A scene from The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the Center Stage Theatre. Image from the Center Stage Theatre.

By Dirk Langeveld

SHELTON — Center Stage Theatre has announced its lineup of mainstage performances for next year, with several adaptations of family-friendly works in the lineup.

The theater’s 2027 season will run from March 5th to November 7th and include five shows. The lineup consists of two plays and three musicals.

“Each year, we carefully curate a thoughtful, well-rounded roster of shows that is attractive to patrons of all ages and interests,” said Carla Sullivan, managing director at the Center Stage Theatre.  “I’m thrilled to finally share our 2027 offerings with titles that I’m confident will excite new and returning patrons and meet our mission of excellence in theater and performing arts education.”

The series includes:

  • Disney’s The Little Mermaid (March 5-21, 2027): A stage adaptation of the 1989 Disney film, which itself was an adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale, this story follows a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel as she longs to leave her undersea kingdom for the surface world. The play offers opportunities for dazzling sets and costumes, and features classic songs from the film.
  • The Drowsy Chaperone (April 23 to May 2, 2027): A Tony Award-winning musical farce, this story begins when a man plays his favorite musical record and suddenly finds the characters coming to life around him. A loving sendup of the Golden Age of musicals, the show pokes fun at the various tropes that define the genre.
  • Puffs (or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic) (June 4-13, 2027): This play offers a new look on the events of the Harry Potter series, from the perspective of three members of the underappreciated Hufflepuff house. The inventive romp follows the gang of would-be heroes as they try to complete their studies at the increasingly dangerous school environment offered by Hogwarts.
  • Bring It On: The Musical (July 23 to Aug. 8, 2027): Featuring a cast of youthful actors between the ages of 14 and 23, this musical follows the cutthroat world of competitive cheerleading and high school rivalries. Inspired by the hit film, the show features an original story and music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
  • The Addams Family Musical (Oct. 29 to Nov. 7): The 2027 season concludes with a lyrical take on the creepy and kooky family. The story follows the Addams clan as they cope with the challenges of their children reaching adulthood, particularly daughter Wednesday’s unthinkable decision to marry a normal lad from Ohio.

“Our education center performances and offerings are a key piece of our annual calendar at Center Stage Theatre,” added Sullivan.  “We look forward to sharing our 2027 plans for our young performances in the coming weeks, but I promise we have some recognizable titles and exciting plans to share very soon!”

Adult and student subscriptions for the entire 2027 season will be available online and at the Center Stage Theatre box office in November. Tickets for single performances become available one month before opening night, with group nights available.

The Center Stage Theatre is a community-based nonprofit theater with a mission of inspiring learning, creativity, and belonging for people of all ages and backgrounds. The theater, which welcomes actors from Fairfield and New Haven Counties, puts on five shows annually and will celebrate its 22nd season in 2027.

For more information, visit www.centerstageshelton.org.

Expanded coverage of Fairfield County cultural events is made possible with support from the Fairfield University Quick Center for the Arts

Dirk Langeveld

Dirk Langeveld has worked as a news reporter, content marketing specialist, and freelance writer. He is the author of “The Artful Dodger: The 20-Year Pursuit of World War I Draft Dodger Grover Cleveland Bergdoll” and has contributed to several books on Connecticut history.