Booth Theatre production Flowers for Mrs. Harris promises inspiration, joy, and self-love
Boston University’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre transforms from post-war London to the magical avenues of Paris in BU School of Theatre’s production of Flowers for Mrs. Harris, running November 14 – 23
Booth Theatre production Flowers for Mrs. Harris promises inspiration, joy, and self-love
Boston University’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre transforms from post-war London to the magical avenues of Paris in BU School of Theatre’s production of Flowers for Mrs. Harris, running November 14 – 23, 2025.
From the cobbled streets of post-war London to the magical avenues of Paris and beyond, Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theatre proudly presents its next show at BU’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre: Flowers for Mrs. Harris, a musical by Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff, based on the novel by Paul Gallico. The show, directed by BU alum Shamus (CFA’23) and with music direction by Harry Castle, assistant professor of musical theatre, runs from November 14 through 23.
For Ada Harris, day-to-day life is spent cleaning houses. But when she happens to stumble upon something that takes her breath away, she sets off on a journey that will change her life. Ada transforms the lives of everyone she meets along the way, but can she let go of her past and finally let her own life blossom? (Concord Theatricals)
“Our protagonist Ada Harris has a life-altering shift when she first encounters a very specific dress on an otherwise average day,” says the show’s director and BU alum, Shamus, who was invited by Kirsten Greenidge, BU School of Theatre director and associate professor of playwriting, to come back to BU to direct Flowers for Mrs. Harris.
“Taste is taste and varies person to person, and so instead of working to create a costume that any audience member may or may not see the value in, our entirely student design team worked to create the sensation Ada feels in that moment [when she finds the life-changing dress]. This choice is the foundation of how we pursued the visual and aural world of the play as one that centers feeling over fact. We return to this vocabulary throughout the play. When Ada first arrives at the House of Dior and is shut out, we see a graveyard of empty dress forms instead of the gilded walls of the epic fashion house. When she is finally welcomed into the world of couture, the space explodes with fabric. We seek to generate a world where the audience experiences Ada’s emotional journey through grand visual gestures.”
For Shamus, it was an easy yes to return to their alma mater. “BU’s population of young artists is daring, collaborative, and fun. I love working with the students here.” Shamus recalls how on day one of rehearsals, they started with a simple question directed to the cast: What do you think of this show? “The resounding response was people being elated to be part of a story of a woman pursuing joy…
We’ve let joy lead ever since.
To convey the transformative story of Ada, the cast of student artists leans on traditions of imbuing physical and vocal choices with sensory language from the work of Austro-Hungarian dance artist and choreographer Rudolf Laban to describe weight, duration, and precision to access characters that are distinct from the actor as well as from other roles the actors are also playing.
Almost every actor plays several characters and is responsible for multiple accents, Shamus explains. “Finding specificity in who these people are is the foundation of the work of our storytelling.”
BU School of Theatre’s production of Flowers for Mrs. Harris runs November 14 – 23 at BU’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre (820 Commonwealth Avenue), with general admission tickets starting at $20. Free and discounted tickets are available for Boston University students, faculty, alumni, and staff. Ticket codes can be found here. Tickets are free with a BU ID at the Box Office or door on the day of the performance, pending availability.
purchase tickets for flowers for mrs. harris
It is a radical act in this moment to pursue any joy but with this show you can. You can escape for an evening and be reminded of a time you or someone you know was unafraid to pursue something they wanted even when society said it was off limits. We hope you’ll leave inspired and to be kind and true to yourself. I believe we get one life. Flowers begs us not to wait for permission and instead to pursue what will make us happy and proposes that the journey and the people from the road are as important as the destination.
FLOWERS FOR MRS. HARRIS
Presented by Boston University School of Theatre
Based on the novel by Paul Gallico
A musical by Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff
Book by Rachel Wagstaff
Music and Lyrics by Richard Taylor
Director • Shamus
Music Director • Harry Castle
SHOW DATES & TIMES
- Friday, November 14 • 7:30pm
- Saturday, November 15 • 7:30pm
- Sunday, November 16 • 2pm
- Thursday, November 20 • 7:30pm
- Friday, November 21 • 7:30pm
- Saturday, November 22 • 7:30pm
- Sunday, November 23 • 2pm
LOCATION
Boston University Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre
820 Commonwealth Avenue, Brookline, MA, 02446
TICKETS
$20 General Admission
Free and discounted tickets are available for Boston University students, faculty, alumni, and staff. BU login required to access codes.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Street parking is available on and around Commonwealth Avenue. BU parking lots and garages are also available. Lot F is the parking lot at Booth Theatre. The garage entrance is at 148 Essex Street, Brookline, MA. This lot opens 90 minutes prior to performances. Rates vary. Visit bu.edu/parking for more information.
Taking public transit?
- Accessible by the MBTA Green Line. Take the B line to the Amory Street station.
- Accessible by the MBTA CT2 and 57 bus lines.
- BU Shuttle stop M2.
SEE WHAT ELSE IS IN STORE THIS SEASON AT BU SCHOOL OF THEATRE
New opera and theatre works, a charming musical about transformation and self-love, a festival of light and dance, and more!