Dragons Love Tacos
by Ernie Nolan
A MAC Education Production: By Kids, For Kids
Based on the book by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri.
Directed by Michelle Schwantes – Performed by Little Actors Ages 5-9
Performances April 25 – May 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Running Time: 25 minutes
Are you ready for a TACO party? This spring, students will bring the beloved story Dragons Love Tacos to life on stage! In this fun and interactive theater class, students will learn the basics of acting, teamwork, and stage performance through games, creative activities, and rehearsals. Together, we’ll build confidence, explore imagination, and put on a delightful show filled with dragons, tacos, and laughter. Join us for a fun-filled theater experience you won’t want to miss!
Produced by special arrangement with Plays for New Audiences, a nonprofit division of The Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Rapunzel
April 24 – May 3, 2026 Fridays at 7pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm
Running Time: 90 minutes plus 15 minute intermission
Rene Shwartzbuckle is cuckoo for a turnip-like vegetable called rapunzel. When she spots a mouth-watering patch of the plant in Witch Izwitch’s garden, she sends her husband Walt out to ’borrow’ some. Witch Izwitch is certainly not amused! With her diabolical henchmen, the Glumpwarts, she terrorizes Walt into promising her his firstborn child in exchange for his freedom. We then jump ahead many years to Rapunzel (now you know where the name comes from!) Shwartzbuckle’s 18th birthday. The witch and the Glumpwarts show up as promised and whisk poor, innocent Rapunzel away to a tower in the forest. This show gives a new twist to an old story and a gentle message about the nature of beauty.
Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Denver, Colorado.
THE EAST METRO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS
North St. Paul, MN, March 30, 2026: East Metro Symphony Orchestra (EMSO) is
pleased to present Brahms’ Symphony No. 4
Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
2499 Helen Street North, North St. Paul, MN 55109.
Admission to this concert is FREE
To learn more, visit www.emsorch.org
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory Jr.
Words and Music by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley
Adapted for the Stage by Leslie Bricusse & Timothy A. McDonald
Based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
July 18 – 26, 2026 @2:00pm
Based on the classic book by Roald Dahl, Willy Wonka JR tells the story of the famous candy inventor, Willy Wonka, and the chaos that ensues when he decides to open his factory gates to five lucky kids and their parents for a tour. The story follows a young boy named Charlie Bucket and his journey from poverty to winning the ultimate prize, and it is much greater than a lifetime supply of chocolate. Willy Wonka JR touches on the troubles that are brought about when kids are left to be spoiled and bossy, and also shows how you can make beautiful things with a touch of “pure imagination.”
Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
The Broadway Junior (TM) Concept and Format is created by Music Theatre International (MTI)
Junie B. Jones
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
October 24 – 25, October 31-November 1, 2026, 2026 @ 1:00pm
In this reimagining of Aesop’s cautionary tale with a valuable moral, a bored boy named Roy tends to his family’s flock. But in this delightful version, we meet a new character and discover the real source of mischief!
New Play Festival 2027
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.
Readings are FREE with advance reservations.
Reservations are strongly recommended due to extremely limited seating.
TITLE TO BE ANNOUNCED
Performances are the last two weekends in February.
Performance dates in March 2027
Gifting Tickets:
If you are interested in giving specific show tickets as a gift, Email “Barbe @ Merrill Arts Center dot 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. Loft Stage performances rarely sell out due to the large number of seats, so you can come one hour in advance of the show and purchase your tickets at the door. Black Box shows do often sell out however, so do get your tickets well in advance!