(TRENTON, NJ) -- Passage Theatre at the Mill Hill Playhouse, the only professional theatre company in Trenton, announced their 41st mainstage season. The season includes productions of Amiri Barak's Dutchman and The Slave and Muleheaded, or Zora and Langston write a play, a world premiere by David Robson.
“Season 41: Not Afraid marks a bold declaration of identity, resilience, and artistic ambition for Passage Theatre Company. In a time when the world feels adrift and institutions everywhere face uncertainty, Passage stands firm—not waiting to be rescued, but forging its own way forward,” said Executive Artistic Director Brishen Miller in the season announcement. “Season 41 draws its title and spirit from the song ‘Not Afraid’ by The Suffers, echoing a defiant refusal to be silenced or sidelined. From the brink of closure just two years ago to a period of renewed growth and artistic vitality, Passage has emerged stronger than ever—expanding its community partnerships, rebranding its core programs, and deepening its commitment to Trenton’s most underrepresented voices. As always, Passage strives to make professional theatre accessible and relevant to the disenfranchised populations of Trenton and greater Mercer County, centering the stories, struggles, and triumphs of communities too often left out of the American stage.”
Passage’s season opens with a radical new staging of Amiri Baraka’s groundbreaking plays Dutchman and The Slave, presented as Act I and Act II of the same play, under the direction of longtime collaborator and Passage's 2025-2026 artist-in-residence, Ozzie Jones. These provocative works examine the descent of Western civilization into madness, exploring race and identity across time, space, and relationship—from the fevered intensity of youthful passion to the raw aftermath of emotional betrayal. Dutchman and The Slave will run October 31-November 16, 2025.
Passage will close the season with Muleheaded, or Zora and Langston write a play, a vibrant world premiere by David Robson that brings to life the brilliant but turbulent creative friendship between Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes. Both a love story and a cautionary tale, Muleheaded challenges us to consider how we heal after the dream is deferred and the history is rewritten. Muleheaded will run January 30-February 15, 2026.
In Season 41: Not Afraid, Passage Theatre invites their audiences to confront the past, reimagine the future, and walk through uncharted waters together with courage—not only to bear witness but to believe.
Outside of the main programming for Season 41: Not Afraid, Passage will host numerous community events under their TrentonPRESENTS banner, kicking things off with two performances of Because You’re Mine, featuring singer/multi-instrumentalists Matt Cusack and Allison Kelly, celebrating the greatest duets, love songs, and love stories in Country Music.
Subscriptions to Passage Theatre’s 41st season include admission to all of this programming and more yet to be announced. All performances will take place at the historic Mill Hill Playhouse in Trenton, New Jersey at 205 East Front Street in Trenton, New Jersey.
The performance schedule for both plays begin with a Pay What You Can preview on opening Thursday, and following, shows will be performed Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm and Thursday and Friday evening shows at 7:00pm. Tickets are available at www.passagetheatre.org/tickets, calling (609) 392-0766, or visiting the Box Office Monday through Friday 10:00am-4:00pm.
Passage Theatre Company is committed to creating and producing socially relevant plays and arts programming that deeply resonate with and reflect our community. Through professional productions, educational programs, and community engagement, we present diverse voices that inspire audiences and invigorate the art of live theatre.
