Nashville Children’s Theatre (NCT) announces its 2025-2026 season, featuring five shows for guests of all ages.   See link below to purchase your membership!

This season, we celebrate one of the oldest and most powerful human traditions: storytelling. From whispered tales under starry skies to grand performances on stage, stories have always helped us make sense of who we are and how to connect with others. A Season for Storytellers invites everyone—young and old—to embrace the storyteller within, taking us on journeys of transformation, where characters discover their courage and strength, while others open our hearts to the deep bonds of friendship, loyalty, and kindness. We’ll meet those who rise above adversity and those who remind us to embrace the joy of life. Whether we’re sharing a memory, imagining new worlds, or stepping into someone else’s shoes, storytelling helps us explore identity, build empathy, and ignite change.

Join us for a season that honors the stories that shape us—and the storytellers we all have the power to become.

MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCE SERIES
NCT 25-26 Season Blurb: A Season for Storytellers

All main stage performances at NCT are sensory-friendly. A Sensory Room at the back of the auditorium provides patrons of all ages tools to regulate their minds and bodies, while providing the opportunity to see and hear the performance.

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Musical – TYA Premiere
Adapted by Taryn Janelle from the play “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Play” by Karen Abbott
Music and Lyrics by Taryn Janelle and LeRell Ross

September 27 – October 30, 2025

TYA Premiere – Once upon a time, beneath the wide Zimbabwean sky, lived a man with two daughters—both beautiful, but with very different hearts. Based on the beloved book by John Steptoe and told in the rich tradition of African folktales, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters is a sweeping, musical tale of kindness, inner strength, and the true test of character.

Featuring vibrant new music and lyrics by Taryn Janelle and LaRell Ross of Atlanta’s Synchronicity Theatre, this new adaptation brings Steptoe’s award-winning story to life with color, rhythm, and heart. Honored with the Coretta Scott King Award and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, this timeless tale is a celebration of culture, family, and the beauty within.

Charlotte’s Web
Adapted by Joseph Robinette based on the book by E.B. White

November 22-December 31, 2025

Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. When Wilbur is born smaller than most pigs, it’s his friendships on the Arable family’s farm that save his life in more ways than one. This classic tale weaves an intergenerational message of love, friendship and loss in this adaptation of E.B. White’s immortal masterpiece. Whether it’s Charlotte’s selfless acts of kindness or Wilbur’s journey to find belonging, it’s the ties we share with others that make life truly meaningful. 

Seussical: The Musical – Theatre for Young Audiences Version
Music By Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics By Lynn Ahrens
Book By Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Co-Conceived By Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Eric Idle
Based On The Works Of Dr. Seuss

April 11th – May 17, 2026

Dive into the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss in Seussical the Musical, where beloved characters and stories intertwine in a vibrant tapestry of music and imagination. From the loyal Horton the Elephant, who hears a faint cry for help on a speck of dust, to the mischievous Cat in the Hat guiding us through unexpected adventures, this musical brings to life tales like Horton Hears a Who!, Gertrude McFuzz, and The Cat in the Hat. With a dynamic score blending pop, gospel, blues, and R&B, audiences of all ages are invited to explore themes of friendship, loyalty, and the power of “thinks.” Whether you’re young or young at heart, Seussical promises a heartwarming experience that celebrates the unique qualities in each of us.

SNUGGERY PERFORMANCES SERIES

The Snuggery Series at NCT is dedicated to early childhood development, engaging children aged 0-5 with interactive and immersive theatrical experiences. Through the magic of live theatre, the Snuggery program supports cognitive, social, and emotional growth, laying a strong foundation for future learning. By nurturing creativity and imagination, the Snuggery fosters a lifelong appreciation for the arts and community engagement. This initiative exemplifies NCT’s dedication to innovative and inclusive arts education for its youngest residents.

Inside Out and Backwards
by Kathryn Chase Bryer and Natasha Holmes
With music composed by Timothy Guillot

August 16th – December 7th, 2025

It’s bedtime—but sleep can wait when imagination takes over! Two siblings transform their room into a topsy-turvy wonderland where gloves swim like fish, shirts growl like beasts, and socks groove in a closet dance party. Designed especially for our youngest theatre-goers, this playful, participatory piece invites children ages 0–5 to giggle, wiggle, and explore a world turned delightfully inside out… and backwards.

Bingo’s Birthday
Written by Ernie Nolan

February 7 – May 17, 2026

B-I-N-G-O—and Bingo is his name-o! You’re invited to the barnyard birthday bash of a very special pup. But before the party can begin, Farmers Pickle and Tickle need your help to find the guest of honor! Full of music, mischief, and farmyard fun, Bingo’s Birthday is an immersive theatrical adventure created especially for children ages 0–5. Come sing, play, and celebrate in this down-home, tail-wagging good time!

About Nashville Children’s Theatre

Nashville Children’s Theatre is the country’s oldest youth-centered professional theatre, providing nationally recognized family-friendly programming with professional, high-quality production by trained actors. Creating artistic experiences for everyone, Nashville Children’s Theatre believes theatre can change the world, one audience at a time. The theatre’s performances help kids process real-world situations and build a foundation of empathy for their relationships and actions, now and in the future. And that means a better, kinder world for everyone.