The Little Theatre
Each year The Little Theatre produces at least four main stage productions, in addition to student-directed projects and collaborative work with the Music department. Touring professional productions, guest speakers and musical artists also appear in the intimate 209-seat facility.
Scholarship Opportunity
Calling all actors, designers, and techies! CMU is currently offering the "Center Stage" scholarship. The grand prize is two $10,000 stackable scholarships for high school seniors interested in acting and theater design.
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Tickets: For CMU main stage productions, $8 for general admission, $5 CMU Faculty and Staff, CMU students free with ID. Price varies for other productions; oftentimes no admission. Check with the box office at 660-248-6281 for details.
Curtain Time: Thursday-Saturday evening performances at 7:00 pm; Sunday matinee performances at 1:30 pm.
Reservations: Individual and group reservations can be made at any time by calling the Little Theatre box office at 660-248-6281. Reserved tickets are held at the box office, and can be picked up and paid for the night of the performance. The Little Theatre accepts cash and checks.
2023 - 2024 Season
*Please note the change in curtain time for evening shows this year. Thursday through Saturday evening shows will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Into the Woods
By Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine
Into the Woods follows a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; two princes in agony; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
C.S. Lewis's The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
Dramatized by Joseph Robinette
An old house in rural England becomes the home base for four children who wander into an incredible country through an old wardrobe and help the country return to summer. In the incredible Narnia, they make friends with the frightened forest people who have almost given up hope for the return of good King Aslan, their true ruler. When Aslan was there, it was always summer. There is a great battle to see whether this magical country will remain under a wintry spell or will, once again, know freedom and summer under good King Aslan.
November 8-10 performances are school day matinees presented for elementary schools in the region.
Performances: November 8-12, 2023 (directed by Kasey Lynch)
Unaccompanied: A Solo Performance Workshop
Unaccompanied is an exploration of storytelling through solo performance. A distinctly different approach to theatre, solo performance is still a collaboration between the audience, the performer, the production team, and all invested parties. These artists invite the audience on a journey with them as they share a variety of stories.
Performances: February 29 - March 3, 2024 (directed by Brandon Riley, adjunct professor)
Stupid...Bird
By Aaron Posner
An aspiring young director rampages against the art created by his mother's generation. A nubile young actress wrestles with an aging Hollywood star for the affections of a renowned novelist. And everyone discovers just how disappointing love, art, and growing up can be. In this irreverent, contemporary, and very funny remix of Chekhov's The Seagull, Aaron Posner stages a timeless battle between young and old, past and present, in search of the true meaning of it all.
Performances: April 25-28, 2024 (directed by Dr. Mark J. Kelty)
Cultural Affairs
Each year CMU sponsors a Cultural Affairs Series. Theatrical and music productions, poets and lecturers are some of the events included in the series. Please check the CMU Event Calendar for upcoming performance dates.
Academic Programs
Learn more about CMU's Theatre programs.