OUR MISSION
Theatre NOVA is dedicated to raising awareness of the value and excitement of new plays and new playwrights in a diverse and expanding audience; and providing resources and outlets for playwrights to develop their craft, by importing, exporting, and developing new plays and playwrights.

2024-2025 Season

2024-2025 Season

2015 Season

2024-2025 Season
CURRENT SHOW
RADICAL EMPATHY by David Wells
World Premiere
Radical empathy is not about you.
When an American college professor’s TED Talk on empathy goes viral, he meets an Iraqi man who becomes a fixture in his virtual classroom. But when the brutality of the U.S.-led invasion hits the Iraqi man directly, the professor is forced to explore “the kindred connection from a place of deep knowing that opens your spirit to the pain of another as they perceive it.” (Isabel Wilkerson) A true story.
August 1-24, 2025
(Tickets: General $30 / 65 & Over $25 / Students $15)
Season Eleven
Rave Reviews
"Mesmerizing set, lighting, decor, along with the music from the performers. Interesting costuming, well done acting! Very thought-provoking."
- Audience Member,
JORGE LUIS BORGES GIVES A LECTURE ON ANATOMY (2025)
"I love having a theater in Ann Arbor that does new work in an intimate setting. I think it’s an important opportunity for audiences and playwrights alike to have experiences like the one provided by Theater Nova."
- Audience Member,
ECLIPSED (2025)
"[Theatre NOVA is] a valuable member of the cultural landscape of this town."
- Audience Member,
KAIROS (2025)
"I attend a lot of theater and this play was by far one of the most brilliant I’ve ever seen - from the writing to the acting, true talent was on display. The themes are so incredibly timely and explored a depth of ideas that kept me completely engaged from beginning to end. This brought up every emotion in me - laughter, sadness, anger, understanding, acceptance, confusion, revelation. What an incredible work of art to have just down the street from where I live. Theatre Nova is an incredibly special place where brilliant things come to life and I truly hope more people come to see this astounding play. "
- Audience Member,
JORGE LUIS BORGES GIVES A LECTURE ON ANATOMY (2025)
"Seen many- always rewarding theater experience, relevant and thought provoking. This was among the very best; script, acting, staging, production. Kudos!"
- Audience Member,
ECLIPSED (2025)
"THE SHOW WAS EXCELLENT
one of the best ever at Theatre Nova. The play was well conceived and written; the acting was outstanding; and, the set was very creative. Makes us happy to see such wonderful plays close to home."
- Audience Member,
The Language Archive (2023)
"This play reminded me once again what is so magical about live theater. We can read the history of a tragic event like this and that will convey one kind of truth. But such a beautifully imagined play relates another kind of truth, one that speaks directly to our hearts. Thank you for sharing yet another moving, thought-provoking, and inspiring performance!"
- Audience Member,
ECLIPSED (2025)
"I've seen a lot of theatre in my lifetime, from New York to Chicago to London to Stratford, and this production and these actors are top-notch. I was completely involved in this moving, gripping, and timely new play..."
- Audience Member,
ECLIPSED (2025)