2024 Season: Homecoming

A Christmas Carol
Adapted by Jaclyn June Johnson

November 29- December 22
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A Christmas Carol rounds out our 2024 season with a holiday favorite which Festival Theatre audiences are sure to enjoy. Festival Theatre beloved alumni artist Jaclyn June Johnson adapts a new stage script from the Charles Dickens novel. Celebrate the holidays and warm the heart with the classic story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, a Christmas haunting, and what truly matters in life.

​Location: The Historic Auditorium of St. Croix Falls

A Christmas Carol is sponsored by Xcel Energy

Heck
An original musical comedy by Kathryn Cesarz and Jesse March

​October 11th-27th
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'Heck' is an original sacrilicious musical comedy featuring the Devil herself and her hilarious emotional support demon Belpho, as they put on a show to deal with the on-again off-again relationship with Her-Ex. With a dazzling mix of original music, puppetry, and magic, this laugh-out-loud world premiere by award-winning playwright and physical comedians Kathryn Cesarz and Jesse March will light up the stage this October. Don't miss out on a devilishly good time!

The Spitfire Grill
A Musical by Fred Alley and James Valq

Festival Theatre will return to it's home in The Historic Auditorium of St. Croix Falls with 'The Spitfire Grill'. Based on the hit 1996 film, The Spitfire Grill is a heartwarming and inspirational musical tale of redemption, perseverance and family. A troubled young parolee yearning for a fresh start follows her dreams to Wisconsin, based on a page from an old travel book, only to find a small town with a gritty heart aching with longing and regret. Unexpectedly discovering the healing power of community while working at the Spitfire Grill, Percy reawakens the entire town’s capacity for rebirth, forgiveness and hope. See The Spitfire Grill at Festival Theatre this August.

August 8th- September 1st
Location: The Historic Auditorium of St. Croix Falls

​​The Wolves
By Sarah DeLappe
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CRITIC'S PICK! “The scary, exhilarating brightness of raw adolescence emanates from every scene of this uncannily assured first play by Sarah DeLappe.” – The New York Times

Left quad. Right quad. Lunge. A girls indoor soccer team warms up. From the safety of their suburban stretch circle, the team navigates big questions and wages tiny battles with all the vim and vigor of a pack of adolescent warriors. A portrait of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for nine American girls who just want to score some goals. 

July 11th-14th
A Staged Reading

*Suggested for ages 17+

Men On Boats
By Jacklyn Backhaus

Ten explorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon.

​Men On Boats is the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and a crew of insane yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River. The tale was taken straight from the real journal entries of Powell and re-adapted by Jaclyn Backhaus into this three act adventure story. It’s a highly physical, high energy piece which features an ensemble cast of larger-than-life American Frontiersmen. And, all of the characters are played by women.This thrilling and widely acclaimed new play by Jaclyn Backhaus graces SCF’s stage this June and July.

June 22nd- July 7th
​Main Stage Series

​A Red Herring
Cahoot?! Physical Theatre, based in Minneapolis, presents A Red Herring. This detective noir style shadow puppetry show takes place in the sprawling metropolis of Triton City, where private detective “Salty” Sloane McNulty encounters Dr. Finneas Plunc, But when lead scientist of the Triton City Aquarium and Research Center. Dr. Plunc’s urgent plea to help him track down a stolen experiment puts Detective McNulty on one last case.

Taking place throughout Triton City with the help of shadow puppetry and an overhead projector, A Red Herring is performed in the style of a film noir brought to life off the screen. Explore the sewers, dance with sharks, follow the clues, and join the chase to discover what really happened in the case of the stolen Crimson Clupeidae.

​A Red Herring utilizes flashlights, shadow puppetry, and an old school overhead projector to transform the space into a variety of locations throughout Triton City.

Audience: 11+
April 12th-21st
Youth and Family Series

CommedAI
CommedAI captures the excitement and spontaneity of an improv show performed by gut-bustingly funny masters of physical comedy. CommedAI promises to be a night full of chaos and merriment.

This wild, hilarious show is best described as the improv version of a live action cartoon. Think Looney Tunes, The Muppets, SpongeBob and South Park. With dynamic performances by our masked actors and an improvised script generated by ChatGPT, each show of CommedAI will be a completely different adventure!

The Audience are encouraged to come early, enjoy an excellent hospitality experience in our cafe, and have the opportunity to learn a little about the masks and forms of traditional Commedia Dell'arte.

This show includes language and mature themes, which may not be suitable for all ages.

March 15th-March 30th
Next Stage Series