CULT OF LOVE
By Leslye Headland
Directed by Ryan Rilette
November 18–December 27, 2026 | Regional Premiere

Come for the carols, stay for the family drama with Cult of Love, Leslye Headland’s high-octane, music-filled Broadway hit about four adult siblings (and their partners), one holiday homecoming, and a whole lot of baggage. When celebration turns to confrontation, old wounds reopen—and family loyalty, faith, and love face the ultimate test in this “rip-roaring home-for-the-holidays dramedy” (The New York Times).

Listen to the songs featured in Cult of Love

Thank you to our sponsors:

Our Golden Anniversary sponsors are Nan Beckley; Heidi and Mitch Dupler; Gil and Rona* Eisner; Jay and Robin Hammer; Manfred M Hein* and Florence H Hein*; Linda Ravdin and Don Shapero; David and Sherry Smith; and Judy and Leo Zickler.

Cult of Love is sponsored by The GPS Fund, Paul Henderson, and Rick Kasten.

*in memoriam

Cult of Love is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of
Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

CAST

UNDERSTUDIES

Becca Blacksten

Rachel Dahl/Evie Dahl/Pippa Ferguson Understudy

Becca Blacksten (Rachel Dahl/Evie Dahl/Pippa Ferguson Understudy) is absolutely thrilled to be making her Round House debut! Some of her favorite regional credits include Dierdre in The Cottage at Virginia Repertory Theatre; Elizabeth Bennet in Kate Hamill’s Pride and Prejudice and Maid Marian in Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood at Weathervane Playhouse; and Miss Scarlet in Clue at The Appalachian Center for the Arts. BFA: Ithaca College. Instagram: @Becca_Blacksten. www.BeccaBlacksten.com

Lydia Newman

Loren Montgomery/Diana Dahl Bennett Understudy

Lydia Newman (Loren Montgomery/Diana Dahl Bennett Understudy) is thrilled to be working on Cult of Love at Round House. Off-Broadway credits include Too Many Dead Birds on the Sidewalk at the The Lynn F. Angelson Theater. New York theatre credits include T Club at Playwrights Horizons, How We Fall at The Tank, and More at the Gene Frankel Theatre. BA: University of Virginia. Instagram: @Lydpnew

Brendan Murray

William "Bill" Dahl Understudy

Brendan Murray (William "Bill" Dahl Understudy) has understudied for Round House productions of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Caroline or Change. He is a teaching artist and company member of Baltimore's Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and has performed in Persuasion, It's the Comedy of Errors, Hon!, A Christmas Carol, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Henry IV (Parts 1 and 2). Regional productions include Rabbit Hole at Peter's Alley; Tangles at New Theater of Medicine; The Mollusc at Quotidian Theatre; as well as Frost/Nixon, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and A Bright New Boise at Silver Spring Stage. TV credits include We Own This City (HBO), Copycat Killers (Reelz Channel), and Deadly Affairs (Investigation Discovery).

Ari Post

Mark Dahl/Johnny Dahl/James Bennett Understudy

Ari Post (Mark Dahl/Johnny Dahl/James Bennett Understudy) is excited to return to Round House with Cult of Love. Previous Round House credits include Rules for Living. DC credits include Appropriate at Olney Theatre Center, Once at NextStop Theatre Company, The Comedy of Errors, Romeo and Juliet, and The Rover at Shakespeare Theatre Company; Electionland at Storyworks Theater; and The Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Odyssey at Shakespeare Theatre Company (MFA). Other credits include Now to Ashes at the DC Fringe Festival (Best of Fringe); and Venus in Fur, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and Side Man at local area theatres. MFA: Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy at George Washington University.

Mindy Shaw

Virginia “Ginny” Dahl Understudy

Mindy Shaw (Virginia “Ginny” Dahl Understudy) is delighted to return to DC and work with Round House for the first time. DC area highlights include Steel Magnolias at Creative Cauldron; The Secrets of the Universe and Other Songs at The Hub; The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs and Collaborators at Spooky Action; Oblivion at Unexpected Stage; and Stories From the Fringe: Women Rabbis Revealed! (DMV tour). Regional highlights include The Game at Warehouse Theatre; We All Fall Down and The Immigrant (St. Louis Theater Circle Awards Nominee) at New Jewish Theatre; Jake’s Women at Moonstone Theatre; It’s a Wonderful Life at Metro Theatre; and Murder on the Orient Express at Cumberland Theatre. Films include Herbert West: Reanimator, The Best Thing About Christmas, The Perfect In-Laws (Lifetime), and Still Hope. Mindy trained at Trinity Rep Conservatory. mindyshawactor.com

CULT OF LOVE

CAST

UNDERSTUDIES

CREATIVE TEAM

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