The Gilbert Theater is a downtown staple that has brought the community together to laugh, cry, and think, performing everything from Broadway hits to talent not yet to reach its fullest potential. Every season is an experience curated by the theater's artistic director.
The 2025-2026 season is packed with familiar favorites and lesser-known gems. Matt Lamb, the newly appointed AD of the Gilbert, has meticulously chosen a lineup of shows that will bring the best and brightest onto the stage and the community and beyond to the seats.
“When choosing this Mainstage Season, I wanted to bring a wide variety of shows that will bring out the best the Gilbert Theater can offer. Each show brings its own challenges and topics of discussion. I want to bring our community together to experience these stories in this beautiful, intimate space,” Lamb said.
Cabaret (Sept. 12-28)
Watch the lives of locals and expats of Berlin unfold on stage as the Third Reich slowly takes hold of the country and city. Offering an escape from the ever-growing spread of fascist ideology, the Cabaret promises they’ll forget their troubles.
A Christmas Story (Nov. 21- Dec. 7)
Hitting the stage for another round during the holiday season, this fan favorite and always entertaining and nostalgic stage play is based on the 1983 film that still hits the airwaves every Christmas. Follow Ralphie, a 9-year-old growing up in the 1940s, as he attempts to acquire the coveted Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.
The Revolutionists (Jan. 30- Feb. 15)
Jump back in time and across the sea for a fantastical comedic tale that hits close to home. It’s a true story. Or total fiction. Or a play about a play. Or a raucous resurrection…that ends in a song and a scaffold.
Join four diverse and extraordinarily powerful women: playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle as they hang out, murder Marat, and try to beat back the extremist insanity in 1793 Paris.
On Golden Pond (March 20- April 5)
A feel-good multigenerational tale of a retired couple, who have found their rhythm in their differences, are thrust into the roles of new “grandparents” to an already-teenager. Laugh, cry, and learn a little teenage slang in this stageplay about love and embracing the time that we have together.
Rent (May 15-31)
For twenty-eight years, this beloved musical has been produced all over the country, and this year it’s coming to the Gilbert. A timeless tale about falling in love, finding your voice, and living for today, Rent is a year-long glimpse into the lives of the impoverished residents of an East Village building.
The young artists and musicians are navigating life and fighting for survival in the Lower East Side under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Explore the complex emotions and actions that make us the humans we are, the ones we strive to be, even in the face of adversity.
The Gilbert Theater provides an intimate experience for patrons. Every performance is the culmination of hard work and passion for creating the best show for audiences, from the directors and actors to the lighting and sound staff.
Tickets for individual shows can be purchased at https://www.gilberttheater.com/our-2025-2026-season/. Season tickets can be purchased at https://www.gilberttheater.com/season-tickets/ and start at $120.

(Actors perform on the Gilbert Stage. Photo courtesy of Gilbert Theater's Facebook Page)