A graphic of two women and the text The House That Will Not Stand.
Arts and entertainment

WMU Theatre Presents The House That Will Not Stand

Posted by Emily Duguay for Theatre

Marcus Gardley's The House That Will Not Stand, blends poetic language with sharp, unexpected humor to tell the story of a Creole family facing a world in transition. This hauntingly beautiful play that captures the power, the magic, the tragedy of life in 1836 New Orleans. Here, Beatrice Albans, a widow navigating grief, memory, and the volatile terrain of change. Her three daughters live under her roof- but not always under her control. It is the story of resilient, resourceful, catty, joyful, spiritual women. 

Outside the house, the United States is tightening its grip on Louisiana, bringing new laws and new dangers for free Black families. Inside the house  magic blends with harsh reality in this dynamic and relevant story.

It's a story about legacy- how it's passed down, how it's resisted, and how is rewritten. About the ways women learn to hold power, to shape their own futures, and to speak aloud what was once only whispered. 

“Gardley vividly captures the sense of a house not only divided against itself but also caught up in a war of different traditions... the play has a pulsing theatrical vitality” -The Guardian
Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 — 2 to 4 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 — 2 to 4 p.m.
Shaw Theatre, Gilmore Theatre Complex
1351 Theatre Dr
Kalamazoo, MI 49008 US