The 2025-26 season at The Little Theatre, on the campus of Central Methodist University, begins next month with the first of five featured shows for the academic year.
Curtain times for evening productions this year will be 7 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays. Sunday matinee performances will begin at 1:30 p.m. The scheduled shows for the season are as follows:
Chicago, October 8-10 and 12
In “Roaring Twenties” Chicago, chorine Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap – until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess,” Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the American Dream: fame, fortune, and acquittal.
Based on the book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, the show features music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.
The Velveteen Rabbit, November 12-16
In the world of toys, life begins when humans leave the room. When one group of toys discovers a velveteen rabbit, they learn what it means to be truly loved by their owner. Adapted from the classic story by Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit tells the story of the unconditional love between a boy and his toy bunny and how that love makes the rabbit real.
The Little Theatre production will be directed by recent Central graduate Arielle Prince ’25. The November 12-14 performances will be school day matinees presented for elementary schools in the region, while the performances on the 15th and 16th will be open to the public.
The Magic Flute, February 12 and 14
It’s magic, mystery, and mayhem in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s classic opera The Magic Flute, a beloved and timeless gem that is often hailed as the perfect show for a first-time opera goer. Join Prince Tamino and the silly bird catcher Papageno as they set out to rescue the princess Pamina from the evil Queen of the Night.
Directed by Dr. Jonathan Ray and sung in the original German with English supertitles and dialogue, this family-friendly classic is sure to make an opera lover out of everyone.
2nd Annual Student-Written Ten-Minute Play Festival, February 26 and 28
CMU students will present concert readings of their original ten-minute plays created in Professor Lonna Wilke’s playwriting class for the second annual Ten-Minute Play Festival. John Cariani, author of Almost, Maine and Love/Sick, both of which have been presented at The Little Theatre, will join the students for one of the performances to provide commentary and feedback.
In a bonus event on February 25, a concert reading of Cariani’s most recent play, Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars, will be performed at 7 p.m.
The Firebugs, April 23-26
In a small town, businessman Gottlieb Biedermann lives with his wife, Babette, and maid, Anna. The town has been plagued by numerous “arson” attacks from within homes. The family lives on edge. One night, while Biedermann relaxes, a strange door-to-door salesman works his way inside. His ploy? To burn down the Biedermann household.
This dark comedy by Max Frisch will be directed for the Little Theatre by senior theatre arts major Gram Coalier.
For CMU main stage productions, tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for CMU faculty and staff, and $5 for seniors and non-CMU students. CMU students are admitted for free with ID. Reservations are accepted the week of each performance. Check with the box office at 660-248-6281 for details.