Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University

06/18/2026

Uptown and Tulane construction got you down? Don't waste time circling the block; park at Diboll and catch the shuttle!

06/18/2026

Visit nearby restaurants for a 15% discount with your show ticket!

06/17/2026

Twisting the wrist that's turning the screw, that's our Billy Flynn!

06/17/2026

She made a scandal and a start!

Chicago opens tomorrow! Get your tickets at the link in our bio.

06/17/2026

Chicago opens tomorrow! Tickets at the link in bio!

06/10/2026

It’s your world that you want to take a little pride in,
Your world, and it’s not a place you have to hide in.

Happy Pride!

06/05/2026

And that’s showbiz, kid

Chicago opens in less than two weeks! Get your tickets today at the link in our bio!

06/04/2026

Meet the Director! The director of Summer Lyric's 2026 production of Chicago is Jauné Buisson.

"For me, the world of Chicago is defined by crime, celebrity, and spectacle—and how those forces shape who gets seen, believed, and remembered."

Jauné Buisson is an award-winning director and choreographer known for creating visually striking, movement-driven productions that blend theatrical storytelling with bold design. Her work often explores the intersection of glamour, power, and performance—an approach that is central to her vision for Chicago, where crime, celebrity, and spectacle collide in a world driven by image and ambition.

She is the recipient of the Crescent City Theater Award for Best Director of a Musical (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, LPT) and has received multiple nominations for her work, including choreography for Jersey Boys at Le Petit Théâtre and A Chorus Line at Summer Lyric Theatre, as well as Best Musical (A Chorus Line, Summer Lyric Theatre). She is also the recipient of the Big Easy Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Cassie in A Chorus Line (2014), a role she reprised with Summer Lyric Theatre in 2025, earning a Crescent City Theater Award nomination.

Jauné has co-directed and choreographed Jersey Boys, and most recently Guys and Dolls at Le Petit Théâtre, earning recognition for productions that are both emotionally grounded and visually dynamic. Her choreography at Summer Lyric Theatre includes Anything Goes, She Loves Me, Ragtime, Hairspray, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hello, Dolly!, Once Upon a Mattress, and Fiddler on the Roof.

As a performer with Summer Lyric Theatre, she has appeared as Fastrada in Pippin, Tessie Tura in Gypsy, and Lois/Bianca in Kiss Me, Kate, bringing a deep understanding of performance into her work as a director. She is the Artistic Director of Metropolitan Dance Theatre of New Orleans, where she leads a thriving dance community and produces large-scale dance productions each season.

Her film work includes No One Will Save You (Disney+). Jauné first worked with Summer Lyric Theatre in 2001.

Chicago runs Jun 18-21. Get your tickets today at the link below!

06/03/2026

Busy hands in the costume shop!

11/17/2025

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Sharon Smetherman.

Sharon devoted her life to the performing arts as a dancer, actor, singer, choreographer, and director, sharing her talents with theatres across New Orleans—including our own 1990 production of Stephen Sondheim’s FOLLIES. She was also a beloved teacher, and many nights you could hear former students calling out an enthusiastic “Ms. Smetherman!” as patrons entered the theatre.

But many of you will remember her best as our commanding House Manager. For 14 years, her unmistakable call— “5 minutes ’til curtain!”—became part of the rhythm of every show.
We will miss her deeply.

View Sharon Winn Smetherman's complete obituary, share memories, and explore heartfelt tribute posts from the community.