Ball State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance Presents Jojo Jones’ Play 'Veal,' Feb. 19–22 & 24–26

Topics: Arts and Culture, College of Fine Arts, Faculty, Community Engagement, Muncie, Alumni

February 17, 2026

Ball State University's Department of Theatre and Dance will present Veal, a dystopian revenge thriller with comedic elements by Jojo Jones. The production is co-directed by Dee Dee Batteast, '07, instructor of theatre, and guest director Payten Romig, '24.

Performances will take place Feb. 19-22 and Feb. 24-26 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, in the Fine Arts Building and David Owsley Museum of Art, Room 217. Tickets are available through the College of Fine Arts' Box Office at Sursa Performance Hall, in person, by phone at 765-285-8749, or online.

Set in a fractured future after a violent coup, Veal blends sharp humor with psychological tension as it examines how memory, identity, and authority collide when the past refuses to stay buried. The play follows Chelsea, a young woman newly crowned queen of North America, as she reunites with a small group of former classmates under extraordinary circumstances-forcing them to confront lingering power dynamics, long-held resentments, and the consequences of childhood cruelty.

"Nostalgia puts you in this dangerous re-creation of something you can never have again," said Ms. Batteast. "It's ruthless, and for the most part, inaccurate."

The production was developed and premiered at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago in 2025.