Media release from the Rome Little Theatre:
The Rome Little Theatre (RLT) Board of Directors are excited to share production plans for Rome Little Theatre’s 2026-2027 Season. While our home, the DeSoto Theatre, temporarily closes its doors to undergo an exciting renovation beginning this spring, RLT presents a three-show season on two stages, a special offering, and continued programming.
Renovation Plans
As a part of the Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation’s (HDTF) continued commitment to enhance the property, renovations are planned to take place from May 2026-March 2027. Renovations to the Proscenium (the wall that holds the curtain and separates the front of the stage from the back) will begin in May of 2026 and continue through the summer. After that, extensive renovations will begin backstage. These plans include enhanced dressing rooms, storage and rehearsal rooms, updated electric, heating and air backstage, new restrooms, a loading door, and ADA accessible entrances. With these improved facilities, RLT will continue to heighten the quality of our productions and the experience of our volunteers.
Summer Academy
First United Methodist Church is generously hosting RLT’s annual theatre summer academy at the Wilder Center, where students entering 2nd grade through 12th grade will learn musical theatre vocal technique, choreography, scene, character study, and improvisation and creative dramatics, culminating in a showcase performance. Summer Academy will run July 6-17, 2026 and sign ups are now open. Get more information at ttps://www.romelittletheatre.com/academy.
Season Package
The season will begin this August with “Matilda the Musical” (August 28-30, 2026) at the Rome City Auditorium. Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. Unloved by her cruel parents, Matilda impresses her schoolteacher, Miss Honey, with her extraordinary personality. But the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and loves to punish those who don’t abide by her rules. Matilda’s courage and cleverness could be the pupils’ saving grace! Matilda The Musical is a captivating masterpiece that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination, and the story of a girl who dreams of a better life. Auditions for this multigenerational musical open June 2026 to actors of all ages.
Completion of the project at large is slated for Spring 2027. At that time, RLT will celebrate its return to the DeSoto stage with Come From Away April 30-May 9, 2027. Broadway’s COME FROM AWAY is a Best Musical winner all across North America! This New York Times Critics’ Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.
Finally, the season will continue through Summer of 2027 with Always A Bridesmaid, June 11-20, 2027, also at the Historic DeSoto Theatre. In this hilarious comedic romp, four friends have sworn to keep the promise they made on the night of their senior prom: to be in each other’s weddings – no matter what. More than 30 years later, these Southern friends-for-life are still making “the long walk” for each other, determined to honor that vow.
Season Tickets will be available to renew starting Tuesday, May 26., 2026
Special Offerings and Additional Programming
Once renovations to just the Proscenium are completed, RLT has the opportunity to return to the DeSoto stage in a limited capacity with “The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Shadow Cast” on October 23 and 24, 2026. This production will not extend backstage, as renovations are set to begin behind the scenes, but will feature many of the same actors and crew from years past.
Additionally, RLT will continue to offer our regular programming. “Playspace”, a monthly table-read series, welcomes new faces, seasoned actors, and everyone in between to read parts of a script, connect with fellow theatre enthusiasts, and dive into a variety of plays. “Lights Up!”, a theatre education program, features a variety of workshops that cover audition preparation, musical theatre experience, character development, script analysis, vocal expression, light and sound engineering, and much more.
With any large renovation project in a historic building, there are going to be unforeseen occurrences that may change our plans. Each team on this project will diligently work towards our completion date of March 2027, and any changes to that timeline will be communicated to our valued patrons, season ticket holders, and donors to the best of our ability. To remain up to date on our plans and renovation progress, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Rome Little Theatre thanks you in advance for your patience and flexibility during these exciting and necessary renovations. We look forward to celebrating our official, full return to the DeSoto Theatre with you in Spring of 2027. In the meantime, we will remain dedicated to our mission: to enrich our community through theatre that has defied expectation and engaged hearts and minds since 1933.
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