Accepting Submissions here!
The Theatre Co. of the Ozarks is now accepting play submissions here for their 2025/2026 season! Please email tc***********@gm***.com for any questions that the form doesn’t answer!
Category: Kids
TCOTO Kidz Play: Reindeer Games, at the Lyric Theater December 17, 2023 at 2:00pm AND 7:00pm
Pulling Santa’s sleigh is hard work. Even reindeer have to hang up the reins eventually. So, when team leader Dasher decides to retire, coaches Kris and Carol Kringle host the Reindeer Games to find the next member of Santa’s reindeer crew — known as the Nifty Nine.
Eager reindeer recruits showcase their talents in a series of easy-to-stage games. But these aren’t your typical winter events, nor are these your typical competitors. Alongside fast, strong and nimble jocks is a brainy tech geek, a lost chef looking for a cooking competition, a chipper cheerleader, and a lingo-slinging international snowboarder. The all-star quarterback has a tender secret talent, and one competitor looks curiously like a moose!
But before Coach Kris can announce the newest crewmember, the original Nifty Nine make a cameo appearance — with a surprise announcement! Turns out there are no “losers” when you’re on Santa’s nice list. And by lifting one another up, the New Nifty Nine all get a chance to fly with the Big Guy!
Harrison Art League Small Works on Paper Summer Art Show, Through the End of July!
Harrison Art League presents:
Small Works on Paper Summer Art Show
July 1-29! #LiveAtTheLibrary!
The Harrison Art League’s “Small Works On Paper” Art Show is on display at the Boone County Library through the end of July! Come see this gorgeous artwork in person!
Below are just a few examples of the fabulous artwork.
lowercase, June 29-30, July 1 at 7pm, July 2 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!
The Theatre Co. of the Ozarks and
the Ozark Arts Council Present:
lowercase
June 29-30, July 1 at 7PM, July 2 at 2PM! #LiveAtTheLyric!
The Theatre Co. of the Ozarks and The Ozark Arts Council present lowercase, by Stephen Enersen, performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater June 29-30, July 1 at 7:00PM and July 2 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $8 for children, when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—$11 for children, $13 for seniors and students, and $15 for adults.
This smart romantic comedy wrestles with the miseries of the mid-life, recycled dating scene. Having recently decided that he is through with romantic relationships (though not through with women), George has made an impulsive bet with his meddling sister that he will solve all his dating problems by “hiring” a mistress. Now, just two days before the “show and tell” dinner where he must produce said mistress to avoid losing the high-stakes bet, a mistress-less (and clueless) George tries to engage a 30-something theatre student to play his paramour for the dinner. A contentious though talented Meredith finds the assignment disgusting but needs the money and, truth be told, is excited by the acting challenge of a full evening of improvisation. While the antagonistic couple is attempting to fashion a convincing backstory for the dinner charade, sister Betsy suddenly appears, throwing Meredith and George into a frantic, ill-prepared improv a full day early. Amidst the chaos, Meredith and George gradually come to appreciate each other’s odd yet strangely sensible takes on life and relationships.
Join us at The Lyric for lowercase, #LiveAtTheLyric. Tickets on sale NOW at TheLyric.org. June 29-30, July 1 at 7:00PM and July 2 at 2:00PM. Become an OAC Member at Join.TheLyric.org!
The Election April 13-15 at 7pm and April 16 at 2pm at the HHS PAC!
Harrison High School Theatre Dept. Presents:
April 13-15 at 7pm and April 16 at 2pm!
HHS Theatre Dept. presents The Election, by Don Zolidis at the Harrison High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $8 for children, when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—$11 for children, $13 for seniors and students, and $15 for adults.
After embattled student body president Skip (Garland Watson) resigns in disgrace – and has a public break-up with his girlfriend (Lydia Thomas) – Mark Davenport (Mark Green) figures he will cruise to victory in the special election with a little help from the secretary (Victoria Grae Smith). After all, his only opponent is nerdy Christy Martin (Brinkley Brewer), who wants to eliminate football and snacks. But when a mysterious Super PAC gives her an unlimited budget, things start to get very ugly. Mark must face total annihilation with his friend and campaign manager, Karl (Isaiah Wallis), or accept the services of a slick professional campaign manager (Angelina Briggs) with questionable ethics and a million-dollar Super PAC of his own. With the school news reporters (Allyson Hyatt, Hayden Allen, Ellison Jones, Matthew Phelps, Brycen Myers, Andi Parrish, Jude Bilbee, Natalie Sims) dogging his every move, especially Kyli (Emma Bock), a reporter who cares more about ratings than reality; a bevy of wishy-washy voters who turn on a dime (Hannah Edwards, Alexa Duggan, Jacob Waters, Maci Bright, Casey Williams, Reagan Hersh, Mysteri Cotton, Carter Malachi Baker, Ricky Bates); and a revolving door of actors hired specifically for his campaign (Ella Domino, Cierra Lundgren), Mark has to decide if losing his soul is really worth a good mark on his college resume. The Election, by prolific playwright Don Zolidis, is an hilarious and timely satire on the contemporary political scene, all set in a normal, every-day high school with normal, every-day students.
Join us at the HHS PAC for The Election April 13-15 at 7:00pm and April 16 at 2:00pm. Tickets at HHSPAC.org. Tickets on sale at HHSPAC.org. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $8 for children, when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—$11 for children, $13 for seniors and students, and $15 for adults.
Almost, Maine, January 26–28 at 7pm, January 29 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!
The Theatre Co. of the Ozarks and
the Ozark Arts Council Present:
January 26–28 at 7pm, January 29 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!
The Theatre Co. of the Ozarks and The Ozark Arts Council present Almost, Main performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater January 26–28 at 7:00pm and January 29 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $8 for children, when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—$11 for children, $13 for seniors and students, and $15 for adults.
Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend—almost—in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.
“ALMOST, MAINE is a series of nine amiably absurdist vignettes about love, with a touch of good-natured magic realism…witty, romantic, unsentimental. A beautifully structured play, with nifty surprise endings (most but not all of them happy).” —NY Times. “Sweet, poignant, and witty. Nearly perfect. ALMOST, MAINE’s charm is real. [It] packs wit, earns its laughs and, like love, surprises you.” —NY Daily News. “Mega-hit ALMOST, MAINE lands somewhere between Norman Rockwell and Our Town. Unabashedly unhip. There is no pretense of an edge here—the show offers a sweetness and decency that’s become rare at the theater. At this point, it’s a welcome breath of fresh air.” —New York Post.
Join us at The Lyric for Almost, Maine, January 26–28 at 7:00PM, January 29 at 2:00PM #LiveAtTheLyric. Tickets on sale SOON for OAC Members! Tickets for non-OAC Members to open shortly after. Become an OAC Member at Join.TheLyric.org!
White Christmas, December 1–3 at 7pm, December 4 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!
NorthArk Drama, HHS Theatre Troupe 2715, and
the Ozark Arts Council Present:
December 1–3 at 7pm, December 4 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!
NorthArk Drama, HHS Theatre Troupe 2715, and The Ozark Arts Council present White Christmas performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater December 1–3 at 7:00pm and December 4 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and $12 for children, when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—$15 for children, $18 for seniors and students, and $21 for adults. Veterans and Active Duty Service Members receive a discount by choosing the Veteran discount ticket.
Veterans Bob Wallace (Bannon Jones) and Phil Davis (Isaiah Wallis) have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters, Betty (Maci Bright, understudy Savana Tolbert) and Judy (Brinkley Brewer, understudy Ella Domino) Haynes en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former army commander, Henry Waverly (Matt Hamblin). Though the General is retired, he must now contend with a failing inn, a has-been-but-still-aspiring actress, Martha (Jenna Wilson), and his precocious granddaughter, Susan (Allyson Hyatt). When Bob and Phil decide to bring their whole crew down to help the General out with a huge Christmas show, new romances will begin, old friendships will be rekindled, and everyone will learn that sometimes, things really can be fixed with a little Theatre in your life. Ensemble cast includes both veteran and novice students of Theatre: Malachi Baker, Jude Bilbee, Emma Bock, Angie Briggs, Valeria Carbajal, Camron Edwards, Lashayla Engel, Lilly Mangrum, Melissa Mao, Tracy Mao, Kamyron Lefebvre, Wyatt Mahoney, Brycen Myers, Andi Jo Parrish, Lexi Poor, Chasity Price, Natalie Sims, Eric Stubbs, Logan Wilson, Karma Wooten, and Rilee Young.
For those who love the movie, the play will give you a double treat, because of the sub-plots and character development, plus the greater involvement of beloved-but-minor characters (especially Susan and Martha!). With a dazzling score featuring well-known standards including “Blue Skies,” “How Deep Is the Ocean” and the perennial title song, White Christmas is an uplifting musical that will surely get you in the holiday spirit!
Join us at The Lyric for White Christmas, December 1–3 at 7:00PM, December 4 at 2:00PM #LiveAtTheLyric. Tickets on sale NOW! Become an OAC Member at Join.TheLyric.org!
Wait Until Dark, September 29–30, October 1 at 7pm, October 2 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!
The Theatre Company of the Ozarks and
the Ozark Arts Council Present:
Wait Until Dark, a Suspense Thriller
September 29–30, October 1 at 7pm, October 2 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!
The Theatre Company of the Ozarks and The Ozark Arts Council present Wait Until Dark, performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater September 29–30, October 1 at 7:00PM and October 2 at 2:00PM. Tickets are$12 for adults, $10 for seniors and
students, and $8 for children, when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—$11 for children, $13 for seniors and students, and $15 for adults.
A sinister con man, Roat (August Gideon), and two ex-convicts, Mike (Joe Cotton) and Carlino (Lexi Knight), are about to meet their match. They have traced the location of a mysterious doll, which they are much interested in, to the Greenwich Village apartment of Sam Hendrix (James Melton) and his blind wife, Susy (Katie Blessing).
Sam apparently had been persuaded to transport the doll across the Canadian border, not knowing several grams of heroin were sewn inside.
When the woman is murdered the situation becomes more urgent. The con man and his ex-convicts, through a cleverly constructed deception, convince Susy that the police (Fred Lutz, Chasity Price) have implicated Sam in the woman’s murder,
and the doll, which she believes is the key to his innocence, is evidence. She refuses to reveal its location, and with the help of a young neighbor (Emma Pruitt), figures out she is the victim of a bizarre charade. When Roat kills his associates, though, a deadly
game of cat and mouse ensues between the two. Susy knows the only way to play fair is by her rules, so when darkness falls she turns off all the lights leaving both of them to maneuver in the dark until the game ends.
Join us at The Lyric for Wait Until Dark, September 29–30 and October 1 at 7:00PM, October 2 at 2:00PM #LiveAtTheLyric. Tickets on sale NOW!
To eliminate ticketing and card processing fees
become an OAC Member at Join.TheLyric.org!
Meet the Cast!
My name is Chasity Price and I’m excited to do this play…one thing that the people need to know is that I have autism and I have a love for theatre. Here’s to a good show!
Police woman #2 is the type of cop that is not afraid of anything and she doesn’t care who did what and as long as the killer is put up, every thing is chill.
Fred Lutz is very excited about being in this production. This is his first Lyric experience. Fred has had numerous acting parts but this is the first dark and serious play in which he has been cast. Fred wants to thank his wife Sue for her encouragement.
Policeman 1 is a typical New York policeman that is called out on varied calls to bring calm and restore peace out of chaos. He is taken aback by this call, however, by its darkness and bodies.
I’m Lexi Knight and my world is a stage!—well, since I was 7/8. Acting is my greatest passion and hope to one day see my name in lights! When I am not at home (the Lyric) I am educating and attending to the needs of tiny humans, or at my place of residence watching shows, reading, sewing, or yes blasting showtunes!
Carlino isn’t the sneakiest thief in the night. He is greedy, clusmy, and easily distracted. After all, he is a first grade dropout. He has an interest in photography and also loves food, so the worst thing he will do is raid your fridge, which is probably what got him arrested in the first place!
Joe Cotton says…
“I have been in a few plays, but this is my first non-musical, non-comedy play. Looking forward to my first drama. Acting in the Lyric always brings back good memories. Just remember that the actors are the face of the play, but nothing happens without the backbone of the play, the unseen movers and shakers that make the play happen.
“Mike Talman is your typical con-man, but he makes the unforgivable mistake of developing sympathy for the mark. This is the first film that truly scared the ‘you know what out’ of me that I watched back in the late sixties, at the historic Lyric Theater. Let the suspense begin!”
Today’s “Meet the Cast” is a special one. This person stepped into a role about two and a half weeks prior to opening night. He’s had less than half the amount of time to become his character than the rest of the cast, and we think he’s doing spectacularly! Meet James Ian Melton, playing the role of Sam Hendrix.
A Harrison resident all my life, I have participated in Theatre Company productions doing a variety of roles since I was about 14. My acting work experience was playing “Howard,” the Haint of Mutton Hollow, for about 16 years at Shepherd of the Hills, Branson, Missouri. After not doing acting for several years, I’m trying to get back into it.
Sam Hendrix is a loving husband, who married Susy after an accident had taken her eyesight. He is a perfectionist and a photographer, who wants to see the best in himself and everyone around him. When returning from a photography trip, a woman at the airport asks Sam to hold a doll, that he didn’t know was full of heroin, and she would get it from him later—which leads to other sinister activities.
Emma Pruitt says…
“I am 12 years old and The Lyric is like a second home to me as I have been doing plays regularly since I was 5. I feel this is my biggest and most important role yet. I am excited and honored to be playing the part of Gloria. My dream, when I grow up, is to be on Broadway! Thank you to the directors and all the other amazing castmates! Here’s to a great show!
Gloria, the little girl upstairs plays a very pivotal role in the play. She is a headstrong, bratty, stubborn, and adventurous child. Although she loves Sam, she and Susy don’t always see eye to eye. Gloria gets them all into a big predicament when she takes a toy doll that doesn’t belong to her.
My name is August Gideon and I currently reside in the Branson area. I have always enjoyed art, especially music, but after accepting my first role in “The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama,” I became addicted to acting. After some encouragement from my friends and family, I decided to branch out to community theater. I am thrilled to be part of this cast and it is a true honor to share the stage with so many talented individuals.
Harry Roat, Jr. is a con man who takes great pleasure in manipulating people. He is a violent mysterious individual who will stop at no end to get what he wants. If you look past the manipulation and the violence you see him for what he really is, an actor who uses his talent for evil.
Kt Blessing is a sixteen-year veteran of the Lyric stage. You may recognize her from past performances as Rizzo (Grease), Philia (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), and Rosencrantz (Hamlet), among many others. Kt would like to thank the amazing cast and directors of Wait Until Dark for all their hard work, and would like to thank her family and friends for all their support during this whirlwind production.
Susy Hendrix is newly married and recently blind. She is still learning how to navigate the world in the dark. And in Wait Until Dark, she has to use her wits and resourcefulness to try to outsmart the conmen invading her home.
Freaky Friday, July 1–2 & 8–9 at 7pm, July 3 & 10 at 2pm! #LiveAtTheLyric!
The Theatre Company of the Ozarks and
the Ozark Arts Council Present:
Thursday–Saturday, July 1–2 & 8–9, 7:00PM
Sunday, July 3 & 10, 2:00PM
The Theatre Company of the Ozarks and The Ozark Arts Council present Disney’s Freaky Friday, A New Musical, performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater July 1–2 and July 8–9 at 7:00PM, July 3 and 10 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $8 for children, when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—
$11 for children, $13 for seniors and students, and $15 for adults.
Based on the beloved 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, Freaky Friday, A New Musical hits all the right notes!
Teenager Ellie (Bri Coleman) is…annoyed. Her mother, Katherine (Shawna Cash), is in a frenzy planning her own wedding, her brother Fletcher (Landon Clements) is being his usual irritating, little-brother-self, and her soon-to-be-
stepfather, Mike (Michael Amburn), is just too overbearing. When Ellie wants to go on a scavenger hunt with her friends (Lexi Poor, Emma Bock) instead of attending Katherine’s rehearsal dinner, she and Katherine argue and end up breaking a magical hourglass…which makes them swap bodies. When they realize they need another hourglass to switch back, they rush to find it, as they have just one day to put things right again!
Freaky Friday, a new musical based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, is a heartfelt, comedic, and unexpectedly emotional update on a classic. With a stellar cast of both new and familiar Lyric faces—including Ann Lemley, Bannon Jones, Liani Cash, Jerome Sweatman, McKenna Franks, Candace Lamberts, Delaney Bowie, Courtney Lantis, Becky Poor, Kinder Hinrichs, Marsha Franks, Jacob Howton, Patrick Franks, Julie Davis, and Joe Cotton—you’ll laugh riotously and be sincerely touched
as you see two seemingly opposite people come to appreciate one another’s struggles, learn self-acceptance, and realize the immeasurable love and mutual respect that bond a mother and daughter.
As with any adaptation of a book to a live performance, we suggest a (re-)reading of the book both before and after the performance. We suggest this because it both prolongs the entertainment and makes the experience more enriching. By reading the book before and after, you are able to engage your own imagination of the characters and scenery, etc., or even of the nuances of the plot, then gain insight into the playwright’s imagination 
of the same, and then deepen and broaden your own imagination through the post-performance reading. You may agree or disagree with any playwright’s choices in an adaptation…and, maybe, if you disagree enough, another playwright will have been created!
To read the novel by Mary Rodgers, visit the Boone County Public Library or a library near you…or buy it online. If you follow our links to buy the book, you’ll notice that where ‘www’ normally is, it says ‘smile’, which means you can designate the OAC/Lyric to receive a portion of what you pay for the book (it won’t increase your price or take money away from creators or producers of a product, but comes out of Amazon’s profit).
Join us at The Lyric for Disney’s Freaky Friday, A New Musical, July 1–2 and July 8–9 at 7:00PM, July 3 and 10 at 2:00PM #LiveAtTheLyric. Tickets are available now here at TheLyric.org by clicking any “Get Tickets” link, or calling the OAC office at (870) 391-3504 (please leave a detailed message if you get our voicemail).
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, December 2–4 at 7pm, December 5 at 2pm Live At the #HHSPAC!
The Harrison High School
Theatre Department,
ITS Troupe 2715,
and the
Ozark Arts Council
present:
The Best
Christmas Pageant
Ever!
Thursday–Saturday, December 2–4, 7:00PM
Sunday, December 5, 2:00PM
Harrison High School Theatre Department presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the HHS PAC on December 2, 3, 4 at 7:00pm and December 5 at 2:00pm. Tickets are available through HHSPAC.org with Advance Tickets priced at $8 children, $10 seniors, $12 adults. Ticket prices at the door will be $11 children, $13 seniors, $15 adults. All performances will be held at the Harrison High School Performing Arts Center (HHS PAC).
Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is speeding merrily closer! What better way to get in the holiday mood than by going to a performance of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever?
In this hilarious Christmas classic, a mother (Faith Nix) struggles to put on a church Christmas pageant with her husband’s (Joseph Claus) help, but is faced with casting the Herdman kids—probably the most inventively awful kids in history (Cookie Simpson, Jude Bilbee, Donovan Walters, Rilee Young, Lily Brockelman, Addie Jones), as well as wrangling her own unenthusiastic children Beth (Lilly Mangrum) and Charlie (Zachary Jimerson) into assisting.
When you add an unwilling menagerie of kids of all ages into the mix (Ricky Bates, Brinkley Brewer, Maci Bright, Mysteri Cotton, Liam Dupre, Victoria Hudson, Caden Lambert, Ethan Rouse), as well as some nosy busybodies who can’t wait to see it all crash and burn (Mandy Prpich, Jennafer Wilson, Iria Delgado, Camron Edwards, Laken Steiner, Elijah Ford), you’re in for one wild sleigh ride! You won’t believe the mayhem—and the fun—when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on!
This delightful comedy is adapted from the best-selling Young Adult book by Barbara Robinson, and will certainly put you in the mood to sing a carol, drink some hot chocolate, and pull your loved ones in close.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will be performed at the HHS PAC on December 2, 3, 4 at 7:00pm, December 5 at 2:00pm. Tickets available at HHSPAC.org and TheLyric.org (please note: all performances of this play will be at the HHS PAC; the ticket selection page will indicate accessible seating options).
Donations are also being accepted for Children’s Charity Ministry at each performance. If you would like to donate, please bring your donations to the play and put them in front of the tree at the entrance to the PAC.
The following are the items we need donated; please stick to this list, as it is what CCM is equipped to use:
- Single-serve mac and cheese
- Single-serve cereal
- Single-serve oatmeal
- Fruit/applesauce/jello/pudding cups
- Granola bars
- Beanie weenies
- Vienna sausage
- Ramen noodles
- Snack cracker packs
- Pull-tab Chef Boyardee pasta
- Pull-tab soups
Hey, Herdmans…it’s a BOOK, too!
As with any adaptation of a book to a live performance—and our season is full of them this year!—we suggest a (re-) reading of the book both before and after the performance. 
We suggest this because it both prolongs the entertainment and makes the experience more enriching. By reading the book before and after, you are able to engage your own imagination of the characters and scenery, etc., or even of the nuances of the plot, then gain insight into the playwright’s imagination of the same, and then deepen and broaden your own imagination through the post-performance reading. You may agree or disagree with any playwright’s choices in an adaptation…and, maybe, if you disagree enough, another playwright will have been created!
To read Barbara Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (and the other two volumes of her series with the Herdman kids!), visit the Boone County Public Library or a library near you…or buy it online for under $6! A version to read on tablets (or with the Kindle app for Chromebooks and MacOS, Windows, and Linux computers) is available for FREE in the same place! If you follow our links to buy the book, you’ll notice that where ‘www’ normally is, it says ‘smile’, which means you can designate the OAC/Lyric to receive a portion of what you pay for the book (it won’t increase your price or take money away from creators or producers of a product, but comes out of Amazon’s profit).
Join us at The Harrison High School Performing Arts Center for a literary classic brought to life! Tickets for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, December 2–5 Live At The #HHSPAC, are available now through HHSPAC.org or here at TheLyric.org by clicking any “Get Tickets” link, or calling the OAC office at (870) 391-3504 (please leave a detailed message if you get our voicemail).
