Junior Theatre
⭐ Parents, get ready to watch your young performer shine! NOR Junior Theatre is our longest-running junior theatre program, offering participants a magical and meaningful introduction to the world of theatre. Every participant is guaranteed a role, ensuring each child has the opportunity to build confidence, express creativity, and experience the joy of being on stage. *This program is eligible for a residency discount.
Welcome to NOR Junior Theatre!
Founded in 1968, the North of the River Junior Theatre Program has been a cherished part of the North of the River Recreation and Park District for generations. What began with the first production of Toby Tyler in 1969 has grown into a vibrant program that provides a positive, safe, and inclusive environment where youth are encouraged to be themselves.
Our program focuses on building foundational theatre skills while learning the value of teamwork, responsibility, and commitment by collaborating on all aspects of a production. Whether a child is stepping on stage for the first time or looking to grow their performance experience, our junior theatre program provides age-appropriate instruction led by passionate theatre professionals. Through engaging rehearsals and live productions, students explore acting, singing, movement, and storytelling in a supportive and encouraging learning environment.
Above all, NOR Junior Theatre is about having fun, using your imagination, and creating lasting memories while building confidence that extends far beyond the stage. At NOR Junior Theatre, every child has a voice, every story matters, and every performance is a chance to step into the spotlight.
Ages 5.5 - 17 Get ready for an action-packed theatre program with extended rehearsal hours featuring hands-on instruction through music, dance, and drama! Young performers will gain a well-rounded understanding of how a show comes to life while creating a high-energy musical full of heart and humor. This program is perfect for all experience levels and every participant is cast following the first week of rehearsals in a relaxed, supportive learning environment. Grab your fins and join the fun! *This program is eligible for a residency discount.
About the show: Plunge into this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show! When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world!
The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and features a book by Kyle Jarrow, with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley. Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton, with additional music by Tom Kitt. The musical production was conceived by Tina Landau.
An exciting new musical featuring irresistible characters and magical music, this deep-sea pearl of a show is set to make a splash with audiences young and old. The future is bright, the future is bold, the future is The SpongeBob Musical.
Logo ©2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Created by Stephen Hillenburg.
Early bird rehearsal price listed below. Price increases after June 1st.
| DETAILS | DATES | TIMES | DAYS | LOCATION | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rehearsals | 6/15-7/30 | 8:30am-2pm | M-Th | Riverview | $675* |
| Performance | 8/1 | 1pm | S | Rasmussen | $10-/$12 at door |
| Performance | 8/1 | 6pm | S | Rasmussen | $10-/$12 at door |
| Performance | 8/2 | 1pm | Su | Rasmussen | $10-/$12 at door |
Parents, ready your young performers for a magical journey! Enroll them in our Shrek the Musical Jr Theatre production. This fun, upbeat show is perfect for all experience levels and every participant is cast following the first week of rehearsals in a relaxed, supportive learning environment. Enroll today and let your child’s creativity shine! *This program is eligible for a residency discount.
About the show: Beauty is in the eye of the ogre in Shrek The Musical JR., based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and fantastic Broadway musical. It’s a “big bright beautiful world” as everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek JR. is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family.
Mandatory Parent Orientation on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 6:30pm. Fee is comprehensive for performers and includes casting, rehearsals, and performance. Spectators are charged an admission fee to the show.
| DETAILS | DATES | TIMES | DAYS | LOCATION | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rehearsals | 1/20-3/13 | 6:30-8:30pm | M-Th | Riverview | $240* |
| Performance | 3/14 | 1pm | S | TBD | $10/$12 at door |
| Performance | 3/14 | 6pm | S | TBD | $10/$12 at door |
| Performance | 3/15 | 1pm | Su | TBD | $10/$12 at door |
Step into a world of imagination! Kids will explore acting, auditioning, movement, music, and backstage fun in a supportive, no-pressure environment. Focused on the process—not the performance— this camp is perfect for first-timers and theatre lovers alike. All levels welcome so join the fun and find your stage! *This program is eligible for a residency discount.
| AGES | DATES | TIMES | DAYS | LOCATION | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-17 | TBD | 9am-2pm | M/T/F | Riverview | $90* |
