What if this year, you didn’t just watch the story … you lived it?

Springfield Little Theatre Education Department invites the Ozarks to discover exactly that as it announces its 2026–2027 Season at The Judith Enyeart Reynolds School of the Performing Arts for Springfield Little Theatre, where imagination is celebrated, creativity is encouraged, and Stories Start Here.

The new season offers opportunities for performers and audiences of every age through an exciting collection of musicals, plays, educational productions, touring theatre, festivals, and special events—all designed to inspire creativity while introducing the next generation to the magic of live performance.

“Every hallway at The Judy leads somewhere different,” said Springfield Little Theatre Education Director, Lorianne Dunn. “To laughter. To courage. To discovery. To confidence. To a stage where someone steps into the spotlight for the very first time. Our Education Department isn’t simply about producing shows—it’s about creating experiences that help young people grow as artists and as people.”

A major addition this season is the debut of the Literature to Life Series, a new auditioned series celebrating beloved works of literature through live theatrical experiences.

The inaugural Literature to Life Series includes:

• Freckleface Strawberry
• Little Women
• The Miracle Worker

Joining the new series is Springfield Little Theatre’s Education Series, where young performers discover the joy of theatre through:

• Charlotte’s Web
• Olympus: The Greek Rock Musical
• Trolls, JR.

The Youth Entertainment Series continues to provide challenging performance opportunities for experienced teen artists with an exciting lineup featuring:

• Disney’s Descendants: The Musical
• Radium Girls
• The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]

Students from Springfield Public Schools’ Academy of the Fine & Performing Arts will present THE BIG ONE-OH, JR., while SLT Academy High School students tackle the Tony Award-winning contemporary musical HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION (pending final licensing approval.)

Springfield Little Theatre will also continue bringing live theatre directly into schools throughout the Ozarks through SLT On Wheels, touring DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL to thousands of elementary students across the region.

Beyond the stage, families are invited to participate in two signature Education Department events:

• Built for Kids Big Summer Splash, presented by Children’s Mercy with Mercy
• Show Your Character Event, the annual Halloween celebration at The Judy

Whether attending a first class, auditioning for a production, volunteering backstage, or experiencing live theatre for the very first time, the 2026–2027 season offers countless opportunities to learn, create, and belong.

“This season is filled with unforgettable stories,” said Dunn. “Heroes will rise. Dreamers will create. Villains will dance. History will speak. Fairy tales will sing. But the most exciting story is the one that hasn’t been told yet—the one waiting for the next student, volunteer, family, or audience member who walks through our doors.” This vision of theatre as a place where stories are lived—not simply watched—runs throughout the season announcement.

The 2026–2027 Education Department Season begins this fall at The Judith Enyeart Reynolds School of the Performing Arts for Springfield Little Theatre, 237 South Florence Avenue, Springfield, Missouri.

For audition information, classes, tickets, volunteer opportunities, and complete season details, visit springfieldlittletheatre.org.

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2026-2027 EDUCATION SEASON