ANAHEIM, CA — Chance Theater, Anaheim’s official resident theater company, is thrilled to announce the fifth show of its 2026 Season, The Bed Trick, written by 2023 Resident Playwright Keiko Green (Readings: Nuclear, Exotic Deadly , Apple TV’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles) and directed by H. Adam Harris (Tick, Tick… Boom!, OCTG Outstanding Musical).
Shakespeare’s infamous “bed trick” from All’s Well That Ends Well gets a bold and frisky remix in this comic college romp. When deception and desire collide, three friends are forced to navigate the messy, hilarious, and sometimes shocking consequences of choices, crushes, and consent. From unexpected hookups to tangled friendships, The Bed Trick probes the question: what does consent really mean, and who gets to decide? Equal parts whip-smart comedy and pointed social commentary, this show takes the Bard’s mischief into the 21st century, exploring sex, ethics, and the timeless chaos of human desire with razor-sharp wit and a provocative edge. The play was featured in Chance’s 2023 OTR Season and we’re pleased to bring it back for a full production.
H. Adam Harris shares, “I’m so excited to be working on this devastatingly funny, complex riff on All’s Well That Ends Well by Keiko Green. For many years, I taught a class on consent, intimacy, and wellness to high school theater students. In The Bed Trick, you see college freshmen and even adults grappling with those same ideas as they navigate desire, shame, and the factually clear yet emotionally blurry line between right and wrong. The play does it all with laughter, Shakespeare, vulnerability, and intentional theatricality. I’m so happy to be back at the Chance with a terrific team, bringing this vibrant and necessary play on morality and love to life!”
Joining Harris on the design team for The Bed Trick is scenic designer Fred Kinney (Sanctuary City), costume designer Ayricka Johnson (Chance debut), lighting designer Andrew J. Hungerford (Sanctuary City), sound designer Lia Weed (Spring Awakening), stage manager Jordan Jones (Jagged Little Pill), dramaturg Jasmine Sunoo-Flanders (Sanctuary City), intimacy director Shinshin Yuder Tsai (Jagged Little Pill, Chance Resident Artist), and assistant director Darah Barenholtz (Chance debut).
The six-person cast features a returning actor and five new faces to the Chance stage: Mae Linh Young (Chance debut) plays Marianne, Zoe Hertzberg (Chance debut) plays Lulu, Sophia Blake (Chance debut) plays Harriet, Khoi Le (Chance debut) plays Willis, Erik Dylan Matibag (Chance debut) plays Benny, and Karen O’Hanlon (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Chance Resident Artist) plays Anna.
Tickets for The Bed Trick are on sale at https://chancetheater.com/trick/ or by calling the box office at (888) 455-4212. Early booking is recommended due to high demand.
SUPPORTERS
Executive Producers: Myrna Hamid and Todd Martinez
Associate Producer: Laurie Smits Staude
Supporting Producer: David & Judy Joss
Season Producer: Bette & Wylie Aitken
Associate Season Producer: The Family of Mary Kay Fyda-Mar
We are deeply grateful for their extraordinary generosity and commitment.
CRITICS HAVE RAVED
“The play is one of the best written pieces of theatre I’ve seen this season and without a doubt the funniest.”
–The Sound on Stage
I have truly not heard an audience laugh this hard in years.”
– Seattle Times
“Keiko Green’s writing is clever and quick while simultaneously thorough and deep. Her ability to bounce between laughter-evoking moments and gut-wrenching character revelations lends itself to the caliber of this show.”
– Broadway World Seattle
SPECIAL EVENTS
Design Preview Party is on Monday, August 10, 2026, where members of Chance Theater gain insights from the Director, Designers, and Cast about the artistic vision behind the Show.
Pride Night is on Saturday, September 26, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM. Theater lovers who share an identity can come together over refreshments and conversation. Before enjoying the performance, this special event provides a welcoming space to connect with others in the community, celebrate shared experiences, and engage in meaningful dialogue.
Wine Night is back by popular demand on Friday, September 25, 2026 starting at 7:00 PM where you can enjoy exclusive wines generously donated by long-time supporters Judy & David Joss. The first 50 patrons through the door will receive complimentary access to these special wines, with priority access given to members and their guests. It’s the perfect way to kick off the evening before the show begins!
Pay-What-You-Choose Previews tickets are available for every show we produce for as low as $12 per ticket, and SaverTIX are available for every performance after opening. Our goal with these initiatives is to make live theater accessible to everyone in our community, regardless of financial barriers.
Post-Show Discussion: Every performance features post-show conversations, inviting audiences to engage with the cast, crew, and community partners.
ABOUT CHANCE THEATER
As one of Southern California’s leading ensemble-driven theater companies, Chance Theater is proud to have received the National Theatre Company grant from American Theatre Wing for “nurturing a community of artists in ways that strengthen and demonstrate the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theatre.” The Chance has earned 61 OCTG Theatre Awards, including Outstanding Production of a Musical for Tick, Tick… Boom!, Jane Austen’s Emma, The Musical, Next to Normal, and Fun Home, and Outstanding Production of a Play for What the Constitution Means to Me, Matinicus: The Story Of Abigail Burgess and Cry It Out, as well as 8 Orange Curtain Review Awards, with Best Musical for Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The theater’s achievements also include eight Ovation Awards (four for Best Production of a Musical – Intimate Theatre) and four LADCC Awards, including the Polly Warfield Award for Outstanding Season. In 2014, the Anaheim City Council designated Chance Theater as “the Official Resident Theater Company of Anaheim,” and Arts Orange County has twice named the Chance as an “Outstanding Arts Organization.” Known for using bold, personal storytelling to foster dialogue and connection in Southern California, the Chance remains committed to building a more compassionate, connected, and creative community. As a member of Theatre Communications Group, Theatre Producers of Southern California, OC Theatre Guild, and ArtsOC, Chance Theater continues to bring national attention to the Southern California and Orange County theater scenes.
CALENDAR LISTING
Shakespeare’s infamous “bed trick” from All’s Well That Ends Well gets a bold and frisky remix in this comic college romp. When deception and desire collide, three friends are forced to navigate the messy, hilarious, and sometimes shocking consequences of choices, crushes, and consent. From unexpected hookups to tangled friendships, The Bed Trick probes the question: what does consent really mean, and who gets to decide? Equal parts whip-smart comedy and pointed social commentary, this show takes the Bard’s mischief into the 21st century, exploring sex, ethics, and the timeless chaos of human desire with razor-sharp wit and a provocative edge.
WHEN:
Previews: September 11 – September 18, 2026; Fridays at 8PM, Saturday at 8PM, and Sunday at 7PM
Opening Night: Saturday September 19, 2026 at 8PM
Remaining Performances: September 20 – October 4, 2026
Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 3PM & 8PM, and Sundays at 3PM
FULL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
- Fri 9/11/26 @ 8:00 PM – PREVIEWS
- Sat 9/12/26 @ 8:00 PM – PREVIEWS
- Sun 9/13/26 @ 7:00 PM – PREVIEWS
- Fri 9/18/26 @ 8:00 PM – PREVIEWS
- Sat 9/19/26 @ 8:00 PM – OPENING
- Sun 9/20/26 @ 3:00 PM
- Fri 9/25/26 @ 8:00 PM – WINE NIGHT
- Sat 9/26/26 @ 3:00 PM
- Sat 9/26/26 @ 8:00 PM – PRIDE NIGHT
- Sun 9/27/26 @ 3:00 PM
- Fri 10/2/26 @ 8:00 PM – (Public Sale for closing weekend begins Sep 11)
- Sat 10/3/26 @ 3:00 PM
- Sat 10/3/26 @ 8:00 PM
- Sun 10/4/26 @ 3:00 PM – CLOSING
RUNNING TIME: 2 hour, 15 minutes with no intermission
TICKETS: $12-$48, with discounts for educators, veterans, seniors, and students. Pay-What-You-Can preview performances and SaverTIX are also available to ensure that live theater is accessible to everyone.
WHERE: Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Cripe Stage
5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center is located at 5522 E. La Palma Avenue in Anaheim Hills. Going west on La Palma from Imperial Highway, we are on the left in the front of the industrial park just past the In & Out. There is plenty of free convenient parking in front of the theater.
MORE INFO: www.ChanceTheater.com or call (888) 455-4212