ARTSEMERSON PRESENTS THE THINGS AROUND US

[Boston, MA – Thursday, January 22, 2026] – ArtsEmerson, Boston’s leading presenter of contemporary world theater and film and the professional presenting and producing organization of Emerson College, is excited to present The Things Around Us, an inventive and unexpected one-person show created and performed by acclaimed musician, storyteller, and composer Ahamefule J. Oluo. Running February 20–22, 2026 at the Robert J. Orchard Stage at the Emerson Paramount Center, the performance blends stunning multi-layered music, created on the spot with looping technology, and intimate storytelling to reveal the surprising beauty hidden in everyday life.

Photo Credit: Alex Dugan

The Things Around Us
Photo credit: Alex Dugan

With a trumpet, live looping technology, and an expertise for rhythm and narrative, Oluo builds an entire symphony onstage, layering sound and story. Weaving hilarious personal anecdotes with moments of striking emotional depth, The Things Around Us invites audiences to rethink what surrounds them and discover the extraordinary in the ordinary.

The Things Around Us is the third installment in Oluo’s celebrated trilogy, following Now I’m Fine and Susan. The 90-minute performance showcases Oluo’s signature ability to transform simple sounds into sweeping musical landscapes while delivering stories that are heartfelt, hilarious, and profoundly human.

“In some ways, The Things Around Us is a simple and direct show,” explains Ahamefule J. Oluo — “just a performer and an audience in a room, experiencing sounds, words, and lights. That’s it. Which means that the space contributes significantly to our shared experience. The Emerson Paramount Center’s Robert J. Orchard Stage is one of the most beautiful venues in the country. It takes my breath away. I’m so grateful to ArtsEmerson for bringing this show to Boston and I’m counting down the days until opening night when I can share this space with you.”

“Ahamefule J. Oluo has an extraordinary gift for turning sound, story, and spontaneous moments into something moving and unexpectedly joyful,” says Ronee Penoi, Interim Executive Director of the Office of the Arts & Director of Artistic Programming at ArtsEmerson. “The Things Around Us captures the kind of inventive artistry that ArtsEmerson is proud to champion; work that connects audiences through humor, music, and shared humanity.”

Tickets for The Things Around Us may be purchased 24/7 at ArtsEmerson.org, or by calling 617-824-8400 (Tue-Sat from 12:00PM ET – 6:00PM ET). The Paramount Center Box Office (559 Washington Street, Boston) is open for walk-up service Thu-Sat from Noon – 6:00 PM ET. Tickets start at $27.50. Groups of 10+ attending a performance save up to 30%.

Community Engagement Programming: Play Reading Book Club

ArtsEmerson invites audiences to deepen their experience of The Things Around Us through its Play Reading Book Club (PRBC), a four-week, community-based program designed for both seasoned theatergoers and those new to live performance. Participants read the play aloud together and explore the script through guided discussion and dialogue facilitated by a trained teaching artist. After completing the group reading, participants attend a performance together and are invited to a private reception with artists from the production. Along the way, participants gain insight into the artistic context and background of the work, learn practical theater-going tips, and build meaningful social connections through thoughtful conversation.

• Engage in deep exploration of the play through group readings, facilitated discussion, and curated contextual resources.
• Meet new people and strengthen social connectedness through meaningful conversation.
• Gain tools and confidence to navigate the theatergoing experience.
• Experience the performance with a deeper level of understanding and appreciation.

For production stills and other media kit assets, click here.

LISTINGS INFORMATION FOR THE THINGS AROUND US

Public Health Information

Mask-wearing is strongly encouraged at all times while indoors at the theatre but is no longer required for most* performances and events. For folks who require a socially distanced seating location or who have other questions or concerns, please contact the Box Office by phone at 617.824.8400 or by emailing tickets@artsemerson.org to arrange seating that accommodates your needs. Masks and face shields will also be available at the theatre upon request. If you or a member of your party is feeling sick, experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or has been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 10 days, please stay home. Our box office will allow you to refund or exchange performance tickets at any time prior to the event. No one should come to the venue if they are not feeling well. It is within our values to create a safe space for everyone, full stop. All staff at the Theatres of Emerson College are working to ensure the health and safety of all who are sharing these spaces. Maintaining our community’s health and safety requires the effort of all involved. By committing to this Shared Code of Conduct, you are not only protecting yourself, but fellow guests, artists, and staff. Please do all you can to help keep all of us safe. We cannot wait to see you at the theater! Click here to review full info on Health and Wellness information.

THE THINGS AROUND US / PLAY READING BOOK CLUB

Play Reading Book Club will study The Things Around Us and will be offered at multiple locations. Registration includes all sessions at the selected location. Registration to the program is FREE, and includes complimentary access to a special behind-the-scenes viewing of the show before it opens. Tickets for the run of the show can be purchased separately.

CREDITS & BIOGRAPHIES

Composed, Written & Performed by: Ahamefule J. Oluo
Ahamefule J. Oluo (they/them) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, writer, comedian, and creator of live performance. They were a founding member of the award-winning experimental jazz quartet Industrial Revelation and have been recognized with a Mellon Creative Research Fellowship, a Creative Capital award, the Artist Trust Arts Innovator Award, a MAP Fund award, and a Foundation for Contemporary Arts grant. Oluo co-produced comedian Hari Kondabolu’s albums Waiting for 2042 and Mainstream American Comic for Kill Rock Stars, as well as Who the Hell is Dwayne Kennedy? by the eponymous stand-up legend. Their writing credits include the HBO Max series Santa Inc., created by Sarah Silverman and Seth Rogen, and they’ve appeared on This American Life.

Produced by: Roya Amirsoleymani
Roya Amirsoleymani is a curator, writer, creative producer, and project manager in contemporary performance and visual art, based rurally on Twana lands on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. She has served as creative producer for new, interdisciplinary performance works by San Cha, Ahamefule J. Oluo, and Holland Andrews & yuniya edi kwon; as a consultant for National Performance Network and the International Presenting Commons; and in Seattle, as co-curator of the 2023 Out of Sight exhibition at Bumbershoot and the 2025 Northwest New Works Festival at On the Boards.

PRESENTER INFORMATION

ArtsEmerson
ArtsEmerson is the professional presenting and producing organization at Emerson College, and its mission is to bring people together to experience powerful performances that delight, provoke, and inspire, celebrating both our differences and common humanity. Founded in 2010 by Robert J. Orchard — the year the U.S. Census confirmed there was no single cultural majority in Boston — ArtsEmerson is committed to building a cultural institution that reflects the diversity of our city. Our imaginative and globe-spanning live and virtual performances, films, and conversations invites each of us to be part of a Boston that is more creative, equitable, and connected. ArtsEmerson is led by Interim Executive Director of the Office of the Arts & ArtsEmerson Director of Artistic Programming, Ronee Penoi. For more information visit ArtsEmerson.org.

Emerson College
Emerson College is uniquely dedicated to the arts and communication, educating and inspiring storytellers and artists to impact and advance creative industries and media throughout the world. Distinguished faculty spearhead a dynamic curriculum and guide several thousand undergraduate students and 1,300 graduate students to exhibit an unyielding spirit of creativity, professionalism, and critical thought, to transform lives, and make a profound impact on our community and beyond. Based in the world-class city of Boston, Massachusetts, opposite the historic Boston Common and in the heart of the city’s Theater District, the College offers experiential learning programs in Boston and across the globe: at Emerson Los Angeles, located in Hollywood, at its 14th-century castle, in the Netherlands, and at 28 global programs. Emersonians, including 58,000+ alumni, shape industries, inspire change, and amplify voices that redefine our culture. For more information, visit emerson.edu.