January 27, 2025 | Theatre, Notes From Leadership,

A Note From Ronee Penoi on Life & Times of Michael K

ArtsEmerson is thrilled to welcome you back to the theater for Life & Times of Michael K. Based on J.M. Coetzee’s award-winning novel of the same name, this gorgeous piece follows a man named Michael K who journeys across South Africa to return his mother to her birthplace, against the backdrop of civil war. Adapted and directed by Lara Foot of the Baxter Theatre Centre and coupled with inventive puppetry from our friends at the Tony Award Winning Handspring Puppet Company (last seen with Little Amal), Life & Times of Michael K showcases the enduring power of human connection and resilience amidst unimaginable hardship. 

While the piece itself is a work of fiction, J.M. Coetzee’s novel was published at the height of Apartheid in South Africa and its themes around forced displacement, poverty, and racism remain resonant and timely decades after its publication. This incredible adaptation for the stage urges us to witness the impact of injustice and oppression and honor the everyday people who actively defy it.

ArtsEmerson was founded in 2010 to foster positive change in this historically segregated city. For nearly fifteen years, we have centered artists and narratives often invisibilized—Black, Indigenous, POC, immigrant, LGBTQIA+, international perspectives, and more. As we enter this next year and chapter, we will continue to center our Boston community, deepen our relationships around the globe, and uplift risk-taking artists and work. We are grateful to our partners both at home and abroad for their commitment to our mission and for holding us accountable to it. We continue.

Life & Times of Michael K runs from January 31-February 9 at the Emerson Paramount Center. For more information on this show, including how to purchase tickets, please visit our website. We look forward to seeing you at the theater soon!