Photo: Charlie Baglan

Our Seasons

Two Stages and Countless Stories.

At Shelby County Community Theatre in Shelbyville, Kentucky, our season is divided into two distinct series, each offering a unique way to experience the magic of live theatre. From large-scale musicals with show-stopping dance breaks to up-close storytelling in intimate black box performances, there’s something for every theatre lover to enjoy.

Mainstage Season
Full-Scale Plays and Musicals near Louisville

Presented in our versatile and tight-knit theatre, the Mainstage Season features full-length plays and beloved musicals that blend theatrical tradition with bold storytelling. These high-quality live theatre performances showcase talented local actors, professional-level production values, and engaging stories that keep audiences coming back for more. Expect a lineup of classic favorites and contemporary hits that reflect the vibrancy of our arts community.

Upstairs at 801
Innovative Live Theatre in Shelbyville

Often immersive, sometimes experimental, and always thought-provoking, the Upstairs at 801 series unfolds in our second-floor performance space. The transformed venue — former pool hall and car shop — now offers an intimate theatre experience like no other. With a focus on smaller casts, thought-provoking themes, and emotionally rich narratives, these black box productions spotlight the power of up-close storytelling and bold artistic vision.

Explore our full season lineup below and join us for a year of theatre that entertains, challenges, and inspires. Whether you're a longtime supporter or new to the stage, Shelby County Community Theatre welcomes you.

2025-2026 Mainstage Season

  • Fiddler on the Roof

    July 31–August 10, 2025

    “Fiddler on the Roof” is a Tony Award-winning musical play set in Anatevka, a small Jewish village in Czarist Russia in the early 20th century. The story centers on Tevye, a milkman, and his five daughters as they navigate tradition, love, and changing social mores in a world facing growing anti-Semitism. 

    Tickets are available now for Flex Pass holders and on July 10, 2025 for the general public.

    Directed by Courtney Sturgill and Chase Noffsinger

  • The Lion in Winter

    September 19–28, 2025

    It’s Christmas 1183, and King Henry II is planning to announce his successor to the throne. The jockeying for the crown, though, is complex. Henry has three sons and wants his boy, Prince John, to take over. Henry’s wife, Queen Eleanor, has other ideas. She believes their son, Prince Richard, should be King. As the family and various schemers gather for the holiday, each tries to make the indecisive King choose his or her option.

    Tickets are available now for Flex Pass holders and on August 29, 2025 for the general public.

    Directed by Clint Gill

  • White Christmas

    December 4–14, 2025

    White Christmas is a musical based on the Paramount Pictures 1954 film of the same name. It revolves around two buddies, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis. After World War II, they become a popular song-and-dance duo and they decide to help their former commanding general by putting on a show at his struggling Vermont inn. Along the way, they meet two talented sisters, Betty and Judy Haynes, and love blossoms during the holiday season. White Christmas is a festive celebration of romance, friendship and the magic of Christmas.

    Tickets are available now for Flex Pass holders and on November 13, 2025 for the general public.

    Directed by Jennifer Starr

  • Peter Pan (Youth Production)

    March 5–15, 2026

    This superb adaptation captures all the magic and charm of everyone’s favorite story. The Darling children love to hear of Peter Pan’s adventures during his visits through the open window of the nursery. Then one night, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell whisk the children off to Neverland to be part of the adventures. This youth production is performed by actors aged 8-14.

    Tickets are available now for Flex Pass holders and on February 12, 2026 for the general public.

    Directed by Emily Kees

  • The Man Who Came To Dinner

    May 8–17, 2026

    Lecturer Sheridan Whiteside slips on the ice on his way into the home of a prominent Ohio family. The local doctor says Whiteside must remain confined, having broken his leg. He begins to meddle with the lives of everyone and gains control of the household.

    Tickets are available now for Flex Pass holders and on April 17, 2026 for the general public.

    Directed by Clint Gill

2025-2026 Upstairs at 801 Season

  • Murder by Poe

    October 24–November 2, 2025

    Murder by Poe is a theatrical reimagining of some of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous tales of terror. It's a dark and dreadful night. A woman in white is lost in the woods, and the only shelter is a house full of murderers and characters from Poe's classic works. As each haunted figure tells a story of crime and mayhem, the woman must solve the puzzle of the house and the riddle of the man who ushers her into its mysteries.

    Tickets are available now for Flex Pass holders and on October 3, 2025 for the general public.

    Directed by Nathan Milliner

  • John Lennon and Me

    January 30–February 8, 2026

    John Lennon and Me is a play centered around Star, a teenage cystic fibrosis patient and Beatles fan who is admitted to a residence for youth with chronic illnesses. The play explores themes of life, death, power, first loves, and Star's journey of self-discovery as she confronts her fate through imagination and therapy. This youth production is performed by actors aged 12-17.

    Tickets are available now for Flex Pass holders and on January 9, 2026 for the general public.

    Directed by Michael Troy Shell

  • Uncle Vanya

    April 10–19, 2026

    Uncle Vanya, written by renowned Russian playwright Anton Chekhov in 1899, is a masterpiece of modern drama. Set in a rural Russian estate, the play follows a group of characters as they grapple with their feelings of dissatisfaction and unfulfilled dreams. Through the use of masterful dialogue and subtle humor, Chekhov showcases the human condition in all its complexity.

    Tickets are available now for Flex Pass holders and on March 20, 2026 for the general public.

    Directed by Dr. Jack Wann