Theatre Shows in Arlington, VA
Fully staged productions performed by young people, directed by theater professionals — 60 years of shows, and every seat is worth showing up for.
2025/2026 Season
Our full season is sponsored by Amazon and Cindy Kane Photography. Burning Castle LLC is Presenting Sponsor for High School Musical Jr. with additional support from Iverson and Wahab Orthodontics. The season is also supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Arlington Cultural Affairs Division of Arlington Economic Development and Arlington Commission for the Arts.
Coming Soon: The Addams Family
July 17-26, 2026
We're welcoming a new family to Encore. Meet The Addams Family! Wednesday Addams falls in love with a ‘normal’ boy and brings his family home to meet her delightfully eccentric relatives. When the two families come together for one unforgettable dinner, secrets spill, tempers flare, and love works its unexpected magic. Full of humor, kookiness, and heart, this musical celebrates family, acceptance, and embracing the people you call home… even if they’re a little unusual. Recommended for ages 8 and older.
Performance Dates and Showtimes
Friday, July 17, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Sunday, July 19, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Friday, July 24, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Saturday, Jul 25, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Sunday, Jul 26, 2026 at 3:00 pm
ASL Access Performances for 2025/2026 Season:
Our ASL Access is provided by GoodSigns.
- Saturday, July 25, 2pm - The Addams Family
Please email boxoffice@encorestage.org to be seated in our ASL section.
Ticket Add-on Preshow Experiences
Preshow experiences will be announce in August!
2026/2027 Flex Pass Tickets will be on sale August 18!
Enjoy the ultimate flexibility all season long and bring the family for less.
Our Flex Pass is a bank of 10 discounted tickets for any production in the season. Benefits include:
- Savings of 50-60% on tickets
- Ability to make last-minute ticket changes
- Discount on our pre- show experiences for children & families
The flex pass is available for a limited time only, so get it while you can!
Location
Disney's Dare to Dream Jr performances are held at
Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre
125 S. Old Glebe Rd. Arlington, VA 22204
What Makes an Encore Production Different From Other Kids' Shows
Theatre for kids, by kids!
Encore Stage & Studio has staged youth theater productions in Northern Virginia for 60 years. Every production is directed and designed by working theater professionals. Every crew position — lights, sound, costumes, stage management, box office — is filled by a student. The performers are ages 9 through 18, and they bring the kind of commitment you'd expect from a program that has been building this culture for six decades.
If you've never seen a student theater performance at this level, the show will surprise you. That's not a promise we make lightly.
Ticket Prices Designed for Families
Encore keeps ticket pricing accessible because we believe theater should be available to every family in Arlington and Alexandria — not just the ones who can absorb a $40-per-person night out.
Current pricing and availability are listed in the ticketing system above. For families who need additional support, complimentary tickets are available through our access program. No family should miss a show because of cost.
No-Cost Performance for the Kids Onstage, Too
Here's something you won't find at most youth theater programs in Northern Virginia: performing in an Encore production during the school year costs families nothing.
No production fees. No costume deposits. No participation charges. Every student who auditions and is cast participates at no cost — because we believe financial barriers shouldn't decide who gets to perform. This is part of why Encore has served nearly 15,000 children and families per season across the Arlington and Alexandria communities.
If your child wants to be on the other side of the curtain, visit our Opportunities page to learn how to get involved.
What Families Ask About Our Shows
Where can I buy tickets for children's theater shows in Arlington, VA?
Tickets for all Encore Stage & Studio productions are available online through our ticketing system on this page. You can also call us directly if you need help with your order. Shows are performed at our Arlington venue — address and directions are available on the ticketing page.
How much do tickets cost for children's theater in Arlington?
Encore keeps ticket prices deliberately accessible for families. Current pricing for each production is listed in the ticketing system above. Complimentary tickets are available for families who need them — contact us to ask about access tickets before your preferred show date.
Are Encore's shows appropriate for young children?
Age recommendations vary by production and are listed with each show in the ticketing system. Some productions are designed for the full family including young children; others are better suited for elementary-age audiences and up. When in doubt, check the individual show listing or contact us — we are happy to help you choose.
Are children's theater shows near me this weekend in Arlington?
Current show dates, times, and ticket availability are listed in real time in the ticketing system above. Encore performs at our North Arlington venue throughout the school year — check the listing to find the next available performance.
How do I know if a student production will be high quality?
Encore productions are directed by theater professionals and fully staged with sets, lighting, sound, and costumes — the same production standards you'd expect from a professional company. The difference is that every role in the building, onstage and off, is filled by a young person. Sixty years of productions is a reasonable track record to evaluate.
Encore Stage & Studio has produced youth theater in Arlington, VA for 60 years — longer than any other children's theater organization in Northern Virginia. We serve nearly 15,000 children and families per season across Arlington and Alexandria. Every production is free to perform in for cast members during the school year, and every ticket is priced so families can actually come. Learn more about the organization behind the curtain on our About page.