An actor wearing a bright red wig with pearls, large Elizabethan ruff, gold corset, and farthingale admires herself in a hand mirror while an actor in a green corset kneels at their feet.

HWS News

14 April 2026 Orlando Brings a 500-Year Journey to Life at HWS Theatre

Closing the 2025–2026 season, Sarah Ruhl’s vibrant adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s novel blends humor, transformation and theatrical magic.

Directed by Professor of Theatre H. May, the 2025–2026 Hobart and William Smith Theatre season concluded with Orlando by Sarah Ruhl, adapted from the novel by Virginia Woolf. Ruhl’s imaginative take on Woolf’s iconic, gender-fluid tale presented a compelling feminist exploration of identity that shifts across time and space.

Audiences first encountered Orlando (played by RJ Fangmann ’27) in the court of Queen Elizabeth I and followed their extraordinary journey across centuries, culminating in a moment of revelation as Orlando completed a poem 500 years in the making, declaring, “I am about to understand…” A testament both to the liberatory power of the imagination and the elusive nature of identity, Ruhl retained much of Woolf’s evocative language while embracing the transformative power of the actor. Like any great adventure tale, Orlando’s journey was shaped by the myriad of characters with whom they interacted. In keeping with the fluid nature of Orlando, all characters were played by a small ensemble of performers (Jo Grejda ’26, MJ MaKinster ’28 and Grace Snook ’25, MAT’26) who engaged in ongoing shape shifting and adventure.

Orlando ran from Thursday, April 9 through Saturday, April 11 in McDonald Theatre of the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts. Performances were Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. 

Orlando

The company also included: Stage Manager: Helena Van Voorhis ’28; Assistant Stage Manager and Social Media Coordinator: Kalila Caringal ’27; Assistant Stage Managers: Caroline Frick ’28 and Sarah Painton ’29; Dramaturg: Tom Fahey ’27; Wardrobe Assistant and Make Up Design: Hannah Shulman ’29; Technical Director, Design of Scenic and Lighting: Ed Hallborg; Design of Sound: Kelly Walker; Design of Costumes: Katharine Tarkulich; and Assistant Technical Director: Eric Valko.