Florida Rep's new season: Thrills, laughs, songs from the '50s to '70s

Florida Repertory Theatre just announced its 29thseason in downtown Fort Myers, and audiences can find everything onstage from a classic home-invasion thriller to celebrations of songs from the 1950s, '60s and '70s.

"Our 29th season is a celebration as we look to the start of a third decade of first-rate entertainment, culture and nationally acclaimed professional theatre," producing artistic director Greg Longenhagen said in a news release announcing the theaters 2026-27 season. "Each play and musical on the schedule was hand-picked to transport you, thrill you, move you — and maybe even get you to dance in the aisles!"

Season subscriptions are on sale now and start at $294. Single tickets go on sale in June.

Here's a closer look at what's on stage for Florida Rep's 2026-27 season. All shows are on the main Historic Arcade Theatre stage unless otherwise noted:

The Everly Brothers, Neil Simon and a 'Forever Plaid' sequel

• "Forever Everly: The Everly Brothers Rockumentary" (Sept. 18-Oct. 25 in the ArtStage Studio Theatre):A show that blends live music, a documentary film and the life and songs of the pop-rock duo behind "Bye, Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie" and many more hits.

• "The Star-Spangled Girl" (Oct. 23-Nov. 8):In Neil Simon's fast-moving romantic comedy, two radical young men are struggling to put out a "protest" magazine in the '60s when a "all-American" woman moves in next door. Soon romance and politics clash.

• "Wait Until Dark" (Nov. 26-Dec. 13):The hit Broadway thriller about a blind housewife terrorized in a home invasion until she figures out how to fight back. The criminals think there's a doll stuffed with heroin inside her house.

• "Plaid Tidings" (Dec. 4-Jan. 3, 2027):In this sequel "Forever Plaid," a singing group returns to Earth to sing '50s and '60s hits and traditional Christmas songs in four-part harmony.

'Beehive' looks at the '70s, a sexy getaway and a salute to Hollywood musicals

• "Dames at Sea" (Jan. 8-24, 2027):A parody of those sprawling, flashy Busby Berkeley-style Hollywood movie musicals from the 1930s.

• "Sexy Laundry" (Jan. 29-March 7, 2027 in the ArtStage Studio Theatre):The regional premiere of this new comedy by Michele Riml. After 25 years of marriage, a couple tries to rekindle their spark with a copy of  "Sex for Dummies" and a spicy weekend retreat. Together, they explore love, marriage and their sexual fantasies "from leather to lace."

•  "Over the River and Through the Woods" (Feb. 12-28, 2027):Joe DiPietro's  comedy shows what happens when a single Italian-American man has to tell his doting grandparents he's moving far away.

• "Never Can Say Goodbye: The 70s Beehive Musical" (March 19-April 4, 2027): This regional premiere — the sequel to Florida Rep's 2024 hit "Beehive: the 1960s Musical" — takes on the spirit, music, fashions and cultural revolution of the 1970s.

• "Private Lives" (April 9-May 9, 2027):Noël Coward's classic, sophisticated comedy about a former married couple, Elyot and Amanda, now honeymooning with their new spouses at the same time in a posh French hotel — only to find their fiery romance rekindled.

More about Florida Repertory Theatre

Single tickets for Florida Rep's 2026-27 season go on sale June 1 and start at $67. All shows have discount previews, as well.

Florida Repertory Theatre is located at 2268 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. For tickets and more information, call 332-4488 or visit floridarep.org .

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Charles Runnells covers arts and entertainment for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@usatodayco.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook(@charles.runnells.7), Instagram (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells)

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers' Florida Repertory Theatre's new season, how to get tickets