Babes With Blades Theatre Company Announces 2026 Season

World premiere of "yo ho." and production of "King Lear" set for Chicago stages.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:31pm

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Babes With Blades Theatre Company will present its 2026 season with the world premiere of "yo ho." and a new production of "King Lear". Performances will take place at The Edge Theater Off Broadway and Theater Wit in Chicago.

Why it matters

Babes With Blades is known for its focus on stories featuring strong female characters and stage combat, so the new season promises exciting and unconventional takes on classic and contemporary works.

The details

The season will open with the world premiere of "yo ho.", written by SMJ and directed by JD Caudill. The play follows pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read aboard a ship facing threat from the crown, blending historical fantasy with explorations of sexuality and gender. Later in the season, the company will present "King Lear", directed by ensemble member Alison Dornheggen, which parallels Lear's downfall with the suffering of the Earl of Gloucester.

  • Performances of "yo ho." will run from July 25 through August 22, 2026, with previews starting on July 19.
  • "King Lear" will run from October 15 through November 21, 2026, with previews on October 15 and 16.

The players

Babes With Blades Theatre Company

A Chicago-based theatre company known for its focus on stories featuring strong female characters and stage combat.

SMJ

The playwright of the world premiere production "yo ho.".

JD Caudill

The director of the world premiere production "yo ho.".

Alison Dornheggen

A Babes With Blades ensemble member who will direct the production of "King Lear".

Hayley Rice

The Artistic Director of Babes With Blades Theatre Company.

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What they’re saying

“We are thrilled to be the home for the world premiere of yo ho. In some ways, it is exactly the kind of show you would expect from BWBTC: swashbuckling swordfights between moments of illuminating the lost stories of marginalized identities. This script is also fresh, funny, exciting and perhaps a little steamier than Babes offerings of the past.”

— Hayley Rice, Artistic Director (broadwayworld.com)

“I am also happy to announce that this season contains the next entry of our always popular BWBTC Shakespeare series with King Lear. With long-time ensemble member Alison Dornheggen at the helm of this production, audiences know they are going to see one of the most dynamic, insightful and heartbreaking Lears of recent memory.”

— Hayley Rice, Artistic Director (broadwayworld.com)

What’s next

Tickets for "yo ho." will go on sale on March 3, 2026, while tickets for "King Lear" will go on sale later in 2026 through the Theater Wit box office.

The takeaway

Babes With Blades Theatre Company continues to push the boundaries of traditional theatre with its 2026 season, offering a world premiere that blends historical fantasy with explorations of sexuality and gender, as well as a fresh take on the Shakespearean classic "King Lear".