Madison Theatre will present eight shows during the 2025-26 season, with performances scheduled at the Opal E. Sherman Memorial Auditorium at Madison High School.
The first show of the season will be I Am Frankenstein, performed by the advanced theatre class, Oct. 17-19. A reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic, the play follows Victor Frankenstein and the Creature he brings to life, exploring questions of ambition, humanity and responsibility.
The all-school musical Mean Girls will run Nov. 21-23. Auditions are scheduled for Sept. 16. The show is rated PG-13 because of mature themes. Based on the hit film and Broadway musical, the story follows Cady Heron as she navigates the cutthroat world of high school cliques and learns the cost of fitting in.
The sophomore class will present Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on Dec. 5-7. Adapted from the holiday television special, the show tells the story of Rudolph, the misfit reindeer whose glowing nose helps save Christmas.
The final production of the semester will be a Fine Arts Academy senior project: It’s a Wonderful Life on Dec. 13. Auditions, open to the entire school, are scheduled for Aug. 28. The stage version of the beloved film centers on George Bailey, a man who is shown by an angel what life in his town would be like if he had never been born.
The spring semester will open with the sophomore class production of Finding Nemo on Feb. 20-22. Adapted from the Disney/Pixar favorite, the show follows clownfish Marlin and his friend Dory on a journey across the ocean to rescue his missing son, Nemo.
The next all-school musical, Frozen, will run March 6-8. Audition dates for this production have not yet been announced. Inspired by the Disney film, the musical tells the story of sisters Anna and Elsa, whose bond is tested when Elsa’s magical powers plunge their kingdom into eternal winter.
The advanced theatre class will return April 10-12 with Bright Star. Written and composed by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, the story weaves between the 1920s and 1940s, following a literary editor haunted by her past and the transformative power of love and forgiveness.
The season will conclude with another Fine Arts Academy senior project: Six: The Musical. Auditions, open to the whole school, will be announced later. A modern retelling of the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives, the pop-concert style musical gives each queen the chance to share her story in her own voice.
Tickets for all productions can be purchased in the lobby for $17 for adults and $7 for students, or online for $11 for adults and $5 for students.
Madison Theatre Director Aaron Kelsey said he selects shows with audience appeal in mind. “Every show we do here pays for the next one, so I decide which shows will get people in the seats,” Kelsey said.
The Madison Theatre team also includes assistant director Melanie Torline for after-school shows, music directors Mrs. Gurguis and Teresa Grayson, and choreographer Susie Stillwell. A team of parents assists with concessions, ads, and ticket sales.
With a mix of classics, contemporary hits, and student-driven projects, Madison Theatre’s 2025-26 season offers something for every audience. From family favorites to thought-provoking dramas, the season showcases the talent and dedication of Madison students while continuing the program’s tradition of bringing high-quality performances to the community.
