Choosing A Season: From New Beginnings to Hope

Third House Arts has had the honor of announcing not one, not two... But three shows to complete our 2026 Season. Dubbed the "Season of Hope," we're thrilled to bring Shrek, Titanic, and Anastasia to the stage to tell stories of hope in all of its forms. While our short initial debut season consisted solely of the spectacular murder mystery Curtains, for our second season we elected to choose the stories we tell revolving around a central theme: Hope.

But what goes into selecting a season as a brand new theatre company?

We discussed many shows throughout the process of planning our season. A lot of factors go into the decision to produce a particular show. What shows have licensing rights readily available? What shows can fit and work well in the venues we have available to us? What shows highlight our talented community the best? What shows appeal to our audience? What shows are we already equipped to produce? What shows convey a message we want to stand behind? What shows do audiences actually care enough about to attend?

Now, that's a lot of questions, and we won't bore you with the specifics. But let's break down our show selections for this season, and how we arrived at each one, and eventually our theme of hope.

Shrek: The Musical

April 2026 | Hope for acceptance and change

For our first show of the season, we’re diving into everyone’s favorite swampy fairytale. Shrek: The Musical tells the story of an ogre seeking acceptance in a fairytale world that has turned its back on him.A world that has branded him a monster and told him to hide.

Though our unlikely hero denies his desire for acceptance and change for much of the story, his actions reveal a glimmer of hope for something better. His reluctance to embark on the adventure ahead keeps us from seeing through his many... layers at first, but it soon becomes clear. Shrek truly hopes for acceptance and belonging.

With the courage and support of his newfound friends, he learns that change begins when we dare to hope for it. Through humor, adventure, and lots of "ogre-the-top" musical numbers, this show illustrates the power of positive change, and the reality that yes, even we can spark its beginnings, no matter how outcast or insignificant we may feel. Shrek reminds us of a powerful truth that resonates today: positive change can only begin when we allow ourselves to visualize and hope for a better future.

Titanic: The Musical

August 2026 | Hope in the face of loss

Perhaps the most heart-wrenching story in our season, Titanic: The Musical recounts a very real tragedy-- one in which hundreds of individuals lost their lives. These were people with dreams, aspirations, and plans for futures they would never see. Yet more than a century later, our culture remains captivated by this story. Why does this doomed ship still hold such a powerful place in our culture? Is this misguided over-romanticism, or does our enduring fascination with this ship mean something more?

As we discussed this production, we came to understand why it endures. The story of the RMS Titanic is not only one of loss. It’s one of hope in the face of the inevitable. It asks us: Would we have the courage to hope when all seems lost?

Through this lens, we aim to respectfully honor the legacy of those whose stories ended that fateful night of April 14th, 1912. Rather than focusing solely on tragedy, we seek to illuminate the hope that endured. Hope that inspired musicians to play as the ship sank, offering a final act of kindness and humanity amid chaos. Hope that reminds us to make the most of our time, to live bravely, and to bring light to a world that can so often feel dark.

Anastasia

December 2026 | Hope in finding who we are

To close our season, we’ve chosen a musical filled with deep emotion, grand romance, and

beautifully woven themes of identity and discovery. Anastasia tells the legendary tale of the Grand Duchess who sets out to uncover who she is—only to discover someone entirely new within herself.

While the story has taken many forms over the years, its roots lie in real events marked by tragedy, loss, and injustice. Yet Anastasia dares to imagine what might have been, breathing new life into the Grand Duchess who never had the chance to tell her story.

This is no simple “Cinderella” story. It’s a deeply human exploration of how individuals fight to define themselves amid systems that seek to shape them. Anya’s journey embodies hope—the hope of discovering not just who she was, but who she chooses to become.

Though she travels to Paris in search of a name and a past, she ultimately finds something greater: herself. In the end, Anya becomes a person of her own creation—not the product of her birth or her circumstances, but of her choices and her courage. Anastasia shows us that two opposing systems can both be wrong, yet the individuals within them can still choose freedom and truth.

Her story invites us to hope for the future we can build, to define ourselves on our own terms, and to reject the labels the world assigns us. Anastasia reminds us that our greatest discovery isn’t where we come from, but who we dare to become—and the hope that guides us there.

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A Season of Hope

This season, we invite you to hope with us.

Hope for change.

Hope in spite of loss.

Hope for yourself.

In a world of uncertainty, we dare to hope—because without it, how can we go on?

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Third House Arts’ “Season of Hope” opens with Shrek: The Musical in April 2026, followed by Titanic: The Musical in August, and Anastasia in December.

When tickets become available, you can view them here.

Until then, here’s to hope. May we all find it.

-Third House Arts