March 16, 2026 | Uncategorized,

World Premieres at ArtsEmerson

ArtsEmerson is no stranger to hosting world premieres on our stages. Since our first season in 2010, we have welcomed more than 15 world premieres, spanning from one-person performances to large scale musical engagements. As we look ahead to the upcoming world premiere of The Secret Sharer, here’s a look back at just a few of the groundbreaking premieres that have defined ArtsEmerson’s stages

Man in a Case (2014)

This world-premiere adaptation starring prolific dancer and actor Mikhail Baryshnikov ran at the Cutler Majestic Theater from February-April 2014 and fused  theatre, dance, music and video to create bridge between our time and that of two brilliant 19th-century anti-love stories by Anton Chekhov, The Man in a Case and About Love. Brought to life by Big Dance Theater, this production wowed Boston audiences and kicked off a long-term relationship between ArtsEmerson and Baryshnikov.

The White Card (2018)

Acclaimed author Claudia Rankine (author of Citizen) brought her first ever play to the Emerson Paramount Center in the spring of 2018. The White Card examined race, privilege, and representation through a tense dinner-party conversation, challenging audiences to reconsider the invisibility of whiteness in American society.

Detroit Red (2020)

This powerful world premiere by playwright Will Power explored the early Boston years of Malcolm X, illuminating the formative experiences that shaped one of the most influential figures of the civil rights movement. Blending poetry and narrative, the production brought a deeply local perspective to global history.

…(Iphigenia) (2021)

A genre-defying reimagining of the Greek myth created by the legendary jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter and Grammy-award winning musician esperanza spalding, Iphigenia fused jazz, opera, and theater to reconsider fate, sacrifice, and agency. The production, staged at the Cutler Majestic Theater in November 2021, invited audiences to imagine new possibilities within an ancient story.

Dreaming Zenzile (2022)

Written and performed by Grammy-nominated artist Somi, this electrifying musical traced the life and legacy of South African icon Miriam Makeba through music, memory, and storytelling, offering a dreamlike portrait of an artist shaped by exile and activism.

Everyday Life and Other Odds and Ends (2022)

Boston-based company Sleeping Weazel premiered this moving multimedia work exploring love, partnership, and resilience through the experiences of couples navigating Parkinson’s disease in the spring of 2022 at the Emerson Paramount Center. Blending humor and vulnerability, the piece transformed everyday moments into profound theatrical storytelling.

Made in China 2.0 (2023)

In this inventive solo world premiere, acclaimed director Wang Chong turned the spotlight on himself, unpacking global expectations of Chinese art and identity through humor, autobiography, and experimental performance. This limited run at the Jackie Liebergott Black Box was called “absolutely fascinating” by audiences and critics alike.

The Secret Sharer (2026)

From April 24-May 3, audiences will have the opportunity to witness the mastery of DNAWORKS with their newest world premiere, The Secret Sharer. This show reimagines Joseph Conrad’s classic novella of the same name as a multimedia, movement-driven theatrical experience, exploring what happens when a young sea captain secretly shelters a fugitive aboard his ship, bringing forth questions of loyalty, identity, and fear. Tickets for The Secret Sharer are now available for purchase online, over the phone, or in person at the Box Office.

Have you seen any of these world premieres? Let us know in the comments!