Season tickets are on sale for Hillcrest High’s 2025-26 season, featuring a lineup of productions, “Wendy & Peter Pan,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Season and individual ticket information, including seat selection, is available online at HillcrestTheatre.com. 

In addition to the main productions, Hillcrest’s award-winning theatre department also will perform “Amadeus,” a nonseason ticket event, although priority seat selection will be available for season ticket holders.

The program continues to earn acclaim for its work. This summer, Hillcrest was honored as the 2025 Best of State in Theatrical Education as well as Best of State in the Overall Field of Education. 

Last year, the school claimed its fifth straight sweepstakes title and 11th overall win at the 49th annual National Shakespeare Competition. As of press time, students were rehearsing a compilation of “Macbeth” for this year’s contest.

“This is their favorite part of the year,” said Michelle Abbott, Hillcrest’s student and director support and costume designer. “They love being immersed in theatre and having the camaraderie of a team — and getting feedback from judges they can apply to their skills throughout the year.”

While preparing for Shakespeare, students also were in rehearsals for “Wendy & Peter Pan,” the season’s opening production. With about 170 students, the show will be performed at 7 p.m., Nov. 13-15 and again on Nov. 17 on Hillcrest’s stage, 7350 S. 900 East.

“This script breathes new life into the well-known story as it comes from Wendy’s viewpoint,” Abbott said. “The Royal Shakespeare Company performed it in 2015, and while it’s a story we know and love, there are new elements of surprise.”

She added the audience can “expect magic in Neverland in a way they haven’t seen before.”

Next up is “The Phantom of the Opera,” set for 7 p.m., Feb. 19-21 and again on Feb. 23, 2026.

“This is an opportunity to reach past what students think they’re capable of,” she said. “It’s vocally challenging and it will give our tech crew some creative staging opportunities. It will also give our dancers a chance to perform ballet.”

Hillcrest’s Production Company will present “Amadeus” in March, both as a public performance and as their one-act entry for region and state competition. Performances will be held in the school’s Black Box Theatre at 7 p.m., March 20-21 and again, March 26-27, 2026. 

Wrapping up the season is “Singin’ in the Rain,” which will be at 7 p.m., May 14-16, 2026.

“Everyone asks and wants to know — yes, it will rain on stage; we’re still deciding how to execute it,” Abbott said. 

A new addition to the program this year is Hillcrest’s 15-member student costume team.

“We’re being true to the Victorian-era costumes, but we’re taking some liberties with ‘Amadeus,’ basing them on impressions of the time period,” she said. 

Students meet after school or on Saturdays to research costumes as well as to measure, cut and sew.

“They’re learning skills, exercising creativity, working within a budget and having opportunities to learn more about this aspect of theatre,” Abbott said.

Parent volunteers also play a vital role, helping with costuming, concessions, fundraising, sets, props, cast meals and more.

“It takes a community to help put on the shows for our community,” Abbott said.