Welcome to our 46th Season,

At Wheelock Family Theatre, we believe that the stories children encounter shape how they see themselves, their families, and the world around them. This season, we center our work on a simple but powerful idea: the courage to begin.

For the children and families we serve, beginnings happen every day, the first day at a new school, the first time making a friend, the first moment of independence. These moments may seem small, but for young people, they are everything. They are where confidence, identity, and belonging take root. In a time when so many children are navigating uncertainty, theatre offers something essential: a space to imagine, to connect, and to practice being brave.

Just as importantly, it creates opportunities for the adults in their lives, parents, caregivers, teachers, and mentors, to engage alongside them. When families experience stories together, they open the door to conversations about fear and resilience, identity and belonging, and what it means to grow.

This season’s productions are designed to spark those shared experiences.

In Disney & Pixar’s Finding Nemo, a young fish sets out into the vast unknown while his father learns to let go with love. In When You Trap a Tiger, a girl discovers the power of family stories and the courage to face difficult truths. And in The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen, a young girl learns that growing up is not about being the best, but about being your best self.

Together, these stories invite young audiences to take that first step to try, to imagine, to grow, and invite the adults in their lives to walk alongside them.

They also reflect Wheelock Family Theatre’s commitment to creating professional, high-quality theatre with children at the center. In Greater Boston, opportunities for young audiences to experience work designed specifically for them remain limited. We are proud to serve as a home for this work—where children and families feel seen, welcomed, and inspired.

This season is also deeply connected to our mission: to integrate performance with education, expand access, and create meaningful entry points for all families. This year, we are deepening that commitment by introducing youth pricing and more transparent, all-inclusive ticketing to ensure that cost is not a barrier for the children and families we serve.

At its heart, this season is an invitation.

An invitation to experience theatre together.
An invitation for young people to see themselves as brave and full of possibility.
And an invitation to build a future where the arts are part of every child’s life.

We are so excited to welcome you.

With gratitude,
Nick Vargas
Executive Director, Wheelock Family Theatre