Madison, WI – For their final production of the 2025-26 season, Forward Theater Company will present the rolling world premiere of Lady Disdain by Lauren Gunderson. Directed by Jen Uphoff Gray. Performances are in the Playhouse at Overture Center for the Arts, April 9-26.Gunderson’s work has consistently topped national production lists, placing her alongside many of the most recognized names in contemporary theater. Her plays are best known for centering ambitious, complicated characters in stories that reframe history through a modern lens. With Lady Disdain, she turns her attention to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, crafting a sharp, contemporary comedy set in the spicy world of romance audiobooks.“Lauren has a gift for taking classic stories and making them feel immediate and electric,” said Artistic Director Jen Uphoff Gray. “In Lady Disdain, she celebrates the wit, intelligence, and emotional depth of women who refuse to shrink themselves – all while having a tremendous amount of fun.”As part of a rolling world premiere, Forward Theater will be the first company in the country to stage the production, placing Madison audiences at the forefront of this new work. The play also arrives at a moment when romance fiction is dominating pop culture, making the subject matter both timely and widely resonant. The play is presented as part of World Premiere Wisconsin, a state-wide festival celebrating new plays and musicals.
