Speakeysie News Desk

The Play That Goes Wrong Returns January 22 – February 15, 2026

Lawrenceville, GA — As part of its 30th Anniversary Season, Aurora Theatre welcomes the return of its most popular comedy, The Play That Goes Wrong, selected by fans in a special poll as the first of two audience-favorite productions being revived for the milestone year. Running January 22 through February 15, 2026, the production returns after a previous smash-hit run that firmly established it as one of Aurora’s most beloved shows.

Written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer and directed by Heidi McKerley, The Play That Goes Wrong follows the hopelessly earnest Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they attempt to stage a classic murder mystery, The Murder at Haversham Manor. What unfolds instead is a gloriously choreographed disaster filled with collapsing scenery, technical malfunctions, missed cues, forgotten lines, and actors determined to push forward no matter how wrong things become.

“When we first produced The Play That Goes Wrong, our audiences could not get enough of it,” said Ann-Carol Pence, Producing Artistic Director of Aurora Theatre. “Bringing it back for our 30th Anniversary felt like the perfect way to celebrate three decades of laughter, community, and the joy of live theatre. This show is a reminder of how powerful and hilarious the shared experience of theatre can be.”

Hailed by Variety as “Comic Gold!” and by The New York Times as “a gut-busting hit,” the Olivier Award–winning comedy has become an international phenomenon. Blending the absurdity of Monty Python with the structure of a Sherlock Holmes mystery, the play delivers nonstop physical comedy and escalating chaos that keeps audiences laughing from start to finish.

Aurora’s production features an ensemble cast including Candy McLellan as Annie, the long-suffering Stage Manager; Arianna Hardaway as Sandra/Florence Colleymoore; Caleb Clark* as Max/Cecil Haversham/Arthur the Gardner/Fight Captain; Skyler Brown as Trevor, Lighting and Sound Operator; Marcello Audino* as Chris/Inspector Carter; Chris Hecke as Jonathan/Charles Haversham; Anthony Rodriguez as Robert/Thomas Colleymoore; and Jeff McKerley* as Dennis/Perkins.

The production is led by Ann-Carol Pence, Producing Artistic Director, and Katie Chambers, Associate Artistic Director, with direction by Heidi McKerley. Stage management is provided by Lexi McKay*, AEA Stage Manager; Madeline Conrad*, AEA Assistant Stage Manager; and Lilly Ray, AppCo Assistant Stage Manager.

The creative and technical team includes Isabel and Moriah Curley Clay as Scenic Designers; Toni Sterling, Lighting Designer; Mikaela Fraser, Sound Designer and Assistant Production Manager, and Sound Engineer; Kristin Talley, Props Designer; Nyrobi Moss, Costume Designer; Alice Neff, Costume Director; Daniel Pope, Production Manager; Ashley Hogan, Technical Director; Jack Blackstock, Assistant Technical Director and Crew Chief; Isaac Burrier, Lighting Supervisor; and Davan Glynn, Crew.

Described by The New York Post as “nothing is as fall-down funny,” The Play That Goes Wrong is a celebration of theatrical catastrophe, expert timing, and perfectly executed mayhem — making it a fitting and festive return for Aurora Theatre’s milestone season.

The Play That Goes Wrong runs January 22 – February 15, 2026, at Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville.

For tickets and more information: auroratheatre.com
For Promotional Photos Click Here