Theatre Nova

Theatre Nova 🎭 Dedicated to promoting the value and excitement of new plays and new playwrights in the Ann Arbor community.

Theatre Nova is dedicated to raising awareness of the value and excitement of new plays and new playwrights, and providing resources and outlets for playwrights to develop their craft, by importing, exporting, and developing new plays and playwrights. Its goal to create a sustainable theatre for generations to come is built on the four cornerstones of accessibility, transparency, artist-leadership, and equality.

Joe Wright (Fight Director) is a fight & intimacy director, movement coach, stunt performer, and actor based in SE Michi...
06/19/2026

Joe Wright (Fight Director) is a fight & intimacy director, movement coach, stunt performer, and actor based in SE Michigan who’s personal mission is to make the magic of movement and storytelling accessible to everybody and every -body-. He is a Certified Teacher and Theatrical Fi****ms Instructor with the Society of American Fight Directors, Certified Instructor for Fight Directors Canada, co-founder/co-coordinator for the annual Mitten Mayhem Stage Combat Workshop, and a founder/lead instructor for Theatrica Gladiatoria. He has taught for the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) SMTD and has presented workshops for Lake Michigan College and EMU Theatre.
ATHENA by Gracie Gardner
Directed by Shelby R. Seeley
July 17-August 9, 2026
Info and Tickets: https://www.theatrenova.org/current-show

Amanda Buchalter (Jamie) is an award-winning actor, director, intimacy and fight director, and teaching artist with roug...
06/18/2026

Amanda Buchalter (Jamie) is an award-winning actor, director, intimacy and fight director, and teaching artist with roughly 15 years of experience in theatre, film, and voice acting. If she’s standing still long enough, you may have seen her at theaters across Southeast Michigan, such as Tipping Point Theatre, The Purple Rose, Theatre Nova, and Open Book Theatre. When being a human, you’ll find her enjoying a vampire novel, cuddling her dog, googling a weird fact she heard, or sipping tea with friends and family. Thank you, always, to her friends and family for their love, support, humor, and patience. amandabuchalter.com

ATHENA by Gracie Gardner
Directed by Shelby R. Seeley
July 17-August 9, 2026
Info and Tickets: https://www.theatrenova.org/current-show

06/17/2026

Congratulations to the many EMU Theatre alumni who are involved with the upcoming production of "Athena" at the Theatre Nova, which opens a month from today! Make sure to come support our alumni and everyone participating in the show đź’š

Our alumni taking part in the production include:
Amanda Buchalter playing the role of Jamie
Shelby R. Seeley as the director
Briana O’Neal as the stage manager
Joe Wright as the fight director
Amanda Bates as the set designer
Sydney Schropshire as the assistant stage manager
Celah Convis as the digital content assistant

Director Shelby R. Seeley says: “The stories I want to tell are violently tender and ferally-feminine, and 'Athena' encapsulates that. I have pitched this play fifteen times over many years to local professional theatres, and Theatre NOVA is the first theatre brave– or crazy– enough to say yes. I love how this show explores identity, connection, and ambition in a way that is uniquely feminine. The show demands high level spectacle, and I have no doubts that this team will handle it well, but it’s also exceptional, intimate storytelling.”

More info can be found at theatrenova.org/current-show

Brittany Batell (Mary Wallace) is excited for her first full production with Theatre NOVA! She has been an actor in the ...
06/17/2026

Brittany Batell (Mary Wallace) is excited for her first full production with Theatre NOVA! She has been an actor in the Ann Arbor area for 20 years, working with groups like Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, Shakespeare in the Arb, and the Penny Seats Theatre Company. Other theatre-adjacent pursuits include teaching medical improv (a training method using improv to build health professionals' interpersonal communication skills) through the University of Michigan health system and stage combat training with Theatrica Gladiatoria. Much love and thanks to the cast and production staff for this incredible opportunity!

ATHENA by Gracie Gardner
Directed by Shelby R. Seeley
July 17-August 9, 2026
Info and Tickets: https://www.theatrenova.org/current-show

Jen Pan (Athena) (she/they) is lunging into their Theatre Nova acting debut! Jen is a fight and intimacy director, movem...
06/16/2026

Jen Pan (Athena) (she/they) is lunging into their Theatre Nova acting debut! Jen is a fight and intimacy director, movement teaching artist, actor, and stunt performer. Recent credits include Seattle Children’s Theatre, Detroit Public Theatre, Obsidian Theatre Festival, University of Michigan SMTD, Oakland University, The Dio, and Croswell Opera House. They’re a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD), co-founder and lead instructor of Theatrica Gladiatoria (www.fightglad.com), and co-coordinator of the annual Mitten Mayhem Stage Combat Workshop. IG

ATHENA by Gracie Gardner
Directed by Shelby R. Seeley
July 17-August 9, 2026
Info and Tickets: https://www.theatrenova.org/current-show

Athena by Gracie Gardner​“A deadly serious comedy about ambition, success, and owning your superiority.” --NY TimesMary ...
06/15/2026

Athena by Gracie Gardner​
“A deadly serious comedy about ambition, success, and owning your superiority.” --NY Times

Mary Wallace and Athena are brave, and seventeen, and fencers, and training for the Junior Olympics. They practice together, they compete against each other, they spend their lives together. They wish they were friends. Can they overcome their fierce competitiveness? Would they even want to?

Directed by Shelby R. Seeley, the cast features Jen Pan (Athena), Brittany Batell (Mary Wallace) and Amanda Buchalter (Jamie). The production team includes Theatre NOVA Producing Artistic Director Briana O’Neal (stage manager), Joe Wright (fight choreographer), Kennikki Jones-Jones (sound designer), Amanda Bates (set designer), Jade Guerriero (lighting designer), Michaella Victoria (costume designer), Avalon McNew (assistant lighting designer), Sydney Schropshire (assistant stage manager), Kangxin Li (assistant prop designer) and Celah Convis (digital content assistant).

July 17 - August 9, 2026
Tickets: General $30 / 65 & Over $25 / Students $15
Info and tickets: https://www.theatrenova.org/current-show

Happy closing to the company of THE LAST WIDE OPEN!The Last Wide Open by Audrey CefalyMusic by Matthew M. Nielson, Polis...
06/14/2026

Happy closing to the company of THE LAST WIDE OPEN!
The Last Wide Open by Audrey Cefaly
Music by Matthew M. Nielson, Polish Translation by Katarzyna MĂĽller
Michigan Premiere | Play with Music
Directed by Diane Hill, The production stars real-life partners Josie Herman as Lina and Michael Alan Herman as Mikołaj, bringing an added layer of authenticity and connection to this deeply felt story. Natalie Rose Sevick appears as Stagehand, supporting the show’s live music.

The production team includes Briana O’Neal (stage manager), Craig Hane (set designer/builder), Jade Guerriero (lighting designer), Toni Davison (costume designer), Kat Walsh (intimacy director), and Avalon McNew (assistant to the lighting designer). Commissioned by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Polish translation commissioned by American Blues Theater.

1 show left!!!The Last Wide Open by Audrey CefalyMusic by Matthew M. Nielson, Polish Translation by Katarzyna MĂĽllerMich...
06/14/2026

1 show left!!!
The Last Wide Open by Audrey Cefaly
Music by Matthew M. Nielson, Polish Translation by Katarzyna MĂĽller
Michigan Premiere | Play with Music
Directed by Diane Hill
May 22 – June 14, 2026
Info and Tickets: https://www.theatrenova.org/current-show
Commissioned by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and American Blues Theater
Photo by Sean Carter Photography

2 shows left!!!The Last Wide Open by Audrey CefalyMusic by Matthew M. Nielson, Polish Translation by Katarzyna MĂĽllerMic...
06/13/2026

2 shows left!!!
The Last Wide Open by Audrey Cefaly
Music by Matthew M. Nielson, Polish Translation by Katarzyna MĂĽller
Michigan Premiere | Play with Music
Directed by Diane Hill
May 22 – June 14, 2026
Info and Tickets: https://www.theatrenova.org/current-show
Commissioned by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and American Blues Theater
Photo by Sean Carter Photography

3 shows left!The Last Wide Open by Audrey CefalyMusic by Matthew M. Nielson, Polish Translation by Katarzyna MĂĽllerMichi...
06/13/2026

3 shows left!
The Last Wide Open by Audrey Cefaly
Music by Matthew M. Nielson, Polish Translation by Katarzyna MĂĽller
Michigan Premiere | Play with Music
Directed by Diane Hill
May 22 – June 14, 2026
Info and Tickets: https://www.theatrenova.org/current-show
Commissioned by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and American Blues Theater
Photo by Sean Carter Photography

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