Drama Productions
Productions
With a Focus on Original Works…
“In addition to producing contemporary and classic plays and
musicals, Jesuit Drama is committed to creating new works in
collaboration with our students, frequently focusing on ideas and
issues that revolve around social justice.”
—Ed Trafton ’84, Artistic Director
Mary Poppins (2025)
Based on one of the most popular Disney movies of all time and the Broadway musical that played for over 2,500 performances and received multiple Olivier and Tony Awards nominations, Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Mary Poppins is capturing hearts in a whole new way: as a practically perfect Broadway Junior musical!
Photography by Mike Yee & Nic Crumley ’15.
Access our digital program by opening this file: Digital Program for Mary Poppins.
Poppin’ Backstage
A peek backstage of our 2025 Spring Musical, Mary Poppins!
Photos taken by Nic Crumley ’15 during the 2025 Spring Musical, Mary Poppins!
Check out our production pictures from Mary Poppins.
Interested in joining us for tech? Learn how to register on this page.
The Odyssey: By Thespis and the Peloponnesian Midwest Regional Third Place Chorus (2024)
A comedy by Will Averill that describes the birth of theater while acting out The Odyssey!
Photography by Mike Yee.
Check out “Behind the Black Box,” a photography collection by Cole Arnold ’25 that showcases the behind the scenes work that goes into supporting our production.
Access our digital program by opening this file: Digital Program for The Odyssey.
Behind the Black Box
A Photography Collection by Cole Arnold ’25
Photos taken by Cole Arnold ’25 during the 2024 Fall Play, The Odyssey: By Thespis and the Peloponnesian Midwest Regional Third Place Chorus.
Check out our production pictures from The Odyssey: By Thespis and the Peloponnesian Midwest Regional Third Place Chorus.
children&art: A Song Cycle (2024)
Lyrics by The Company & Music by Ed Trafton
An original, company-created musical about the beauty and power of art which takes place in a “museum” that we created in our Black Box Theater.
Photos by Mike Yee, Davis Miller ’24, and GRDN Media.
M.P.L.S. (My Pandemic Love Story) (2023)
An original, student-written performance-piece written and performed by the company about their personal experiences during the pandemic
Photography by Scott Tooley ‘18.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2023)
The classic fairy-tale musical performed by the “students” of O.R.L.S. (Our Lady of the Reluctant Supplication School for Boys & Girls)
Jesuit Drama’s 2023 Spring Musical
Photography by Scott Tooley
Final Letters (2022)
A Company-Created Performance Piece based on letters from the Yad Vashem Archives.
Hits! Great Songs from Great Shows (2022)
An original review that celebrates the best of Broadway musicals
Jesuit Drama 2022 Spring Musical
Photography by Kyle Barr, Nic Crumley, & Scott Tooley
WHAT?!?! A Game Show (2021)
An Original Work
A fun, fast-paced, interactive comedy about the crazy things people believe.
Jesuit Drama 2021 Fall Play (Original Premiere)
A Company-Created Workshop Production
Photography by Nic Crumley
2021 Spring Musical
20/21 Season “Outside the Box”
"The Show Must Go On!"
Our 2021 Spring Musical, “The Show Must Go On,” is a musical about how to put on a performance during a pandemic. The show features both classic and contemporary, musical theater show tunes, behind-the-scenes moments from the students and staff of Jesuit Drama, several special guests…and some wonderful surprises!
“The Show Must Go On!” is thirty-five minutes long and is recommended for audiences of all ages.
Show. (And Tell.)
Items from the Museum of Lost Things
Show. (And Tell.): Items from the Museum of Lost Things.
Dramaturgy & Film Supervision by Ms. Joanna Glum
Production Stage Management by Demitri Kritsepis
Managing Direction by Ms. Rachel Malin
Concept, Text Supervision & Direction by Mr. Ed Trafton
A creative, online production
2020 Fall Play
20/21 Season “Outside the Box”
An Original Work: Show. (And Tell.)
Items from the Museum of Lost Things
Please join us here for our original, student-written/student-filmed 2020 Fall Play. Just click on the link to see the performance.
Show. (And Tell.) | Items from the Museum of Lost Things
an Outside the Box film
Duration: One hour and fifteen minutes, with one five-minute intermission.
This production is recommended for junior-high-age viewers and above.
To find out about our 2020 Fall Play Beyond the Black Box project, click here.
In the Matter of Scott Daniel Warren (2019)
An Original Work {Or, Scenes and Fragments from a Play about the Desert}
Jesuit Drama 2019 Fall Play (Original Premiere)
A company-created, documentary-theater performance-piece
Photography by Nic Crumley
we need some light (2019)
2019 Spring Musical (Original Premiere)
A musical performance-piece about mental health
Photography by Scott Tooley ‘18
The Elephant Man (2018)
Jesuit Drama 2018 Fall Play
A play by Bernard Pomerance
Photography by Mike Yee
Willy Wonka (2018)
Jesuit Drama 2018 Spring Musical
Music & Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley; Adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse & Tim McDonald; Based on the book CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY by Roald Dahl
Photography by Scott Tooley
Isaiah Says (2017)
Jesuit Drama 2017 Fall Play (Original Premiere)
Created by the Company
Photography by Scott Tooley
Spamalot (2017)
Jesuit Drama 2017 Spring Musical
Book by Eric Idle and Music & Lyrics by Eric Idle & John DuPrez
Photography by Carson Black
44 Plays for 44 Presidents (2016)
Jesuit Drama 2016 Fall Play
by The Chicago Neo-Futurists
Photography by Carson Black