The Main Street Arts Council (MSAC) is excited to present the 2026 Main Street Summer Theater Festival, bringing six youth musical theater productions to communities across northwest Kansas this summer. More than 235 young performers from across the region are participating in this year's festival, which remains free of charge for youth ages 5-18 thanks to the generosity of grant funders, sponsors, donors, and volunteers.
The 2026 festival productions include:
- Goodland – Disney's The Lion King Jr. – June 26 & 27
- Hoxie – Disney's Moana Jr. – July 10 & 12
- Atwood – DreamWorks' Shrek The Musical Jr. – July 11 & 12
- Colby – Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr. – July 17 & 18
- Quinter – Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr. – July 18 & 19
- Oakley – Disney's Frozen Jr. – July 31 & August 1
MSAC Founder and Creative Director Bonnie Cameron serves as show director for the Goodland, Hoxie, Atwood, Colby, and Oakley productions, while Tori Grant directs the Quinter production. Festival operations are coordinated by Karl Pratt, MSAC Executive Director and Festival Manager.
Supporting the productions are choreographers Nicole Kibel, Skylynne Fulwider, Paige Fulwider, and Kirsten Lundgren, along with eleven student interns whose positions are funded through the Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth Summer Internship Program. Student interns include Aubrey Diercks, Paige Fulwider, Michael Johnston, Payton Juenemann, Kati Kellogg, Mirari Linin, Rose Lowry, Claire Martin, Hailey Vaughn, Areya Weber, and Berkley Weigel. These talented young leaders assist with rehearsals, costumes, sets, props, marketing, and backstage operations while gaining valuable arts administration and theater experience.
A special highlight of the 2026 season will be the Main Street Summer Theater Festival Farewell Concert on Sunday, July 26 at 3 p.m. at the Oakley High School Auditorium. The concert will celebrate the contributions of Karl Pratt and Bonnie Cameron as they conclude their tenures with the organization after helping lead the festival's growth and success across northwest Kansas. The event will also feature performances by the festival's student interns, accompanied by pianist Sally Cameron.
"We are incredibly proud of the impact this program has had on thousands of young people and their families over the years," said Pratt. "This summer promises to be a wonderful celebration of youth, community, creativity, and the performing arts."
The Main Street Arts Council extends its sincere gratitude to the many organizations and individuals who have made this season possible, including the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Pete Henry Foundation, Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, the community foundations serving Sherman, Sheridan, Rawlins, Thomas, Gove, and Logan counties, Walmart of Colby, Walmart of Goodland, Oakley Tourism/City of Oakley, and the many area businesses, organizations, and individual sponsors supporting the festival. A complete sponsor listing will be added to the festival website soon.
For performance times, ticket information, cast lists, and festival updates, visit www.mainstreetartscouncil.com/msstf2026.
About the Main Street Arts Council
The Main Street Arts Council is an organization dedicated to promoting the arts, encouraging creativity, serving the arts community, and acting as an advocate for the arts. We strive to be a model organization for the Northwest Kansas region by ensuring access to the arts for all ages, encouraging a community passion for the arts and successfully supporting, partnering, and collaborating with others committed to the arts. Learn more at www.mainstreetartscouncil.com.
