OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Ocala Civic Theatre has announced a rich and varied lineup for its 2025-26 season, promising mainstage favorites, youth productions and community events aimed at both longtime patrons and new audiences.
The theatre’s mainstage season will feature five major productions, plus the return of a holiday hit. Leading off is Into the Woods (Sept. 11-28), the Stephen Sondheim classic that intertwines familiar fairy tales in darker, more reflective ways. Next up is Arthur Miller’s The Crucible (Oct. 30-Nov. 16), a powerful drama about paranoia, accusation and social hysteria during the Salem witch trials.
By popular demand, A Tuna Christmas (Dec. 3-14) returns for the holiday season in 2025, adding Wednesday evening performances.
After the winter break, Little Shop of Horrors (Jan. 29-Feb. 15) – a campy, darkly comic musical about a nerdy florist and his carnivorous plant – kicks off the new year. In spring, Steel Magnolias (Mar. 12-29) brings the warmth and wit of Southern friendship and community. The season concludes with Children of Eden (April 30-May 17), a sweeping musical inspired by the Book of Genesis, exploring themes of family, faith and forgiveness.
Special events and community-oriented programming round out the season. Among them are Breakneck Twelfth Night on Oct. 17, a one-man Shakespeare whirlwind that condenses the entire comedy into a high-energy, fast-paced performance and Triva Night on Oct. 19, held in the theatre’s Studio A, which supports scholarships and offers entertainment for general audiences. Also featured is the ballet The Nutcracker, presented by the Sheila Ruotolo Dance Company on Dec. 20, a seasonal tradition that appeals to both dance aficionados and families.
The Candlelight Concert series, offering tribute and thematic string-ensemble performances, will also make stops at the theatre. Shows include Coldplay & Imagine Dragons (Oct. 4, Jan. 4, Feb. 21) and Tribute to Queen and The Beatles (Oct. 4 and Jan. 4), Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and More and Rock Favorites on Strings on Nov. 22, Christmas Carols on Strings on Dec. 21 and a Tribute to Adele on Feb. 21. Ticket prices for these events range from approximately $28.50 to $34 depending on the show and seating.
Ticket pricing for mainstage shows reflects a tiered approach by seating section, with adult tickets generally in the $35-$40 range and discounted tickets for those 18 and under.
At the Ocala Civic Theatre celebrates 75 years of performance, education and community engagement, its 2025-26 offerings aim to honor tradition while expanding its reach. With five major mainstage shows and special events throughout the year, theatre goers have much to anticipate.