WARWICK, R.I. – The CCRI Theater's 2026-27 season begins this October.

From Thursday, October 1 through Sunday, October 4, the theater program will conduct five performances of “No Exit,” the classic existentialist play by French playwright Jean-Paul Sartre. Performances are set for Oct. 1, 2, and 3 at 7:00 p.m., and Oct. 3 and 4 at 2:00 p.m.

The play will be directed by CCRI Professor Luke Sutherland and held at the Bobby Hackett Theater on CCRI's Knight Campus in Warwick, R.I. Tickets are available online and priced at $5 for CCRI students; $10 for CCRI faculty and staff; and $20 for general admission.

Here is the full cast list:

• Jianna Venditto, playing Joseph Garcin (North Kingstown, R.I.)
• Emma Estrella, playing Inez Sorrano (Riverside, R.I.)
• Zoey Giordano, playing Estella Rigault (Exeter, R.I.)
• Dominick McGuin, playing The Valet (Woonsocket, R.I.)
• Bella Livingston, Stage Manager (Burrillville, R.I.)

In "No Exit", Jean-Paul Sartre suggests that true misery stems from the human inability to control the nature of one's own existence. The play traps three recently deceased strangers together in a mysterious, bare room. Expecting some form of traditional punishment, they soon realize their real anguish comes simply from each other's presence. Sartre uses this premise to explore how human interaction and subjectivity shape a person's sense of self. He illustrates that our deepest existential insecurities are brought to the surface through the relentless gaze of others, stripping away our ability to manipulate our own perspectives and identities.

“My interest in producing 'No Exit' is due to its central thought and question," Sutherland. "Regardless of an individual's religious belief or nonbelief, if mankind is doomed to the freedom of choice, then what choices do we make living meaningless in a chaotic world? How do we choose to react? Why would we choose to live in hell?”

After the "No Exit" performances wrap up, CCRI Theater will turn its focus toward showings of "The Sound of Music" in late November and "The Lysistrada" in early March. Visit the program's website for full scheduling details.