Urbanite Theatre Unveils a Bold and Provocative Season 13

Sarasota’s daring black box theatre continues its tradition of championing fresh voices, fearless storytelling, and unforgettable theatrical experiences.

For more than a decade, Urbanite Theatre has carved out a unique place in Sarasota’s cultural landscape by embracing the unexpected. While many theatres lean toward the familiar, Urbanite has built its reputation on producing contemporary works that challenge audiences, spark conversation, and shine a spotlight on emerging voices.

Now entering its 13th season, Urbanite is doubling down on that mission with a lineup that blends comedy, social commentary, personal storytelling, and innovative new works. The 2026-27 season promises an exciting journey through four regional premieres and the return of the beloved Modern Works Festival, the company’s annual celebration of women in theatre.

Where New Voices Take Center Stage

Season 13 begins with Urbanite’s 7th Annual Modern Works Festival, one of Sarasota’s most distinctive theatrical events. The festival has become a launching pad for new plays and emerging playwrights, offering audiences a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creative process.

“The Modern Works Festival is one of the most exciting and intimate experiences we offer,” says Producing Artistic Director Summer Dawn Wallace. “Audiences get an exclusive inside look at how theatre is made, experiencing staged readings and the development of bold new works and becoming part of their journey.”

Running September 17-27, 2026, the festival opens with a headlining production before transitioning into a weekend of staged readings, special events, and celebrations dedicated to elevating female theatre artists.

A Battle of Beards, Bells, and Big Ideas

The first mainstage production emerges directly from last year’s festival.

Jenny Stafford’s delightfully titled AHOY-HOY: A Play About That Relatable Feeling When Someone Else Invents the Telephone Three Hours Before You Do explores the race to create one of history’s most transformative inventions.

Described as a spirited competition between rival inventors, the production combines historical inspiration with sharp humor and inventive storytelling. Stafford, whose work has appeared on Broadway and major stages around the world, brings wit and theatrical flair to what promises to be one of the season’s most entertaining offerings. AHOY-HOY runs October 30 through November 29, 2026.

Finding Humanity on a Garbage Route

Urbanite shifts gears in January with Lindsay Joelle’s The Garbologists, a thoughtful and funny exploration of class, race, and human connection.

Set aboard a New York City sanitation truck, the play follows veteran garbage collector Danny and his unlikely new partner Marlowe, an Ivy League graduate navigating an unfamiliar world. What begins as a clash of perspectives gradually becomes an examination of what society discards—and what it chooses to keep.

Joelle is known for creating deeply researched works that explore diverse American communities, and The Garbologists offers audiences both laughter and meaningful reflection. The production runs January 8 through February 14, 2027.

Revisiting a Troubling Cultural Conversation

Spring brings another Modern Works Festival success story to the mainstage with Stacey Isom Campbell’s 1999.

Set against the backdrop of the late-1990s film industry, the play examines the difficult intersection of artistic achievement, moral compromise, and accountability. As contemporary audiences continue to grapple with questions surrounding powerful creators whose personal conduct has come under scrutiny, 1999 explores whether it is possible—or even desirable—to separate art from the artist.

Timely, provocative, and emotionally resonant, the production tackles one of today’s most complex cultural debates while looking back at a pivotal era in entertainment history. 1999 runs March 19 through April 25, 2027.

A Powerful Journey of Identity and Belonging

Closing the season is Black Bastard, an autobiographical solo performance written and performed by actor Jon Gentry, whom Sarasota audiences may remember from Urbanite’s acclaimed production of Monsters of the American Cinema.

Part memoir, part theatrical mixtape, and entirely unforgettable, the production traces Gentry’s coming-of-age journey through 1990s Houston. Combining music, comedy, storytelling, and a kaleidoscope of characters, the play explores questions of identity, family, and belonging with both humor and heart.

The result is a deeply personal work that resonates far beyond its autobiographical roots, offering a moving reminder of the universal search for connection and self-discovery. Black Bastard runs June 4-27, 2027.

Continuing to Push Boundaries

As Sarasota’s arts scene continues to flourish, Urbanite remains one of its most adventurous institutions. Season 13 reinforces the company’s commitment to producing theatre that is fearless, contemporary, and deeply human.

Whether audiences are witnessing new works in development, laughing through historical rivalries, contemplating difficult social questions, or connecting with deeply personal stories, Urbanite’s newest season promises what theatre does best: bringing people together through powerful storytelling.

For theatre lovers seeking something bold, thought-provoking, and refreshingly different, Urbanite Theatre’s Season 13 may be one of Sarasota’s most compelling tickets.

Ticket link here: urbanitetheatre.com