All posts by Chad Hembree

Auditions

A Community Theater

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The Spotlight Playhouse is a community theater at its very heart.  Open auditions are held regularly.

Auditions for The Bluegrass Players Community Theater Troupe. Every show has a recommended age range, which serves more as guidance than a strict rule. Community productions retain only the actors necessary for the performance.

We are also the campus for the Spotlight Acting School. Spotlight Acting School primarily serves students aged 4-18, but it also occasionally presents intergenerational shows. Adult actors volunteering in school productions are not required to pay tuition. The school strives to keep student tuition affordable, with financial aid available. Every student is guaranteed a role. Enrollment is straightforward and can be finalized on the audition day.

Auditions for both groups are hosted on the Spotlight Acting School website and designated by SAS (Spotlight Acting School) or BGP (Bluegrass Players)

Chad Hembree, Executive Director of Spotlight, will gladly answer any questions about joining either group.
chad@spotlightactingschool.com or 859-661-0600

News/Blog

Pay What You Can Performances

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Pay What You Can Performances

The “Pay What You Can” initiative at The Spotlight Playhouse is part of our commitment to making the performing arts accessible to all. These performances allow you to decide the price of your ticket. Whether you use your spare change for an evening of theater or choose to contribute a bit more to help further our cause, every bit counts. Make sure to review the rules below before your visit.

RULES:

  • “Pay What You Can” performances usually take place on Friday evenings for applicable productions.
  • Unsold tickets will be made available online or at the box office two hours before the performance starts, on a first-come-first-served basis.
  • Tickets purchased under the “Pay What You Can” initiative are non-transferable and cannot be resold.
  • All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.

Important Note: Pay What You Can pricing does not apply to dinner theater productions, which require advanced reservations at standard pricing.

Drama, Family-Friendly, Show, The Bluegrass Players

Little Women: Christmas at the March House (DEC 5-13)

Little Women: Christmas at the March House
Presented by: The Bluegrass Players

🎭 PERFORMANCE DATES:
December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 2025

📍 The Spotlight Playhouse
214 Richmond Road, Berea, KY

❄️ Step into the warmth of the March family home this Christmas Eve! Experience the magic of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they gather by the fire with little money but plenty of love. Through heartfelt moments, cherished letters from their father away at war, and acts of kindness that light up the darkest winter night, this original adaptation captures the timeless spirit of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved characters.
From humble beginnings to unexpected blessings, witness the power of sacrifice, sisterhood, and the simple gifts that mean the most. This intimate holiday tale will remind you that the greatest treasures are found in love and family.

✨ Perfect for the whole family! ✨
A heartwarming Christmas tradition begins! 🎄


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Dinner, Show, The Bluegrass Players

The Christmas Showcase 2025: A Merry Mishap (Dinner Theater Experience) (DEC 19-21)

🎄✨ The Christmas Showcase 2025: A Merry Mishap ✨🎄

Presented by: The Bluegrass Players

All seats are ADA Wheelchair accessible.

Theater: The Spotlight Playhouse, Berea, KY

📅 Performance Dates:December 18, 19, 20, 21 (Thursday-Sunday)(Thursday, December 18th available if other performances sell out)
(Do you have the specific performance times for each date?)
Show Description:

Get ready for an unforgettable holiday experience with a twist! The Bluegrass Players are presenting the Christmas Showcase—a musical and variety show featuring all your favorite holiday characters. But when something goes terribly wrong, the show is in jeopardy! The audience must jump in to help solve the mystery, save the performance, and figure out what happened before it’s too late! 🎅🔍

This highly interactive dinner show invites guests to become part of the story as they work together to crack the case while enjoying a traditional Christmas feast. It’s a show within a show that brings new fun and excitement to our traditional Christmas Showcase! With audience participation, holiday surprises, beloved Christmas characters, and plenty of laughs throughout the evening, this all-new production promises to create memories that will last long after the final bow! 🌟🎭

🍽️ Festive Holiday Dinner Menu

Dietary Options Available:

  • Gluten-Free
  • Vegetarian

Target Audience: Perfect for families, holiday parties, and anyone looking for a unique and interactive Christmas celebration with delicious food, festive fun, and mystery-solving excitement!

📞 Reservations & Info:
Call the Box Office at 859-756-0011 or visit TheSpotlightPlayhouse.com


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Family-Friendly, Musical, Show, Spotlight Acting School, Teen Actors

Disney’s My Son Pinocchio JR. (JAN 9-18)

🌟✨ Disney’s My Son Pinocchio Jr. ✨🌟
Presented by Spotlight Acting School
Ages 9-14

🎪 ABOUT THE SHOW:
Step into the enchanting world of Geppetto’s workshop where wooden puppets come to life! Disney’s My Son Pinocchio Jr. is a beloved tale bursting with heart, humor, and unforgettable songs that will have audiences believing in the power of dreams. Follow the mischievous Pinocchio as he learns what it truly means to be “a real boy” with the help of the wise Blue Fairy and his conscience. 🦗💙

From cunning foxes to magical transformations, from Pleasure Island adventures to daring whale escapes, this production sparkles with colorful, whimsical characters and iconic Disney magic. Every performer shines in this heartwarming story about growing up, making mistakes, learning from them, and discovering what really matters. With amazing ensemble moments, beloved songs everyone knows and loves, and that timeless message about bravery, truth, and love, this show promises to create memories that will last a lifetime! 🎭⭐

🎟️ PERFORMANCE DATES:
🔵 Blue Cast: January 9, 10, 11 (Fri-Sun)
🟣 Purple Cast: January 16, 17, 18 (Fri-Sun)

🎯 TARGET AUDIENCE:
Perfect for families with children of all ages who love classic Disney stories and magical theater experiences!

BLUE CAST

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PURPLE CAST

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Adult Actors, Comedy, Family-Friendly, Show, The Bluegrass Players

The Adventure of the Clutching Claw (JAN 9-18)

🎭🔍 The Adventure of the Clutching Claw 🔍🎭
OR What’s the Matter Alma?
Presented by The Bluegrass Players

📅 PERFORMANCE DATES:
January 9-18

🎪 ABOUT THE SHOW:
Step back in time to the late 1890s at Wichita Hillside University, where a mysterious figure known as The Clutching Claw stalks the campus! This classic melodrama by James R. Hurst and Zoe Bell Hurst is packed with suspense, humor, and all the theatrical thrills that make melodrama so delightfully entertaining. Cheer for the hero, boo the villain, and gasp at every dramatic twist and turn! 🎩✨

From the kindly college president Dr. Penrose Playfair to his evil identical twin cousin Fenton Ormondroyd, from the brave hero Dick Bestman to the damsel in distress Genevieve Astor, this production features larger-than-life characters in a story full of intrigue, romance, and mystery. With a brilliant scientist hiding secrets, a sultry chanteuse, a suffragette secretary, and that terrifying Clutching Claw lurking in the shadows, every moment promises edge-of-your-seat excitement! Will good triumph over evil? Will the mystery be solved? Come find out in this thrilling Victorian adventure! 🕵️‍♂️🌟

🎯 TARGET AUDIENCE:
Perfect for families, mystery lovers, and anyone who enjoys classic melodrama with heroes, villains, and plenty of audience participation.


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Adult Actors, Comedy, Family-Friendly, Show, The Bluegrass Players

Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch (JAN 23-31)

🤠 Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch 🔫

or The Perfumed Badge

Presented by: Bluegrass Players

Dates: January 23-25 & January 30-31, 2026

Saddle up for a rip-roaring good time at the Roaring Gulch Hotel! Our hero, Harry Heartstone—a Pinkerton Detective—is in hot pursuit of the villainous outlaw Snipe Vermin. But there’s something awfully familiar about these two desperados… they’re twin brothers!
When a lovely lady sheriff, an evil hotel proprietress, a stage-struck farm boy, a stranded actress, a traveling showman, and his show girls all wind up at the same hotel, chaos ensues. With mistaken identities, dastardly schemes, and plenty of audience participation, you just know there’s going to be a shoot-out before the final curtain! This classic western melodrama is packed with laughs, cheers, and boos for the whole family.

Target Audience: Perfect for families and audiences of all ages who love interactive comedy and classic western fun!


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Action/Adventure, Adult Actors, Dinner, Family-Friendly, Show, The Bluegrass Players

The Tomb – Murder Mystery Dinner Show (FEB 13-15)

🏺💀 The Tomb 💀🏺
A Murder Mystery Dinner Show
Presented by The Bluegrass Players

📅 PERFORMANCE DATES:
February 13, 14, 15, 2026

📍 VENUE:
The Spotlight Playhouse, 214 Richmond Road, Berea, KY

🎪 ABOUT THE SHOW:
Journey to 1999 Egypt for an unforgettable Valentine’s weekend mystery! When an archaeological team gathers to explore an ancient tomb, romance and danger collide in this thrilling murder mystery dinner show. As secrets are unearthed and tensions rise, someone meets a deadly fate—and it’s up to the audience to solve the crime! 🔍✨

Enjoy a delicious dinner while you watch the drama unfold around you. Meet an unforgettable cast of characters—from brilliant archaeologists to mysterious locals—each with their own secrets and motives. With interactive elements, comic relief, and plenty of twists and turns, this immersive theatrical experience puts you right in the middle of the action! Can you figure out whodunit before the final reveal? It’s the perfect date night adventure or group outing for Valentine’s weekend! 💕🕵️

🍽️ DINNER INCLUDED:
Enjoy a delicious catered meal as part of your interactive theater experience!

🎯 TARGET AUDIENCE:
Perfect for couples, friend groups, and mystery lovers looking for a unique Valentine’s weekend experience!


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Child Actors, Family-Friendly, Musical, Show, Spotlight Acting School

Disney’s The Lion King KIDS (FEB 20-MAR 1)

Disney’s The Lion King KIDS

Presented by: Spotlight Acting School
Ages: 4–11

🎭 PERFORMANCE DATES:

Blue Cast: February 20–22, 2026
Purple Cast: February 27–March 1, 2026

🌅 Experience the magic of the Pride Lands! Disney’s The Lion King comes to life as young performers bring you the unforgettable journey of Simba, from Pride Rock to the jungle and back again. This beloved coming-of-age tale features iconic songs that have captivated audiences worldwide!

Sing along to “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” “Hakuna Matata,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” as our talented students showcase the heart, humor, and adventure of this timeless story!

✨ Perfect for the whole family! ✨
Don’t miss this roaring good time! 🦁

BLUE CAST

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PURPLE CAST

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Adult Actors, Musical, Show, Teen Actors, The Bluegrass Players

“Finally” A Broadway Revue (FEB 20-28)

🎭✨ “Finally” A Broadway Revue ✨🎭
Presented by The Bluegrass Players

📅 PERFORMANCE DATES:
February 20-28, 2026

🎪 ABOUT THE SHOW:
The beloved tradition returns! “Finally” A Broadway Revue is back by popular demand, bringing you an enchanting evening of musical theater magic. Join our talented Spotlight Players as they fulfill their Broadway dreams by performing songs from their most cherished musicals—the shows they’ve always wanted to perform but never had the chance! 🌟🎵

From show-stopping solos to powerful ensemble numbers, this revue showcases the incredible range and passion of our performers as they finally get their moment in the spotlight with the Broadway songs closest to their hearts. Directed by veteran Spotlight Player and Morehead State University Theater Graduate Kyrsten Daugherty, this evening of musical storytelling celebrates the joy, emotion, and artistry that make Broadway unforgettable. Whether it’s a classic golden age number or a contemporary showstopper, every song is performed with love and dedication! 💫🎶

🎯 TARGET AUDIENCE:
Perfect for musical theater lovers, Broadway fans, and anyone who appreciates the magic of live performance and heartfelt storytelling through song!


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