Parkway Playhouse invites you to join them in 2026 for an exciting lineup!
Hadestown Teen Edition is showing April 17-25, 2026, and will be directed by Jenny Martin.
This show is a folk opera that reimagines the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone. The story follows the young lovers Orpheus and Eurydice, whose relationship is tested by poverty and the allure of the industrial underworld, “Hadestown”. When Eurydice is lured away by Hades, Orpheus embarks on a journey to rescue her, using his music to challenge the forces of fear and despair.
Alice in Wonderland JR is showing May 8-9, 2026 and will be directed by Logan Bryant.
Fall down the rabbit hole with Alice as she navigates the curious world of Wonderland on a journey of self-discovery. This 60-minute stage adaptation of the classic Disney animated film and the Lewis Carroll stories makes a triumphant return to the Broadway Junior® catalogue, with an updated script and score made specifically for today’s young performers.
When young Alice finds herself in a strange world where everything seems upside down, she must find her way home…and find herself along the way. As she travels through Wonderland, she encounters all of the iconic characters that audiences have come to love: including the ever-tardy White Rabbit, the grinning Cheshire Cat, a cool Caterpillar, the wacky Mad Hatter, and the hot-tempered Queen of Hearts.
Sister Act is showing May 29-June 7, 2026, and will be directed by Melanie Veazey.
When disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be found: a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase, only to find them up against Deloris and the power of her newly found sisterhood.
Finding Nemo KIDS is showing June 19-20, 2026, and the director is To-Be-Announced.
This show follows the story of a cautious clownfish named Marlin, whose son, Nemo, is captured and taken to Sydney. Marlin embarks on an epic adventure across the ocean, overcoming his fears to find Nemo with the help of friends like a bubbly blue tang named Dory and a helpful sea turtle named Crush.
Annie is showing June 26-July 12, 2026, and will be directed by Daniel Moore.
With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations… and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! She finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
Mean Girls JR is showing July 17-29, 2026 and will be directed by Erika Tyner.
This story unfolds as Cady navigates the complex popularity hierarchy by joining “The Plastics,” the ruthless and popular clique led by queen bee Regina George. With the help of her outcast friends, Janis and Damian, Cady initially goes undercover to take down Regina’s reign.
However, Cady eventually gets caught up in the drama and loses herself in the process. She must ultimately find her way back to her true self and discover that being authentic is what truly matters.
Peter and the Starcatcher is showing July 31-August 9, 2026, and will be directed by Jenny Martin.
A young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache, a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own – the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure.
Deera’s Country Funeral is showing August 20-23, 2026, and the director is To-Be-Announced.
In this show, Ray Sally’s beloved tractor died and it’s time to have a funeral. But maybe it’s Ray Sally who is about to meet his maker since what good is an old farmer to the world if he can’t even keep a tractor running? On the surface, this is just a silly little play about a tractor, but underneath questions about destiny, rural masculinity, and the measure of a life well-lived face this tiny community caught at the height of their grief.
Her Name Was Frankie: A Frankie Silver Story is showing October 2-11, 2026, and will be directed by Jenny Martin and Daniel Moore
There are many stories out there about Frankie Silver, but what makes a story the truth and who gets to tell it? In this show, an author takes a trip to the south to write a book about the historic North Carolina Murderess. When she gets there, she finds the stories people tell have a whole lot more to do with the people telling them than the people they’re about.
Parkway Passes are on sale now. They have two options this year. A Parkway Pass is the equivalent of five tickets to any mainstage show in their 2026 season for just $90. A Parkway Pass Plus is the equivalent of five tickets to any mainstage show in their 2026 season and two tickets to any junior show in their 2026 season for just $120.
Auditions for Sister Act, Annie, Peter and the Starcatcher, and their Reading Is Alive program will take place at The Mountain Heritage Center on January 17, 2026 from 10am-4pm. Auditions for their Fourth Annual Appalachian Playwriting Festival, Deera’s Country Funeral, Her Name Was Frankie: A Frankie Silver Story, and their 2026 interactive dinner theater performances will take place at The Mountain Heritage Center on May 2, 2026 from 10am-4pm.
Parkway Playhouse is taking applications now to join their 2026 creative teams. This includes paid positions such as stage managers, costumers, lighting designers, and more. If interested, please email director@parkwayplayhouse.com.
Registration is now open for Hadestown Teen Edition and Alice in Wonderland JR. Registration for Finding Nemo KIDS and Mean Girls JR will open on February 2, 2026. Register online at www.parkwayplayhouse.com or by emailing director@parkwayplayhouse.com.
Parkway Playhouse is a professional theater company located at 202 Green Mountain Drive, Burnsville, North Carolina 28714. The oldest continually operating summer theater in North Carolina, they are celebrating their 78th season this year. Parkway Playhouse offers something for everyone, including shows, classes, community events, and more! To find out more about Parkway Playhouse, please visit their website at www.parkwayplayhouse.com, or check out their Facebook or Instagram pages.
