2024-2025 Children’s Theatre Season
Disney’s Descendants
Performed by the Portsmouth Area Children’s Theatre
Directed by Dani Boyles & Nick Gray
Vern Riffe Center for the Arts - Eloise Covert Smith Theater
In the magical kingdom of Auradon, the descendants of Disney’s most infamous villains are given a chance to prove themselves as they enroll in the prestigious Auradon Prep. Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos—children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella de Vil—are determined to make their mark and escape the shadows of their villainous parents.
As the students navigate their new lives, forging friendships and discovering their own identities, they must confront the legacies of their parents' dark deeds.
With the fate of Auradon hanging in the balance and trust on the line, the stage is set for an epic showdown. Will the descendants overcome their pasts and unite to save their world, or will Auradon be plunged into eternal darkness?
Show Dates
Thursday, October 24, 2024
10:00 AM*
Friday, October 25, 2024
10:00 AM* & 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 26, 2024
7:00 PM
Sunday, October 27, 2024
2:30 PM
*School Matinee Performance
The Addams Family
Performed by the Portsmouth Area Children’s Theatre Senior Company
Directed by TBD
Vern Riffe Center for the Arts - Eloise Covert Smith Theater
In The Addams Family Musical, the iconic, macabre family is thrown into disarray when their darkly delightful world is upended. Gomez and Morticia Addams are amusingly haunted by the arrival of their daughter Wednesday’s new boyfriend, Lucas Beineke, and his “normal” family. When Wednesday brings Lucas home for a family dinner, the Addamses must navigate their most unsettling challenge yet: blending with a family of the “bright and shiny” variety.
The evening takes a hilarious turn as Gomez and Morticia struggle to maintain their family’s sinister charm while trying to impress the Beinekes. Meanwhile, Wednesday’s longing for a more conventional life collides with her desire to stay true to her eerie roots, and chaos ensues as secrets are revealed, and family bonds are tested.
In the end, the Addamses prove that while they might be creepy and kooky,
mysterious and spooky, all together ooky, they will always be the Addams family.
Show Dates
Friday, January 31, 2025
7:00 PM
Saturday, February 1, 2025
7:00 PM
Sunday, February 2, 2025
2:30 PM
Disney’s Newsies Jr.
Performed by the Portsmouth Area Children’s Theatre Junior Company
Directed by TBD
Vern Riffe Center for the Arts - Eloise Covert Smith Theater
In Newsies Junior, the thrilling tale of a ragtag group of young newspaper sellers in New York City takes center stage. When newspaper moguls raise the price of papers, the Newsies, led by the charismatic Jack Kelly, ignite a citywide strike to fight for fair wages and better working conditions.
As the movement gains momentum, the Newsies face mounting challenges and opposition from powerful forces. Jack’s leadership is put to the test as the strike intensifies and personal stakes rise, with the future of the Newsies hanging in the balance.
Will Jack and his fellow Newsies triumph in their fight for justice, or will their dreams of a better future be dashed by unexpected treachery?
Show Dates
Thursday, March 27, 2025
10:00 AM*
Friday, March 28, 2025
10:00 AM* & 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 29, 2025
7:00 PM
Sunday, March 30, 2025
2:30 PM
*School Matinee Performance
