Newsletter

December 2025

The holiday season is upon us, and we’re excited to bring you our December newsletter
— your backstage pass to all the festive happenings at Stages Theatre Company!

Community updates

📺 Stages Theatre Takes to the Screen!

You may have been seeing more of Stages Theatre Company off the stage and on your screens! On November 29, STC Artistic Director Sandy Boren-Barrett and Henry Halverson (Buddy the Elf in Elf the Musical JR.) joined Leah Beno on the Fox 9 Morning Show to share a preview of our exciting upcoming season.

And just yesterday, we were featured on KARE 11’s Toys for Tots segment, where we delivered the incredible toy donations we’ve received so far. Thank you to everyone who has helped us spread holiday cheer both onstage and in our community!

See The KARE 11 Clip

💐 MIddle School Magic in A Midsummer Night's Dreams

When: December 5th and 6th at 7 PM, December 7th at 2 PM
Where: FAIR School Crystal

“Beneath the laughs, love drives every decision—sometimes questionable, sometimes petty—but always worth it,” says director Bre’Elle Erickson-Chycota. The talented middle school cast is having a blast bringing Shakespeare’s most whimsical comedy to life, full of faeries, magic, and hilarious chaos. Four young Athenians flee to the forest—Hermia and Lysander to be together, Demetrius pursuing Hermia, and Helena chasing Demetrius—while Puck’s mischievous antics and Oberon’s tricks create a whirlwind of comedic confusion.

Meanwhile, Nick Bottom and the “rude mechanicals,” a group of tradesmen, rehearse a play of their own, giving the cast even more opportunities to showcase their humor, timing, and energy. Between mistaken identities, jokes, and love potions, our middle schoolers are thriving in every role, both onstage and behind the scenes, learning, laughing, and creating unforgettable theatre moments.

Bre’Elle reflects, “Whether it’s familial love, romantic love, or the love between friends putting on a play in the forest, we fight for love because it makes us feel alive, seen, and like we belong.” This production celebrates the joy, creativity, and talent of our middle school performers, proving that even in chaos, love—and theatre—is worth every moment.

✨ Looking ahead: FAIR School Crystal will also be presenting Newsies JR in the spring, creating more chances for our amazing middle school performers to shine!

Education Updates

🎭 Mark Your Calendars!

 Summer Theatre Workshop 2026 Goes on Sale January 23 at 10AM

Get ready – Summer Theatre Workshop is back with creative adventures for ages 3–6 and skill-building theatre intensives for grades 1–6! From silly story explorations and fairytale quests to K-Pop, Disney Channel hits, Broadway blockbusters, and behind-the-scenes design, there’s a workshop for every young performer. Each week ends with a special sharing for families.

But the fun begins even sooner!

🌷 Spring Break Workshops at Minnesota Children’s Museum Registration is now open!

Spend Spring Break with Stages Theatre Company at the Minnesota Children’s Museum! For grades K–2, students will create characters, solve dramatic mysteries, and explore the museum’s playful exhibits while using their “Actor Tools”—body, voice, imagination. Families are invited to a sharing on the final day.

Spring Break Dates:

  • Dramatic Mysteries at the Museum – March 23–27, 2026
  • Dramatic Mysteries at the Museum – March 30–April 3, 2026
     Location: Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul

Register now for a spring break at the museum and be ready to grab your Summer Workshop spot on January 23 at 10AM!

Learn More

Monthly Feature

🎉 A Major Milestone: $150,000 from the Best Buy foundation!

We’re thrilled to announce that Best Buy has awarded Stages Theatre Company $150,000 in support of our Next Generation Campaign! This gift brings us closer to securing and renovating a new Second Stage space — an adaptable home for early‑childhood classes, hands-on learning, internships, and Theatre for the Very Young performances.

The Next Generation Campaign is our bold initiative to raise $2.5 million to expand Stages’ programs, productions, and community outreach. With this funding, we aim to provide more inclusive arts education, create richer storytelling experiences, and increase access for all young people. Key goals include enhancing artistic excellence, growing educational and mentorship programs, upgrading production capabilities, and expanding accessibility through scholarships and inclusive initiatives.

Thanks to this support, we’ll be able to offer more classes, workshops, and performances while giving young artists behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn and grow. We’re deeply grateful to Best Buy and all our supporters for helping us build a brighter, more inclusive future for the next generation of storytellers.

Make a tax deductible donation today

Photos by Amy Rondeau Photography.

Past Newsletters