U of I Theatre Arts Department to present existential drama ‘No Exit’
University of Idaho students bring Sartre’s iconic play to the stage in an intimate production that delves into guilt, jealousy and identity
November 21, 2025
MOSCOW, Idaho — The University of Idaho Department of Theatre Arts presents “No Exit,” a philosophical play by Jean-Paul Sartre. There will be seven shows, starting with a preview night at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Shoup Hall Pocket Playhouse, 1028 W. Sixth St., Moscow.
Additional performances include:
- 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5
- 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6
- 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7
- 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12
- 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13
- 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14
“We’re excited to produce this classic existential chamber play — part chess match, part cat-and-mouse chase — which has the sting of a smart comedy and the suspense of a mystery,” said Robert Caisley, chair of the Theatre Arts Department.
“No Exit” tells the story of two women and one man who are locked up together for eternity in one room in Hell. The windows are bricked up, there are no mirrors, the electric lights can never be turned off, and there is no exit. The irony of this Hell is that its torture is not physical torment, but the burning humiliation that comes as each soul is stripped of its pretenses by the cruel curiosity of the damned, and even the blackest deeds are mercilessly exposed to the fierce light of Hell.
“Sartre’s story of comparison is perhaps more relevant today than ever before,” said Jeremiah Price, director of “No Exit” and a Theatre Arts graduate student. “The themes that are explored throughout the play include guilt, denial, jealousy and lust. It has been my honor to direct this seminal work by a well-known playwright and stage it in an intimate space. The cast has risen to the challenge brilliantly and audiences will not want to miss seeing them embody these characters.”
With philosophy, vibrant characters and iconic lines, “No Exit” offers something for everyone.
“Come laugh, gasp and argue about it on the ride home,” Caisley said. “Your seat is waiting. Getting out? That’s another question.”
Tickets are free for U of I students and $6 to $26 for the public. They are on sale now at uitickets.com. Seating is limited in the Pocket Playhouse, so reserve your tickets early.
For information about other events from the Department of Theatre Arts, visit go.uidaho.edu/theatre-productions.
Media contact
Alisa Volz
Communications specialist
Department of Theatre Arts and Lionel Hampton School of Music
208-885-6465
avolz@uidaho.edu