by Jaden Haly | April 2026
JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas State University’s Department of Theatre will perform “Leading Ladies”, a high-energy comedy that brings together humor, identity and aspiring young actors, at the Fowler Center’s Drama Theatre this April.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on April 17-26 along with matinee showings, featuring a full student cast and production team.
Written by Ken Ludwig, the play follows two struggling Shakespearean actors who decide to disguise themselves as long-lost relatives of an old lady in hopes of claiming an inheritance from her. But their plan doesn’t go as smoothly as they thought, leading to a series of mistaken identities, crazy situations and unexpected twists.
Assistant Director of Theatre and director of this play, DayDay Robinson said the comedy goes beyond surface-level humor.
“This play is a farce, full of hilarious mistaken identities, big character personality and a lot of unexpected yet at the same time, very expected twists,” Robinson said.
By being part of the production, students get to learn and improve their performance skills in a team setting.
According to Robinson, “Students gain real, hands-on experience that you just can’t replicate in a classroom. This kind of experience is invaluable, as this allows students to work together and develop their skills in a practical way.”
Many of the performers involved are new to the stage, making the production both a challenge and a valuable learning experience. The fast-paced nature of farce-style acting requires strong timing, lots of physicality and strong character work. All of this combines to push students to grow as performers.
Besides the acting, the visual elements of the show play an very important role in shaping the overall performance. Claire Abernathy, the costume and set designer, said the set and costume design displays both the time period and the development of the characters.
“The costumes reflect the classic style of the 1950s, and we see that most clearly through ‘Meg’ as she grows into herself and gains confidence,” Abernathy said.
By combining comedy with character development and design, “Leading Ladies” will offer audiences an entertaining experience while also giving students hands-on training in multiple areas of theater.
This event is open to the public, and students from A-State can get in for free if they show their ID.