Children’s Theater Announces ’25-’26 Season and Auditions

By Krista Katona Pille

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is excited to announce its highly anticipated 20252026 season, marking the nation’s oldest professional theatre for young audiences’ historic return to the newly renovated, reimagined, and revived Emery Theater.

Until 1969, The Emery Theater was latest advancement in stagecraft, projection mapping within the audience is paired with a one-of-a-kind stage lift with a built-in turntable bringing scenery from under the stage. An entire stage—combining live theatre with automation, projections, illustrations, and animation and transforming each TCT production into a truly unique and immersive theatrical experience. Here’s a sneak peek: https://tinyurl.com/TCTEMERY

And thanks to a transformative $2 million anonymous gift to its capital campaign, the recent $4 million gap has been reduced to just $2 million needed to meet the project’s total goal. This gift was made donors, and those already considering support for The Emery, to seize this opportunity and make their commitment now, helping TCT bring the vision for a world-class children’s theatre home to life.

The 2025-26 season will kick off with a spin on a timeless classic, The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition, October 10-26. During the holiday season, TCT is bringing back one of the company’s most popular productions in its 105-year history with a show that is sweeter than maple syrup – Elf, the Musical Jr., December 5-21 Then, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical takes the Emery stage February 20-March 8, 2026, followed by the stage adaptation of one of DreamWorks’ most legendary films, How to Train Your Dragon Jr., April 17-May 3, 2026.

Tickets & Subscriptions

Renewals for current TCT Subscribers will take place February 26-March 31. New subscriptions go on sale May 6 at www. thechildrenstheatre.com. Single tickets for all productions will go on sale beginning August 1. Productions are designed for children ages 4+ and their families. ASL interpretation and audio description will be offered during the second Saturday performances at 2 p.m. for all productions. Sensory-friendly performances will be scheduled for select productions.

Auditions

TCT is committed to breaking down barriers, including those that impact its talent. The Company primarily casts ageappropriately—professional adult actors in adult roles and professionally trained young actors (Age 9+) in children's roles. By moving to The Emery there will be significantly reduced workday and school-