Rising Stars 2025
Rising Stars / Freaky Friday the Musical
WED, JUN 25 - FRI, JUN 27, 2025 / 7:30 PM
In the Little Theater
Director & Choreographer / Anne McAlexander
Music Director / Sherri Angelotti
When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again. Disney’s Freaky Friday, a new musical based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, is a hilarious, heartfelt, and contemporary update of an American classic. By spending a day in each other's shoes, Katherine and Ellie come to appreciate one another's struggles, learn self-acceptance, and realize the immeasurable love and mutual respect that bond a mother and daughter.
Book by Bridget Carpenter / Music by Tom Kitt / Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
The 2025 Rising Stars program is sponsored by
2025/26 Season Subscription
Center Stage Theatre Series
Sense & Sensibility
NOV 7–8 & 14–15, 2025 / 7:30 PM
NOV 9 & 16, 2025 / 2 PM
Auditions details available in July!
When tragedy strikes and leaves the Dashwood sisters penniless and socially vulnerable, they must navigate a world in Regency England where love is ruled by wealth and gossip reigns supreme. Practical Elinor and passionate Marianne find themselves caught between romance and heartbreak, decorum and desire, as they struggle to secure their futures in a society that offers women little power over their own lives. Bursting with humor, wit, and bold theatricality, this highly acclaimed adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel brings the timeless story of love, loss, and sisterhood to the stage.
Adapted by Kate Hamill, based on the classic novel by Jane Austen
A Raisin in the Sun
FEB 27–28 & MAR 6–7, 2026 / 7:30 PM
MAR 1 & MAR 8, 2026 / 2 PM
Lorraine Hansberry's timeless drama follows the Younger family as they navigate ambition, hope, and injustice in 1950s Chicago. When a life insurance check arrives, each family member reflects on their dreams of a different future; one that promises freedom, security, or change in their life. As they face systematic barriers and personal struggles, the Younger family must decide what dreams are worth fighting for. A Raisin in the Sun is a powerful and deeply relevant story of resilience.
By Lorraine Hansberry
1776
APR 24–25 & MAY 1–2, 2026 / 7:30 PM
APR 26 & MAY 3, 2026 / 2 PM
It’s the summer of 1776, and the nation is ready to declare independence … if only the founding fathers agree to it! This musical follows John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson as they attempt to convince members of Congress to sign the Declaration of Independence. With humor and a stirring score, the Tony® Award-winning musical presents the frustrations and triumphs of our founding fathers. Presented in partnership with the Midland County Historical Society, and in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States. 1776 brings a fresh look at the people, and the compromises that defined a revolution.
Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards
Book by Peter Stone
A Midsummer Night's Dream
JUN 4 & 12, 2026 / 7:30 PM
JUN 6 & 14, 2026 / 2 PM
Shakespeare’s most enchanting comedy! On the shortest night of the year, runaway lovers, a troupe of amateur actors, and mischievous fairies collide in a magical forest where nothing is quite what it seems. As the rules of logic unravel, four young lovers are swept away in a tangled web of charms, feuds, and moonlit mischief. Whimsical and witty, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a joyful celebration of transformation and the strange spell of love.
By William Shakespeare
Great Lakes Bay Theatre Festival
Join us for the Great Lakes Bay Theatre Festival in June 2026! A Midsummer Night's Dream celebrates an exciting collaboration between Midland Center for the Arts and The Friction Theatre. More information will be announced in Fall 2025.
Tickets for festival performances with The Friction Theatre are not included in a subscription package and will be sold separately.