Special to IFN
Theatre Statesville announced the performances planned for the 2026-2026 season on Tuesday, promising a bold and diverse lineup filled with comedy, drama, holiday magic, and music.
Mark your calendars and get ready to join us for another unforgettable year at the theatre!
Here’s the lineup:
‘Mississippi Queens – A Southern Comedy’
Written and directed by Dalton Isaac
Show Dates: September 19-21 & 25-28, 2025
Details: We’re kicking off our new season with a brand new southern comedy, Mississippi Queens. Welcome to Bellewood, Mississippi—where the sweet tea flows, the gossip’s juicier than a Georgia peach, and the town is one pothole away from disappearing off the map. Faced with dwindling businesses, empty streets, and the threat of being annexed by their snobby neighboring town, the spirited women of Bellewood refuse to go down without a fight. Their plan? Rally together and bring the sass, soul, and spice to the annual Taste of Mississippi festival. From bake-offs and beauty pageants, to cookie mishaps and bold schemes to attract a documentary film crew, these southern belles-turned- dancing queens serve up heart, hilarity, and a whole lot of homemade charm. With big personalities, big dreams, and even bigger hair, Mississippi Queens is a laugh-out-loud celebration of resilience, friendship, and the kind of southern spirit you can’t bottle. Don’t miss this new southern comedy—it’s bold, brassy, and guaranteed to tickle your funny bone!
Auditions: Auditions for Mississippi Queens are set for 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, and Monday, July 28, at New Salem United Methodist Church, located at 155 New Salem Road in Statesville. Actors will be seen in the order they arrive. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. The cast consists of five middle aged women, one college-aged teenage female and one middle-aged male. All roles are available. More information available on the Theatre Statesville Facebook page.
‘The Smell of the Kill’
By Michele Lowe
Show Dates: October 16-18 & 23-25, 2025
Details: Take three delicious, malicious wives, add three miserable, unloving husbands—and chill. That’s the recipe of Michele Lowe’s tantalizing new comedy that has audiences cheering. The Smell of the Kill revolves around three wives- Nicky, Debra and Molly who have tolerated one another during once-a-month dinners for years. While their unseen spouses play golf in the dining room, the women exchange confidences for the first time revealing that all three marriages are on the brink of disaster and all three women are facing similar challenges in their lives. When the men mistakenly lock themselves in a basement meat locker, the women are faced with a life-or-death decision—should they leave the men out in the cold—permanently—or let them thaw? One by one the women make their choices with more than a little help from one another.
‘A Christmas Carol Walking Tour’
Based on the book by Charles Dickens
Show Dates: December 5-6, 11-13, & 18-20, 2025
Details: Back by popular demand is the return of our highly anticipated holiday show: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol – Walking Tour! Join us this season as the timeless tale comes to life in an immersive experience through Downtown Statesville, with scenes unfolding at multiple locations throughout the area. It’s a unique and magical way to experience the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the Ghosts of Christmas, and the true spirit of the season. You won’t want to miss this unforgettable holiday experience!
‘I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change’
By Joe DiPietro, music by Jimmy Roberts
Show Dates: February 13-15 & 19-22, 2026
Details: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, this hilarious musical revue celebrates moments from awkward first dates to bittersweet anniversaries. I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is the second longest running off-Broadway musical. It unfurls in a series of short sketches linked by catchy songs and laugh-out-loud scenarios. It’s a celebration of love in all its perfectly imperfect forms. Whether you’re single, coupled, or somewhere in between, this show is sure to have you nodding along and laughing out loud. Don’t miss this lighthearted and charming theatrical treat!
‘Twelfth Night’
By William Shakespeare
Show Dates: April 30-May 2 & May 7-9, 2026
Details: This comedic classic about unrequited love and mistaken identity is a hilarious story of gender confusion, in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves. Twelfth Night is a fast-paced romantic comedy with interwoven plots of romance, mistaken identities, and practical jokes you won’t want to miss!
‘Disney’s Descendants The Musical’
By Nick Blaemire, music by Madeline Smith
Show Dates: June 19-21 & 25-28, 2026
Details: Based on the popular Disney Channel Original Movies, Disney’s Descendants: The Musical is a brand-new musical jam-packed with comedy, adventure, Disney characters, and hit songs from the films! Imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost – home of the most infamous villains who ever lived – the teenaged children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella De Vil have never ventured off the island… until now. When the four troublemakers are sent to attend prep school alongside the children of beloved Disney heroes, they have a difficult choice to make: should they follow in their parents’ wicked footsteps or learn to be good? Disney’s Descendants the Musical will feature a cast of both youth and adult performers.
About Theatre Statesville
Theatre Statesville is a volunteer-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that exists to offer quality live theatre, provide lifelong learning opportunities, and foster creative expression throughout the community. The mission of Theatre Statesville is to create opportunities for community involvement through enriching theatrical experiences. Our focus is on quality, inclusion, and theatre arts education. Theatre Statesville strongly encourages and welcomes performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, shapes, and sizes as well as actors with varying abilities to audition. No prior experience is necessary. Theatre Statesville is largely dependent on the generous support of sponsors. Season and show sponsorships are currently available. Contact info@theatrestatesville.com to learn about sponsorship opportunities. To learn more about Theatre Statesville, follow Theatre Statesville on Facebook or go to
theatrestatesville.com.