Title: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Dates: June 5 – 21, 2026
Venue: Lakeside Playhouse
Tickets: Start at $25 Adult, $15 Youth. Group rates 15+ tickets with advance notice
Times: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm. Sunday 2:30 pm
Description: Let the spelling and the hilarity begin! The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a fast-paced, riotously funny musical that follows six awkward and endearing middle schoolers as they compete for the coveted title of spelling champion. Guided by a collection of equally quirky adults, the contestants share their hopes, fears, and stories through catchy songs and heartfelt moments that go far beyond the dictionary.
With improvisation, audience participation, and unexpected twists, this Tony Award-winning musical is a delightful celebration of youth, individuality, and the pressure to prove yourself, one word at a time.
Run Time: Approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes, including opening announcements.
Content Advisory: Includes some mature humor and themes. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Credits: Music and Lyrics by William Finn. Book by Rachel Sheinkin. Conceived by Rebecca Feldman. Additional Material by Jay Reiss.
Special Offer: reserve seats on Opening night and enjoy the FirstNighters celebration! Includes a walk on the red carpet, happy hour in the lounge, light refreshments, and more.
Title: RENT
Dates: August 21 – September 6, 2026
Venue: Lakeside Playhouse
Tickets: Start at $25 Adult, $15 Youth. Group rates 15+ tickets with advance notice
Times: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm. Sunday 2:30 pm
Description: Bold, raw, and unforgettable, Rent is a groundbreaking rock musical that follows a year in the lives of a group of young artists and friends struggling to survive and create in New York City’s East Village during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Loosely based on Puccini’s La Bohème, this Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical is a powerful exploration of love, loss, identity, and community. With iconic songs like “Seasons of Love,” “La Vie Bohème,” and “Take Me or Leave Me,” Rent has become a cultural touchstone for a generation.
This production captures the urgency and hope of a group of voices that refuse to be silenced, living fully and loudly in the face of adversity.
Run Time: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including opening announcements and intermission.
Content Advisory: Contains mature themes, strong language, drug references, and sexual content. Recommended for mature audiences.
Credits: Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Special Offer: reserve seats on Opening night and enjoy the FirstNighters celebration! Includes a walk on the red carpet, happy hour in the lounge, light refreshments, and more.
Title: The Last Five Years
Dates: March 27 – April 12, 2026
Venue: Lakeside Playhouse
Tickets: Start at $25 Adult, $15 Youth. Group rates 15+ tickets with advance notice
Times: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm. Sunday 2:30 pm
Description: An emotionally powerful and intimate musical, The Last Five Years tells the story of a five-year relationship between Jamie, a rising novelist, and Cathy, a struggling actress—told from two distinct timelines. Cathy’s journey begins at the end of the relationship and moves backward, while Jamie’s starts at the beginning and moves forward. Their stories intersect only once, in the middle, on their wedding day.
With an unforgettable score that blends contemporary musical theatre with pop and jazz influences, Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown crafts a deeply personal look at love, ambition, and the passage of time.
Run Time: Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, including opening announcements.
Content Advisory: Contains mature themes and some strong language. Best suited for teen and adult audiences.
Credits: Music, Lyrics, and Book by Jason Robert Brown
Special Offers: reserve seats on Opening night and enjoy the FirstNighters celebration! Includes a walk on the red carpet, happy hour in the lounge, light refreshments, and more.
Title: Happy Hour at Pink Place
Dates: January 16 – February 1, 2026
Venue: Lakeside Playhouse
Tickets: Start at $25 Adult, $15 Youth. Group rates 15+ tickets with advance notice
Times: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm. Sunday 2:30 pm
Description: The drinks are cheap, but the secrets are priceless. In this full-length two-act version of the award-winning original play Happy Hour at Pink Place, playwright Laura Byron Wade brings audiences back to the quirky apartment where guests gather, gossip, and grow.
Expanded from the original one-act that wowed judges and audiences at the Florida Theatre Conference, Southeastern Theatre Conference, and the American Association of Community Theatre’s AACTFest, this heartfelt dramedy explores themes of loss, connection, and discovery through witty dialogue, layered characters, and unexpected moments of truth.
Run Time: Approximately 2.5 hours, including intermission and announcements
Content Advisory: Contains adult themes and language. Not recommended for young children.
Credits: Written by Laura Byron Wade
Special Offers: reserve seats on Opening night and enjoy the FirstNighters celebration! Includes a walk on the red carpet, happy hour in the lounge, light refreshments, and more.
Title: Annie
Dates: November 7 – 23, 2025
Venue: Lakeside Playhouse
Tickets: Start at $25 Adult, $15 Youth. Group rates 15+ tickets with advance notice
Times: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm. Sunday 2:30 pm
Description: With unwavering optimism and a heart full of hope, Annie bursts onto the stage in this beloved musical that has charmed audiences for generations. Set during the Great Depression, the story follows the spirited orphan Annie as she embarks on a journey to find the family she’s always dreamed of. Along the way, she encounters unforgettable characters, from the lovable Sandy to the larger-than-life billionaire Oliver Warbucks.
Featuring iconic songs like “Tomorrow,” “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” and “Maybe,” Annie delivers a timeless message of resilience, love, and the belief that brighter days are always ahead. Full of heart, humor, and high-energy musical numbers, this production is perfect for audiences of all ages.
Whether you’re discovering Annie for the first time or revisiting an old favorite, this production promises a joyful and inspiring theatrical experience for the whole family.
Cautions: Not suitable for children under 5 years old.
Credits: Music by Charles Strouse. Lyrics by Martin Charnin. Book by Thomas Meehan
Special Offers: reserve seats on Opening night and enjoy the FirstNighters celebration! Includes a walk on the red carpet, happy hour in the lounge, light refreshments, and more.
Title: 24 Hour Play Festival
Dates: September 13, 2025
Venue: Lakeside Playhouse
Tickets: start at $20 Adult, $18 Youth. Group rates 15+ tickets with advance notice
Times: 7:30 pm
Description: Get ready for a thrilling, high-energy night of theater that you won’t soon forget! The 24-Hour Play Festival is back and better than ever, featuring brand new, one-of-a-kind plays written, rehearsed, and performed in just 24 hours. It’s a whirlwind of creativity, collaboration, and pure talent — all wrapped up in one exciting event.
What You Can Expect:
- Live Performances: Watch as talented actors bring fresh, never-before-seen scripts to life. From drama to comedy, you’ll experience an unforgettable range of stories performed live before your eyes.
- A Festival of Creativity: Every play is written and staged in just 24 hours, meaning no two performances are ever the same. It’s raw, real, and always surprising!
- People’s Choice Voting: As the audience, YOU get a say in the evening’s outcome! After the performances, cast your vote for your favorite play, actor, or moment. Your opinion matters, and the winning production will earn bragging rights and a special prize!
Why Participate?
- Support Local Talent: Your ticket not only guarantees an unforgettable night of entertainment but also helps support local playwrights, actors, and creatives who put their hearts into this incredible event.
- Get Involved in the Magic: Vote for your favorite performances and be part of the action. It’s the ultimate way to engage with the creative process and make your voice heard.
Cautions: May contain adult content not suitable for young or sensitive audiences.
Credits: Led and organized by Laura Wade.
Title: Buddy, the Buddy Holly Story
Dates: August 15 – 31, 2025
Venue: Lakeside Playhouse
Tickets: start at $25 Adult, $15 Youth. Group rates 15+ tickets with advance notice
Times: Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm. Sunday 2:30 pm
Description: Tells the true story of Buddy’s meteoric rise to fame, from the moment in 1957 when “That’ll Be the Day” hit the airwaves until his tragic death less than two years later on “the day the music died”. The show features over 20 of Buddy Holly’s greatest hits including “That’ll Be the Day”, “Peggy Sue”, “Everyday”, and “Oh Boy”, plus Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” and the Big Boppers “Chantilly Lace.” The incredible legacy of the young man with glasses, whose musical career spanned an all too brief period during the Golden Days of rock & roll, continues to live on in “Buddy”.
Cautions: While it does not contain nudity or swear words, it is not recommended for children under 7 years old.
Credits: Book by Alan Janes. Music by Buddy Holly. Lyrics by Buddy Holly.
Special Offers: reserve seats on Opening night, August 15, and enjoy the FirstNighters celebration! Includes a walk on the red carpet, happy hour in the lounge, light refreshments, and more.