UGA Theatre’s 2026-2027 season begins Thursday night in the Cellar Theatre with their production of Constellations.
The show runs through October 4 with eight performances in Athens over that span. Tickets can be purchased on UGATheatre.com.
The play, written by British playwright Nick Payne, invites audiences to consider how one small change can impact their life. It’s on the heavier side with a non-linear script and emotional themes.
Constellations is a two-character play, and neither character leaves the stage throughout the show. Weaving through different realities, the two characters learn about life, love and find hope in the everyday connections.
Sophomore Jacob Arkin plays Malcolm. Arkin said the rehearsal process was more difficult than other roles he’s had before.
“It’s emotionally exhausting, is the buzzword I’ve been using because it is," Arkin said. "There’s a lot of trauma in this show, so it’s hard to live through that over and over and over and over again every night and then just leave and be like, okay.”
Junior Samara McKnight plays Rory and hopes that audiences leave the show with newfound gratitude for their circumstances.
“I just want people to look to the person next to them and be like, ‘Wow I’m so happy that we are not going through this and I can be here with you in this universe,'" McKnight said. "I feel like that’s the message: To appreciate the universe you’re in and the people that you have in this world because there’s so many possibilities.”
UGA alum Katie Chambers is the director of the show. She works for the Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville as the associate artistic director.
Chambers was able to reflect on the impact working with professional directors had on her when she was in college.
“That was one of the ways I made some of my first connections in the professional Atlanta community, and internships came out of that working experience," Chambers said. "It’s really exciting to be on the other side of that and offer those opportunities back to the students now.”
After its run in Athens, the show will have four performances at the Aurora. It’s an opportunity that Arkin is very much looking forward to as he continues his acting career at UGA.
“I’m really enjoying getting to grow my skills as an actor and try something I don’t normally get to do," Arkin said. "Of course, building these connections with the Aurora is an amazing opportunity the department has given us.”
While the production is heavy and recommended for mature audiences, the rehearsal process and challenging script allowed for the actors to bond more than other productions. McKnight said they had to find ways to separate the show from their real life.
“We had a particularly rough run one day," McKnight said. "Rough in that it was good, but good in that it was very exhausting. We had to tap out. We like to tap in and tap out to help separate our characters from ourselves so we don’t carry all of that. Me and (co-star Dyllon Glaze) were like ‘Wow, I’ve got to watch an episode of Bluey.' It’s very heavy material.”
