about the amount of resources the director and producer are sharing with me, such as travel research photos from Cuba and a podcast about the Cuban revolution.” The collaborative approach, she explained, is one that designers often long for, allowing them to create unique theatrical experiences that feel like magic once the lights go down and the story begins. When asked what was most unique about the process, she emphasized “the respectful process, the time for development, and the genuine collaboration,” later adding, “I want people to understand that when we create space for collaboration, designers feel like they are truly part of the show and the process. It opens the door to a real sense of belonging.”
Carlota premieres March 5–14, 2026, in New Orleans (venue TBD). As the company notes: “Through soaring melodies and intimate storytelling, Carlota reveals how one woman's story can be passed down, creating ripples in our lives and whispering to us: (discover the past, imagine the future).” For more information and tickets, visit www.goatintheroadproductions.org.
The Best Gift, premiering November 2025 at Ramsey Theatre Company in Bowling Green, KY
This November, Ramsey Theatre Company will premiere The Best Gift: A Christmas Carol Musical, written and composed by the award-winning duo Dick and Melodie Tunney. According to the theatre’s website, The Best Gift is “a fresh adaptation featuring original songs, heartfelt storytelling, and a vibrant take on the holiday classic.” The show was tested in July during a one-night staged reading for an invited audience, giving the creative team a chance to gather valuable feedback.
Diane DiCroce, Producing Artistic Director of Ramsey Theatre and director of The Best Gift, shared insight into the new adaptation of the beloved Dickens tale: “The original music/score is written by Grammy and (multi) Dove award-winning songwriting and producing team, Dick and Mel Tunney. Nashville-based for over 40 years, this amazing team brings their incredible experience and expertise to Bowling Green to help us create this new tradition for Ramsey Theatre Company at the SKYPAC.”
The creative team’s goal was to bring Dickens’ classic to life as a musical with original songs, choreography, and adapted text, allowing the company to launch a new holiday tradition in Bowling Green. The title song, The Best Gift of Christmas, conveys the heart of the message: love.
Bowling Green is a city already rich with annual events, such as the Bowling Green International Festival, Bourbon and Brewfest, and White Squirrel Film Festival. The company hopes this new musical will join that roster of beloved traditions.
When asked what she was most excited about, DiCroce replied, “Debuting a new original musical with a story that people love and being able to repeat it each year.” She also highlighted the opportunity to feature actors and artists from national, regional, and local circles, creating a space where they can learn from one another through rehearsal and performance.
Beyond the stage, Ramsey Theatre Company has ambitious plans for the overall experience. “We will immerse our audience with a holiday experience from the moment they walk into our fully ‘decked-out’ and decorated lobby, [where they will] hear our carolers singing before the show to the end of the performance when it will actually snow over them in our concert hall (yes-it's a cool effect we can do here!).”
The show is designed for families and runs November 21–22, 2025, at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center in downtown Bowling Green—just an hour north of Nashville and an hour and a half south of Louisville. As the theatre’s website proclaims: “Join Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of redemption, brought to life with dazzling performances, uplifting music, and a moving reminder that the best gift is the one that transforms a heart.” For tickets, call 270-904-1880 or visit www.theskypac.com.