“When have we ever believed that the world wasn’t ending?”
― Emily St. John Mandel, Sea of Tranquility
In this moment of change and upheaval, we bring you two plays about… after the world ends. It’s a season of stories about the end of the world—and what happens after.
Above Ground tells the story of a woman whose life somehow kept going after a devastating loss. With humor and honesty, it explores grief as a measure of love.
Human Museum takes place 100 years after the extinction of the human species. Curious about humanity-that-was, the robots we’ve left behind steward our detritus in The Human Museum. And then, a human makes contact…
Learn more about each show:
- May 22-24 and 29-31, 2026: Above Ground
- September 11-13 and 18-20, 2026: Human Museum
Local connections
We’re thrilled to welcome some familiar faces this season, including a returning director-designer team, a costume designer who has dressed every actor in the region, and a playwright who is well-known in the region, although new to our theater. If their names seem familiar, here’s why (read their full bios here).
Above Ground
Local theater fans might remember Ginna Hoben’s The Twelve Dates of Christmas, performed frequently at the American Shakespeare Center. She also a regular performer there, creating 38 roles in 31 productions.
A long-time friend and collaborator, Heidi Winters Vogel directed the acclaimed Artemisia’s Intent in 2023. She also taught and directed at Eastern Mennonite University for over a decade. Heidi is an outstanding director whose creativity, storytelling, and vulnerability create moving theatrical experiences and engage audiences.
Prior to moving out of state, designer David Vogel created lighting and set designs for dozens of shows in the Harrisonburg area, at many theaters including Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, Valley Players, and more.
Human Museum
This will be Aili Huber’s fifth production as a director with Silk Moth Stage (she has also served as a producer, sound designer, publicist, stage manager, and more for our other productions). Her prior Silk Moth shows are Give Us Good, Wonder of Our Stage, Underneath the Lintel, and The Wanting Forest. In addition to creating porch-stage magic, Aili directs regularly at Bridgewater College.
Silk Moth Stage 