Talking Horse Productions

We're celebrating 15 years! 

Can you believe it? Talking Horse Productions is 15 years old! And the 2026 season promises an exciting line-up of productions especially selected for our milestone year. Read on for more details about what's coming up next season! 

This year for CoMoGives, we're looking for Stablehands to help us maintain our high quality of artistic presentation that our audiences have come to expect. What is a Stablehand? 

In honor of our 15th year, we're asking Stablehands to contribute $15 per month to Talking Horse, for an annual contribution of $180. Stablehands are essential to our operations, helping us maintain our facility, add necessary improvements, and ensure your safety and comfort at our theatre. Your donation of $180 will support our productions by paying licensing fees and covering the cost of costumes, lighting, and other production expenses. 

Of course, donations of any amount are certainly most welcome and greatly appreciated!

We thank you in advance for your consideration and contribution to Talking Horse. We think we bring something unique to mid-Missouri. And we hope you'll join our Stablehands and then join us at the theatre for another exciting year of superb live theatre. 

Here is the line-up!

The Roommate by Jen Silverman  -- Jan. 22-25; 29-Feb. 1 

The Christians by Lucas Hnath -- March 19-22; 26-29

Closer Than Ever by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire -- May 14-17; 21-24

Photograph 51 by Anna Ziegler (SPECIAL PRESENTATION in partnership with Minimal Art)  -- June 25-28; July 2-5 (no show July 4) 

Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts -- Aug. 20-23; 27-30

Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron -- Oct. 15-18; 22-25

Route 66 by Jerold Goldstein and William Squier; Music by Fred Stark; Lyrics by William Squier -- Dec. 10-13; 17-20 

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Talking Horse Productions (THP) enhances the Columbia community by producing intimate, character-driven plays and musicals in a black box venue, including the development of new works, while illuminating social issues and producing scripts that challenge and educate our audiences. THP invests in Columbia by presenting theater to local schools and other venues and by supporting other local not-for-profit organizations. THP creates opportunities for experienced and emerging actors, directors, playwrights, designers, technicians, and administrative staff, all within the burgeoning Orr Street Arts District in central Columbia. 

We offer an alternative to “traditional” community theatre by offering smaller works, driven by intense characters and rich dialogue in an intimate black box setting. Talking Horse Productions focuses on staging plays that demand the best talent in both on and offstage roles. This is an environment in which both innovation and experimentation may shine. Each year, THP selects six plays to produce bi-monthly for our main season -- shows ranging from comedy to drama, musical to experimental theatre. We shy away from producing the most popular plays in favor of finding contemporary scripts that otherwise wouldn't come to Columbia, sometimes even featuring world premieres! 

We create a professional environment for performers, technicians, writers, creators, musicians, and artists to stretch and develop their talents while exploring their chosen creative outlet. Beyond our six-show season, our theatre hosts a short-form improv group, "The Ponies," performing twice a month. Each November, our theatre hosts the Starting Gate New Play Festival which gives three local playwrights the opportunity to create two original scripts and have them produced. We display the works of local artists in our lobby, and we are proud to host special events and concerts that benefit a variety of local organizations.