Family Theatre

Help us carry and “raise the Playhouse Banner” by attending this fun, family-friendly fundraising event!

Wear your favorite Newsies gear, hat, news bag, slacks, and suspenders, and enjoy a night of Family Theatre Performances, Valentini’s Pasta Bar, a Dance Party with your favorite TYA characters, and more!

The Playhouse Family Theatre is committed to educating, challenging, and inspiring young people and our community. Contributions at this event will support the Family Theatre, our growing theater programming, and the Education Department at the Playhouse.

• TICKETS:
  • Adult – $50
  • Youth – $25
• Hosted in the Great Hall at the Depot

Based on the book by A.A. Milne
Adapted for the stage by Kristin Sergel

This honey-filled delight is as sweet as it is fun, based on the beloved characters of A.A. Milne.

And, Tickets Are On Sale Now!

Join the beloved Pooh Bear and friends Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Owl, and even Tigger as they discover that Christopher Robin has some new friends arriving to the forest! This leads to one adventure that turns into another. And another. And another!

Through all the surprises, hilarity, and challenges, they learn about teamwork, friendship and, of course… sharing snacks.

Perfect for youth theater lovers (ages 3-8), this play promises to remind everyone that “a little thought for others makes all the difference.”

• Presented on the Depot Theatre stage
• Presenting Sponsor:  Western Bank
• Tickets:
  • Standard: $17
  • Youth: $15

Screenplay by Betty Comden & Adolph Green
Songs by Arthur Freed & Nacio Herb Brown

Based on the classic Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Inc.

Singin’ in the Rain JR has all the makings of a Tinseltown tabloid headline – the starlet, the leading man and a love affair that could change lives and make or break careers!

In silent movies, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a hot item, but behind the scenes, things aren’t always as they appear on the big screen! Meanwhile, Lina’s squeaky voice might be the end of her career in “talking pictures” without the help of a talented young actress to do the talking and singing for her.

• A Junior Summer Intensive performance with youth actors ages 8-13
• Performing on the Depot stage
• Presenting Sponsor:  Otis-Magie Insurance Agency
• Tickets:
  • Standard: $17
  • Youth: $15

Written by William Shakespeare

Beatrice and Benedick are locked in a battle of wits, but share a mutual disdain for love. Their friends undertake a scheme to trick them into falling for one another during the preparations for Claudio and Hero’s wedding. But, as that plan starts working, so does another scheme…

One of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, Much Ado About Nothing treats the audience to a hilarious battle of wits and words with the original romantic-comedy couple.

• A Teen Summer Intensive performance with youth actors ages 13-18
• Presenting Sponsor:  Otis-Magie Insurance Agency
• This performance alternates dates with Xanadu JR

Book by Douglas Carter Beane
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Lynne & John Farrar
Based on the Universal Pictures film with a screenplay by Richard Danus & Marc Rubel

The laugh-out-loud musical stage adaptation of the 1980 film, Xanadu JR is the rare musical with a big heart, an even bigger funny bone, and a tongue stuck firmly in its cheek.

Xanadu JR follows Clio, the lovely and precocious Greek muse who decides to put on some roller skates, legwarmers, and an Australian accent in order to help Sonny Malone, a chalk artist with half a brain and a heart of gold, rediscover his own creativity. With both help and hindrance from the other muses — and from a clarinetist-turned-real estate mogul named Danny Maguire — Sonny and Clio work to rebuild their “apex of the arts”: a roller disco.

• A Teen Summer Intensive performance with youth actors ages 13-18
• Presenting Sponsor:  Otis-Magie Insurance Agency
• This performance alternates dates with Much Ado About Nothing

This heartwarming story is perfect for kids and adults alike!

John Dolittle is a wacky, but kind, doctor who hasn’t had the most success treating humans. With a natural skill of learning animal languages, Dr. Dolittle becomes one of the greatest animal doctors around.

His journey takes the audience from the small English village of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh to the far corners of the world in search of the Great Pink Sea Snail and any animal, or human, he can help along the way.

Performed by youth actors ages 8-18, and is perfect for youth ages 3-13 to watch.

• Directed by Cheryl Skafte

An adaptation originally written and developed by the Playhouse’ Family Theatre’s Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) ensemble

READ THE REVIEW

Chuck, the Miller’s son, is left his father’s cat for an inheritance. He was hoping to inherit the family mill, but unfortunately, that went to his bossy older sisters Salmonelia and Putricia.

The cat, however, is no one’s fool. He promises Tom that if he gets him a pair of boots, he will make his master’s fortune.

Once he has the footwear and officially becomes Puss In Boots, the cat sets out on an amazing adventure that involves meeting the King and Trina, the Pop Princess (who Puss thinks will make a nice wife for his master). There’s only one real obstacle to the cat’s brilliant scheming: The Great Ogre!

Like all Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) shows, you can expect lots of audience interaction, puppetry, original songs, and lots and lots of silliness to help tell this tale!

• Directed by Jonathan Manchester
• Performed by TYA’s adult acting company

Set in turn-of-the-century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy, and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right!

Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken featuring the now-classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe.” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience.

• Directed by Emily Lanik Parr
• Presenting Sponsors: Marline & Associates LLC &Audio Visual Resources (AVR)