From the suspense of Stephen King’s MISERY, the heartfelt family holiday drama MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, Joshua Harmon’s provocative ADMISSIONS, to the wickedly funny RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL Citadel Theatre will produce a season as emotionally resonant as it is wildly entertaining. The season will open with William Goldman’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel MISERY. The three-hander about a novelist who is rescued from a car crash by an obsessed fan and held captive after she discovers he killed off her favorite character, will be performed by Scott and Ellen Phelps, co-founders of the theatre. Though they have acted in several productions for the company separately, this will be the first time this married couple has performed together on the Citadel stage since 2023, when they played Pastor Paul and his wife in THE CHRISTIANS. Ellen Phelps performed in last spring’s A JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN. Scott Westerman, who directed the latter show, will direct MISERY. MISERY will open to the press on Friday, September 12 at 7:30 pm, following previews on September 10 and 11, and play through October 12.
Citadel’s holiday show will be the heartfelt comedy-drama MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET by Tom Dudzick, author of the popular OVER THE TAVERN TRILOGY that follows the Pazinski family in 1950s Buffalo, NY. MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET concerns another Buffalo family – the Nowaks, an eccentric family who for decades have believed they were chosen for a miracle—an apparition of the Virgin Mary in Grandpa's barbershop in 1942. But when daughter Ruth decides to write a one-woman show about the event, a shocking family secret surfaces, unraveling their cherished legend and shaking their faith to the core. The play blends humor and emotion as the family grapples with identity, belief, and the meaning of truth. Scott Shallenbarger, who directed Citadel’s hits I AND YOU and BABY, is directing. MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET will open on Friday, November 14 after previews on November 12 and 13, and play through December 14.
In February, Citadel will mount the sharp and provocative satire ADMISSIONS, by playwright Joshua Harmon, author of the recent critical and popular hit PRAYERS FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. ADMISSIONS centers on Sherri Rosen-Mason, the head of admissions at a prestigious New England prep school, who is passionately committed to increasing diversity in the student body. But when her own son is deferred from Yale while his Black best friend is accepted, Sherri and her husband—also the school’s headmaster—are forced to confront the uncomfortable gap between their ideals and their personal ambitions. This bold play, which won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, is designed to spark conversation about this timely topic long after the curtain falls. It will be directed by Beth Wolf, the director who led Citadel’s SILENT SKY and OUTSIDE MULLINGAR to Jeff Award nominations for Best Production of a Play – Midsize and Best Direction of a Play - Midsize. ADMISSIONS will open on February 13 following previews on February 11 and 12 and play through March 15.
Closing Citadel’s 2025-26 season will be RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL. It’s a gleefully twisted satire that skewers Broadway classics like GYPSY and MAME, as well as cult films such as THE BAD SEED and ALL ABOUT EVE. The show follows Tina Denmark, an adorably sociopathic 8-year-old who will stop at nothing—including murder—to land the lead role in her school play. Premiering Off-Broadway in 1992, RUTHLESS! has become a cult favorite thanks to its outrageous humor, campy style, and razor-sharp wit. Christina Ramirez, Managing Director of the award-winning Actors Training Center in Wilmette and director of the musical FIRST DATE and the upcoming revue SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM, both for Oil Lamp Theatre, will direct. RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL will open to the press on Friday, April 17 following previews on April 15 and 16, and play through May 17.
Season subscriptions are available for the full four-show season at $120.00, or as flex passes that can be used for the patron’s choice of either three shows for $100.00 or two shows for $70.00. Preview flex passes are also available for $40 (two shows), $50 (three shows), or $60 (four shows). Subscriptions and single tickets priced at $45 are now on sale at www.citadeltheatre.org.
Citadel Theatre is in residence in the West Campus of the Lake Forest School District at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. Further information and ticketing is available on the company’s website at www.citadeltheatre.org.
LISTING INFORMATION
MISERY
By William Goldman, based on the novel by Stephen King
Directed by Scott Westerman
Friday, September 12 – Sunday, October 12, 2025
(Previews September 10 and 11 @ 7:30 pm)
PRESS OPENING Friday, September 12 at 7:30 pm
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sunday matinees at 3 pm, Wednesday matinees at 1 pm on September 17 and October 1. No performances Fridays September 19 and October 3.
Preview ticket prices $20 plus $2 ticketing fee. Regular run prices $45.00 plus $3.00 ticketing fee. Discounts available for groups, seniors and students.
Citadel Theatre, located in the West Campus building of the Lake Forest School District, 300 S. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest, IL.
Tickets available online at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1
Romance novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued from a car crash by his obsessed fan, Annie Wilkes, and held captive after she discovers he killed off her favorite character. Forced to rewrite his novel under her watch, Paul finds himself trapped in a nail-biting cat-and-mouse game that will have you at the edge of your seat.
MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET
By Tom Dudzick
Directed by Scott Shallenbarger
Friday, November 14 – Sunday, December 14, 2025
(Previews November 12-13 @ 7:30 pm)
Press Opening Friday, November 14 at 7:30 pm
Thursdays*, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Wednesday matinees at 1 pm on November 26 and December 10
* No shows on Thursdays November 27 (Thanksgiving Day) or December 11.
Preview ticket prices $20 plus $2 ticketing fee. Regular run prices $45.00 plus $3.00 ticketing fee. Discounts available for groups, seniors and students.
Citadel Theatre, located in the West Campus building of the Lake Forest School District, 300 S. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest, IL.
Tickets available online at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1
The Nowaks of Buffalo, NY, have always believed in their family's miraculous Christmas Eve story—until Ruth decides to turn it into a one-woman show, only to have a deathbed confession threaten to unravel the legend. As the truth emerges, the Nowaks must face their faith, family and hilarious truths in this heartfelt comedy.
ADMISSIONS
By Joshua Harmon
Directed by Beth Wolf
Friday, February 13 - Sunday, March 15, 2026
(Previews February 11 and 12 @ 7:30 pm)
Press Opening Friday, February 13 at 7:30 pm
Thursdays*, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Wednesday matinees at 1 pm on February 25 and March 1.
*No performances on Thursdays, February 26 and March 12
Preview ticket prices $20 plus $2 ticketing fee. Regular run prices $45.00 plus $3.00 ticketing fee. Discounts available for groups, seniors and students.
Citadel Theatre, located in the West Campus building of the Lake Forest School District 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL
Tickets available online at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1
At an elite prep school, Sherri Rosen-Mason is leading the charge for change—until her own son’s Ivy League dreams put her ideals to the test. This sharp, compelling drama digs into the lengths we’ll go to protect our children, and the complicated truths that surface when personal stakes get too close to home.
RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL
Book and Lyrics by Joel Paley, Music by Marvin Laird
Directed by Christina Ramirez
Friday April 17 - Sunday May 17, 2026
(Previews April 15-16 @ 7:30 pm)
Press Opening Friday, April 17 at 7:30 pm
Thursdays*, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Wednesday matinees at 1 pm on April 29 and May 13. *No performances on Thursdays, April 30 and May 14.
Preview ticket prices $20 plus $2 ticketing fee. Regular run prices $45.00 plus $3.00 ticketing fee. Discounts available for groups, seniors and students.
Citadel Theatre, located in the West Campus building of the Lake Forest School District 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL
Tickets available online at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1
8-year-old Tina Denmark is a charming, sociopathic child star who’ll stop at nothing to land the lead role in her school musical. As her ambitious mother, Judy, transforms from a naive housewife to a Broadway diva, Tina’s psychotic drive for fame escalates, leading to a hilariously dark and twisted musical journey.
BIOS
Scott Westerman (Director, MISERY) makes, does, and teaches theatre and film in and around Chicago. At Citadel, he has directed A JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN, THE MOUSETRAP, THE CHRISTIANS and SEX WITH STRANGERS. Scott is the founding Artistic Director of Go To Productions, a 501©3 nonprofit which develops projects that explore the nexus between theatre and film. He created and directed the web series HAMLET & OPHELIA which won Best Picture at the New York Film Awards, Best Web Series at the LA Film Awards, and Best Mobile Series at the 2022 New Media Film Festival. Scott has directed stage productions for The Artistic Home, ChiArts, City Lit Theatre, Chimera Theatre Company, Citadel Theatre, Beyond This Point, Barter Theatre, Stage Left Theatre, The Smithsonian Institution, American Theatre Company (Bridge), National High School Institute (Cherubs), and Reverie Theatre Company. Scott is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, an ensemble member with The Artistic Home, represented by Gray Talent Group, and a teaching artist with Writers Theatre and The Theatre School at DePaul University. He has an MFA from The Shakespeare Theatre Academy. As an actor, Scott has worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Lookingglass, Northlight, The Shakespeare Theatre and Ford’s Theatre in DC, Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, the Warehouse Theatre in South Carolina, and the Barter Theatre in Virginia to name a few. On Camera credits include MACHINE GUN PREACHER, PRISON BREAK, and HEIST 88 which will premiere in 2023. More about Scott can be perused at www.ScottWesterman.org.
Scott Shallenbarger (Director, MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET). Scott returns to Citadel Theatre after directing I AND YOU in the 2024-5 season and BABY in the 2023-34 season. Previous Productions include THE GLASS MENAGERIE (Jeff Award) SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION; THE ROAD TO MECCA (Raven Theatre), SKYSCRAPER, BURN THIS, OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD (Piven Theatre), JEFFREY, and LOVE, VALOUR, COMPASSION (Hubris Productions). Scott enjoyed a long tenure as Director of Theatre Arts at Highland Park High School in Highland Park Illinois and thanks his husband and sons for their love and never-ending support.
Beth Wolf (Director, ADMISSIONS) is the founder and Producing Artistic Director of Midsommer Flight, where she has directed eleven Shakespeare plays in Chicago parks since the company's founding in 2012, including this summer’s critically acclaimed production of LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST. Her productions of SILENT SKY and OUTSIDE MULLINGAR at Citadel were both nominated for Best Production and Best Direction of Play (Midsize) in the 2022 and 2024 Jeff Awards. Other credits include the upcoming THE BOOK OF WILL (Promethean Theatre Ensemble), THE SUFFRAGE PLAYS at Artemisia, THE ROOMMATE at Citadel Theatre (Equity Jeff Recommended), and NON-PLAYER CHARACTER at Red Theater (2020 Non-Equity Jeff nomination for Projection Design).
Christina Ramirez (Director, RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL) is a Chicago-based theatre maker known for her work as a director, teaching artist, private audition coach, and college audition coach. She currently serves as Managing Director of the award-winning Actors Training Center in Wilmette. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from Webster University's Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts and performed at renowned venues such as The MUNY, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Hope Repertory Theatre, Maples Repertory Theatre, Insight Theatre Company, Union Avenue Opera, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Christina’s Chicago-area directing credits include the musical FIRST DATE and the upcoming revue SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM, both for Oil Lamp Theatre.
Scott Phelps (Artistic Director) is in his 24th year as the Artistic Director at Citadel. He’s acted in and directed dozens of Citadel productions over the last decade and a half since founding this North Shore theatre in 2002 with his friend and lifelong companion, Ellen. In 2023, he starred in the leading role of Pastor Paul in THE CHRISTIANS. He has acted/directed in NYC, and in his home state of California; trained as an actor at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, CA; received his BFA from the University of Utah, and did an apprenticeship at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. For 18 years Scott worked for a promotional company and raised his three daughters and his son in Lake Forest. Recently he has been taking on the next chapter of his life — the role of “Beepa” to his grandchildren. Although he is unsure if he is old enough to play that part, he’s been enjoying the challenge.
William Goldman (Playwright, MISERY) was a legendary American screenwriter, novelist, and playwright celebrated for his sharp dialogue, genre versatility, and storytelling brilliance. Born in Highland Park, Illinois, Goldman began his career as a novelist in the 1950s before transitioning to screenwriting in the mid-1960s. He won two Academy Awards: one for BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) and another for ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN (1976), cementing his reputation in Hollywood. His novel THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1973), which he also adapted for film in 1987, became a cult classic, blending fantasy, romance, and satire. Beyond film, Goldman authored over 20 novels and several influential nonfiction works, including ADVENTURES IN THE SCREEN TRADE, where he famously declared, “Nobody knows anything” about Hollywood. His career spanned decades, influencing generations of writers with his wit, candor, and craftsmanship. His stage plays include BLOOD, SWEAT AND STANLEY POOLE (1961), co-written with his brother James Goldman; A FAMILY AFFAIR (1962), a musical co-written with James Goldman and composer John Kander: and MISERY (2012).
Tom Dudzik (Playwright, MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET) is an American playwright known for his warm, comedic portrayals of family life and Catholic upbringing in Buffalo, New York. He launched his career with GREETINGS!—a holiday-themed play that premiered off-Broadway and became a seasonal favorite across the U.S.. His most celebrated work is the OVER THE TAVERN TRILOGY, a semi-autobiographical series chronicling the Pazinski family’s trials and triumphs. These plays—OVER THE TAVERN, KING O’ THE MOON, and THE LAST MASS AT ST. CASIMIR’S—have broken box office records and earned critical acclaim for their heartfelt humor and nostalgic charm. Dudzick’s other notable works include HAIL MARY!, a provocative look at faith and education; and DON’T TALK TO THE ACTORS, a backstage farce about the chaos of theatrical production.
Joshua Harmon (Playwright, ADMISSIONS) is a celebrated American playwright known for his sharp wit, emotional depth, and fearless exploration of identity, family, and social dynamics. Most recently, his play PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, a multigenerational drama about Jewish identity and safety in France, won multiple awards and earned a 2024 Tony nomination. His breakout play, BAD JEWS, became one of the most-produced plays in the U.S. during the 2014–2015 season, earning critical acclaim and international stagings. He followed with SIGNIFICANT OTHER, a poignant comedy about friendship and loneliness, which premiered Off-Broadway and later transferred to Broadway. Harmon’s other notable works include SKINTIGHT (2018), a provocative look at beauty, aging, and love. Raised in New York, Harmon studied at Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon, and Juilliard, where he trained under renowned playwrights like Christopher Durang and Marsha Norman.
Joel Paley (Bookwriter and Lyricist, RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL) was an American theatre director, lyricist and playwright. He was perhaps best known for co-creating the all-female musical RUTHLESS! with his creative partner and later husband Marvin Laird. In 1993, he won a Drama Desk Award and was nominated for one more in the categories Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Director of a Musical for the play RUTHLESS!. Paley and Laird also collaborated on a revue, THE YIDDISH ARE COMING … THE YIDDISH ARE COMING, a tribute to the Yiddish language, which was produced in Denver in 2006.
Marvin Laird (Composer, RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL) was the composer of the award-winning off-Broadway musical RUTHLESS!. His collaboration with Joel Paley, the author/lyricist of that show, continued for over 25 years. Their piece THE YIDDISH ARE COMING...! THE YIDDISH ARE COMING...! played regionally throughout North America. Beginning in the 1960s, he conducted and/or wrote dance and vocal arrangements for over two dozen Broadway and West End shows, including the award-winning production of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and the 2003 Broadway revival of GYPSY, both starring Bernadette Peters.
Citadel Theatre is one of Chicagoland’s premier live theatres, producing hundreds of performances annually and inspiring audiences for nearly 24 years. Founded by Scott and Ellen Phelps in 2002, Citadel Theatre is comprised of its Main Stage performances and its theatre acting classes for children. A proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres and the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff ArtsLink, Citadel Theatre offers a unique intimate theatre experience that transports you to another setting and leaves you feeling exhilarated and wanting more. A recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Citadel can accept tax-deductible donations. For more information, ticketing, and to donate, please visit Citadel online at www.CitadelTheatre.org or call 847.735.8554.