Junie B. Jones
Directed by Dayna Railton
A 75-minute play by kids, for kids with professional director and design support for a full production experience.
October 24 – 25, October 31-November 1, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Junie B. Jones, First-Grader, is super-excited about the upcoming Holiday Sing-Along and Secret Santa gift exchange at her school. Too bad tattletale May keeps ruining all of Junie B.’s fun. So when Junie B. draws May’s name for Secret Santa, she comes up with the perfect plan to teach her nemesis a lesson! But will the Christmas spirit of peace and goodwill interfere before she can give you-know-who what she deserves? A hilarious and endearing tale based on the best-selling book series by Barbara Park.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
A 25-minute play by kids, for kids with professional director and design support for a full production experience.
October 24 – 25, October 31-November 1, 2026, 2026 @ 12:30pm
In this delightful reimagining of Aesop’s cautionary tale, a bored boy named Roy tends to his family’s flock. Hilarity ensues when Roy meets a mischievous character and discovers the real source of mischief! Rated-G for the entire family.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson
Featuring a multi-generational cast Directed by John Potter
December 4, 10, 11 at @ 7 pm; 5, 6 , 12, 13 @2:00
If you’ve ever tried to wrangle a group of children, this show will leave you laughing until your sides hurt. Beth Bradley’s church’s Christmas pageant is predictable every year — the angel choir wears too much lipstick, the shepherds are all in their father’s bathrobes, the minister’s son is permanently cast in the role of Joseph . But when seasoned and authoritative pageant director Mrs. Armstrong breaks her leg, it is up to Beth’s inexperienced mother Grace to step in. The timing couldn’t be worse, as the rambunctious Herdman children, a rough and tough group of siblings from the wrong side of the tracks, descend upon the pageant, lured by the promise of free dessert at Sunday school, and determined to win all the lead roles for themselves. Based on the popular children’s book.
The Matchmaker
by Thornton Wilder
Directed by Shell Wolf
Performed by and for Adults
March 19 & 26 at 7pm; 20-21 & 27-28 at 7pm 2027
The outrageously silly script used as the template for “Hello Dolly!”
“One of the sweetest and smartest romantic farces ever written.”
– Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal
Exhausted Beauty
Director TBA
A 25-minute play by kids, for kids with professional director and design support for a full production experience.
Performances at 12:30 pm on April 24-25 & May 1-2 and at 5:30 on Apr 27, 29 & 30 2027
A fun retelling of the Sleeping Beauty tale with a twist. In this version, the princess is cursed to stay awake, and drives the kingdom crazy with her late-night exploration of loud musical hobbies. Rated-G for the entire family.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Directed by Dayna Railton
A 75-minute play by kids, for kids with professional director and design support for a full production experience.
Performances at 2pm April 24-25 & May 1-2; & at 7pm April 23 & 27-30 2027
A great adaptation of the beloved classic book. Alice and a ton of whacky characters embark upon an adventure in a wacky dreamscape.
Elephant and Piggie
Directed by Emma Reinhardt
A 60-minute musical by kids, for kids with professional director and design support for a full production experience.
Performances: July 16-25, 2027
Mean Girls JR
Directed by Dayna Railton
A 75-minute play by kids, for kids with professional director and design support for a full production experience.
Performances: July 16-25, 2027
The Two Gentlemen of Vernona by William Shakespeare
Directed by Mary Cutler
a Performance In the Park
Featuring a Multi-generational Cast
Performances: June 18-27, 2027
Outrageously funny and unexpectedly silly. Impress a date! Get some screen-free culture into your kids! Go outside for a little vitamin D! Hang with the neighbors! Bring your own lawn chair or a picnic blanket. The kids can even watch while enjoying the playground. (Dogs welcome.)
New Play Festival 2028
Part of the Page to Stage Program
Featuring Readings of New Scripts
New script submissions are accepted all year.
Submission details here: PAGE TO STAGE
Performances are the last two weekends in February, 2028.
Readings are FREE with advance reservations.
Reservations are strongly recommended due to extremely limited seating.
Christmas Festival
Watch this space for more information about our Festival Seasion
Performances: December 2027
Gifting Tickets:
If you are interested in giving specific show tickets as a gift, Email Barbe@MerrillArtsCenter.org
Online Ticketing Hours Before a Show
NOTE: The online ticket sales are always available. For most shows tickets are STILL AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR unless it says “sold out” online.