Victoria Players Children’s Theater (VPCT)

Season NINE!!

Congratulations to the cast of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, our first show of SEASON NINE!

This was a magical show filled with lots of fun twists and turns, including an epic fight scene between Peter and Fenris, and a battle between good and evil. Bravo to the cast!

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Goosebumps the Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium. This cast of 21, performed Halloween weekend to multiple sold out audiences.

The R.L. Stine story has been adapted for theatre with a book and lyrics by John Maclay and music and lyrics by Danny Abosch.

This production marks Isaac Poe’s directorial debut with VPCT. Poe, who has helped with stage crew in previous productions, has also directed for Millersport Community Theatre (MCT) and been involved in many other aspects of the performing arts.

Music direction is by Megan Hysell, returning for her second show with VPCT, and choreography is by Faith Kaylor, who joins VPCT for the first time after choreographing for MCT, Ohio University Lancaster, and other groups. The show is produced by Jill Henwood.

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Beetlejuice, Jr. We broke our attendance record with this fabulously funny musical. Beetlejuice (Nicholas Henwood) stated it best:

“The most I could say without spoiling it is that this musical is the perfect mixture of humor, emotion, death, and overall joy. Lydia Deetz is a teenage girl growing up after losing her mom and being stuck with her dad trying to leave it in the past. But Beetlejuice is in a similar situation, feeling invisible, wanting to be seen as he is a dead man stuck in the world of the living. Both are invisible, and seek recognition and not being alone anymore, which is why they find each other.

I could not be more grateful for the people I get to do this show with. They are so so so so kind and thoughtful and really care about this show. Without any of them, I’m just a bad comedy show. They are the show and they don’t get enough credit for how amazing they are.

The set is amazing. The crew is amazing. The directors are amazing. The cast is soooo amazing. I cannot express how much effort goes into the show and it really shows on stage. There’s crowd interactions, there’s amazing dancing, the songs are spectacular, and the cast is incredibly dedicated and talented.”

Congratulations to the cast of A Christmas Carol on a SOLD OUT December 2024 weekend! The reviews were amazing – “some of the best on-stage youth acting you can see in Ohio!”

VPCT in the News

Victoria Players Children’s Theater’s Beetlejuice Jr. named best Theatre for Young Audiences Production, January 2026

This Weekend: VPCT’s “Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”, Pickerington Online, Dec 2026

First Look at Goosebumps the Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium, October 2025

Goosebumps The Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium, Pickerington Online, Oct 25

Beetlejuice (Nick Henwood) & Lydia (Heidi Chabot) on Fairfield Today

VPCT’s Beetlejuice Brings Spooky Fun!

Beetlejuice Jr. at the Victoria Players Children’s Theater

First Look at A Christmas Carol, December 2024

VPCT Presents: A Christmas Carol, Pickerington Online, December 2024

First Look at Les Miserables School Edition, July 2024

Les Miserables School Edition featured on 10TV News, July 2024

VPCT Presents: Finding Nemo, Jr., Pickerington Online, June 2024

First Look at Finding Nemo, Jr, June 2024

VPCT Wins Five Awards for Season 6, Broadway World Columbus Region, January 2024

First Look at The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, December 2023

First Look at The Little Mermaid, Broadway World, July 2023

First Look at The SpongeBob Musical, Broadway World, July 2022

First Look at VPCT’s It’s a Wonderful Life, Broadway World, December 2021

VPCT is featured on Spectrum News, August 2022

VPCT Hopes to Inspire Future Members, July 2022, Addie Hedges, Lancaster Eagle Gazette

VPCT Dedicated to Building Confidence for Youth, July 2021, Tracy Kelly, Lancaster Eagle Gazette

VPCT: The Show Goes On, August 2020, Tracy Kelly, Lancaster Eagle Gazette

VPCT wins honors at the Ohio Community Theatre Association:

2023 – A Christmas Story

2024 – The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

2025 – A Christmas Carol

During the 2020-2021 theatre shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic, members of VPCT met with their director through Zoom, and with the help of parents and siblings, they practiced and recorded their scenes with their own props, backgrounds and costumes. They produced two shows, “Could you Hug a Cactus?” and “Super Happy Awesome News.” Both shows are still publicly available on YouTube. “Super Happy Awesome News” received national attention when the show’s owner, Beat by Beat Press, sent the link to the show to all of their subscribers.

Online Musical “Could You Hug a Cactus” 2021

Online Musical “Super Happy Awesome News” 2020

This musical was nationally recognized by the rights holder, Beat by Beat Press.

2024 VPCT Committee Members

Ryan Westhoven – Committee Chair
Danielle Bartos
Max DeBaltzo
Trish Hendershot
Jill Henwood
Allison Rogers
Brooke Schrader
Melissa Sponseller
Amy Todd
Andy Todd

THE HISTORY OF THE VPCT

Recognizing the need for accessible dedicated children’s theater programming in central southeast Ohio, the Victoria Players Children’s Theater was launched in 2016 by a group of parents as a subcommittee of the Baltimore Downtown Restoration Committee, a 501c3 organization. The focus for the first nine months was planning and fundraising, which culminated in the first musical production in February 2017. High School Musical, Jr. attracted talent from Fairfield County and central Ohio, and was a great success. Many of the actors that participated in that show are still involved in the theater today. Opportunities also exist for students wanting off-stage experience, such as student stage managers, light and sound booth technicians, set design, and student directors. The newly renovated Victoria Opera House provides not only a home base for operations, but a beautiful, historic backdrop for practices and smaller productions.

The VPCT is a Central Region member of the Ohio Community Theatre Association (OCTA) and the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT)

VPCT Committee Meetings

In 2020, the VPCT went through a reorganization. Anyone wanting to get involved in the theater is encouraged to attend board meetings. Meetings are held through the convenience of Zoom.

Email us or sign up below for additional information.

Nick Henwood transforms into Les Jacobs on stage during Disney’s Newsies in August of 2019.

Email the Victoria Players Children’s Theater

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