Cambridge, September 2, 2025
News Summary
The American Repertory Theater is staging ‘Passengers,’ a multidisciplinary production exploring life’s journeys through circus arts, music, and dance. From September 2 to September 26, audiences can experience themes of connection and opportunity at the Loeb Drama Center, with ticket prices ranging from $35 to $150, recommended for ages 6 and older.
Cambridge — The American Repertory Theater in Cambridge is presenting a new staging of Passengers, a multidisciplinary production that combines circus arts, music and dance to explore themes of life’s opportunities, challenges and human connection. The show runs at the Loeb Drama Center from September 2 to September 26, 2025, with ticket prices ranging from $35 to $150 and an age recommendation of 6 and older.
What the production is and why it matters
Passengers is a theatrical work created by Montreal-based circus company 7 Fingers and staged at the Loeb Drama Center in Harvard Square. The piece merges physical theatre, acrobatics and live music to present a narrative framed by the metaphor of train travel. The metaphor is used to examine how encounters on shared journeys shape memory, foster connection and present both risks and opportunities in life.
Creative team and performance style
The production is written, directed and choreographed by Shana Carroll, who conceived the show from a longstanding interest in trains and human encounters that dates back to 2018. Carroll’s vision blends aesthetic elements that evoke both the past and the future, using movement and stagecraft to create a distinctly theatrical, non-digital experience.
The ensemble features a mix of returning performers and new cast members. One featured performer, Méliejade Tremblay-Bouchard, performs with hula hoops and integrates flexibility and dance training to use hoop work as an expressive tool rather than as a series of isolated tricks. The staging emphasizes trust and interdependence among cast members, positioning physical connection and mutual support as central to both the dramatic and technical elements of the show.
Production origins and touring history
The show was developed by 7 Fingers, a Montreal-based circus company known for combining narrative and circus forms. The production toured before the pandemic and has been reworked to incorporate new performers alongside those who previously took part. This reintegration of cast members is intended to bring fresh energy to the material while preserving the production’s original physical language and storytelling aims.
Audience experience and themes
Passengers invites audience members to interpret storytelling through movement, music and the personalizations that performers bring to their roles. The piece foregrounds themes of support, risk and human connection: scenes of collaborative acrobatics and partnered movement illustrate reliance and the building of trust, while the train metaphor suggests the random yet meaningful crossings that occur in everyday life.
The production also places value on the live, visceral elements of theatre. The creative team frames the show as a way to experience physical presence, immediacy and the shared emotional effects that live performance can produce—qualities that are presented as distinct from recorded or digital media.
Practical information for attendees
Performances of Passengers are scheduled at the Loeb Drama Center, located at 64 Brattle Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Ticket prices are listed between $35 and $150. The production recommends attendance for viewers aged 6 and older. The ensemble aims for the production to leave audiences feeling engaged, moved and more connected to others through its physical storytelling.
Logistics and cast notes
The current staging includes a blend of performers familiar from earlier versions and newer cast members. Choreography, circus technique and music are woven together to allow performers to deliver personal interpretations that shape the audience’s experience. The creative team highlights the role of collaborative safety practices and rehearsal methods in achieving the production’s precise physical vocabulary.
Background context
The concept for Passengers grew from Carroll’s long-term fascination with trains and the social dynamics they embody. Early development began in 2018 and evolved into a full production under 7 Fingers, known for integrating circus disciplines with theatrical storytelling. The current Cambridge run is part of the show’s ongoing life on stage, updated to reflect cast changes and continued creative refinement.
Availability and ticketing
Tickets are available through the American Repertory Theater’s box office. Price points vary across seating categories, with the range noted above. Prospective attendees should consult the theater’s schedule for exact performance times during the run from September 2–26, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does Passengers run?
The production runs from September 2 to September 26, 2025, at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge.
What is the recommended age for audience members?
The show is recommended for audiences aged 6 and older.
How much do tickets cost?
Tickets are priced between $35 and $150. Exact pricing depends on seating and performance date.
Who created the show?
The show was written, directed and choreographed by Shana Carroll and produced by the Montreal-based company 7 Fingers.
What kind of performance can audiences expect?
Audiences can expect a blend of circus arts, dance and live music that uses the metaphor of train travel to explore interpersonal connections, risk and memory through physical storytelling.
Is this a touring production?
The work was developed and toured by 7 Fingers prior to the pandemic and has been restaged with a mix of returning and new cast members for this engagement.
Quick reference
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Passengers |
| Company | 7 Fingers (Montreal-based) |
| Creator / Director / Choreographer | Shana Carroll |
| Run dates | September 2–26, 2025 |
| Venue | Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge |
| Ticket price range | $35–$150 |
| Recommended age | 6 and older |
| Performance elements | Circus arts, dance, music, physical theatre; featured hula hoop work |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- CBS News: Boston Theater Passengers Circus
- Wikipedia: 7 Fingers
- Cambridge Day: Passengers Production Review
- Google Search: Passengers theater Boston
- New York Times: Passengers Review
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Circus
- Broadway World: Passengers Details
- Google News: Boston Theater
- Theater Mania: Black Swan Wonder Musicals
- WBZ News: Harvard Square Theatre
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