Dear Friends of The REV,

Welcome to the historic Merry-Go-Round Playhouse! We’re so glad you’re joining us for another unforgettable season of musical theatre. Whether this is your first time in our audience or your fiftieth, your presence helps bring the magic of live performance to life—and that magic extends far beyond the walls of our theatre.

At The REV, we believe in the power of the performing arts to inspire, educate, and transform lives—especially young lives. We were founded in 1958 with the sole purpose to create access for children to learn through theatre. That mission drives our commitment today, not only creating world-class productions on our stage, but also to delivering meaningful arts education across New York State.

Each year, our REV on Tour actors and teaching artists travel to 65 school districts, reaching more than 60,000 students with grade-level-specific workshops and performances—brought directly into school buildings. These programs are carefully crafted to align with classroom learning and to spark creativity, curiosity, and confidence in young people from kindergarten through high school. Whether it’s a musical number that opens a conversation about empathy, or a character’s journey that reflects a student’s own challenges and dreams, the impact is lasting. Additionally, our afterschool and summer programming creates opportunities for students of all ages to learn the fundamentals of the performing arts and reap the countless benefits that come along with those experiences. 

This season, as you enjoy the shows on our stage, know that you’re also supporting an organization committed to planting seeds of imagination and possibility in classrooms across the state. The same storytelling that enthralls audiences here at the Playhouse helps young minds grow and thrive in schools from Niagara Falls to Watertown and everywhere in between.

Thank you for being part of our community. Your support makes all of this possible—from the bright lights of our theatre to the bright futures of the students we reach.

Enjoy the show—and the season ahead!

Lisa Chase
Director of Education 

All Access provides exclusive educational experiences and grants unprecedented access to the world of The REV Theatre Company. All Access participants will have the unique opportunity to spend a day immersed in all aspects of one of The REV’s mainstage productions at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. Saturday, July 19th for Barnum and Saturday, August 23rd for Top Hat. Recommended for ages 10+.

Touring this July and August with FREE performances across Central NY! The story of Rumpelstiltskin has been told and retold throughout the ages, despite its obvious flaws. When The Miller’s Daughter starts to question the story, the whole fairy tale begins to unravel. She enlists the help of the audience to fix her broken story and spin a new tale. For all ages. Visit TheREVTheatre.com/summertour for tour dates!

Act! Sing! Play! Collaborate! Explore! With an emphasis on “fun,” students will learn the fundamentals of acting and singing in our musical theatre PLAYshops! Summer PLAYshops run August 11th - 15th, 2025. For students in grades Pre-K-6.

Students will act, dance, sing, and learn while rehearsing a musical production of A Christmas Carol! The program culminates with performances on the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse stage. Kickstart the holiday season and your child’s love of performing with Junior Stars: ON STAGE!

Classes run October 1st - December 6th, 2025.

For students in grades 1-8.

With a focus on fundamentals, our Spring Training classes will train our Junior Stars to act, sing, and dance. Our goal is to make each student a better all-around performer and to instill in them the confidence and discipline needed to take center stage!

Classes take place in March 2025. For students in Grades 1-3.

With a focus on storytelling and creativity, students will collaborate to create and rehearse their own original piece of theatre. Through writing and improvisation exercises, students will develop their story from scratch with guidance from The REV’s staff. In addition to improving performance skills, Young Artists Ensemble will emphasize the importance of responsibility, dedication, and cooperation. Culminates with public performances at the West End Theater. Classes take place in March 2025. For students in grades 4-8.

Act! Sing! Play! Collaborate! Explore! With an emphasis on “fun,” students will learn the fundamentals of acting and singing in our musical theatre PLAYshops! Students will participate in theatre games and exercises in a supportive environment to improve their performance skills and self confidence! Need to miss a class? Don’t worry! Each PLAYshop is structured to be its own unique and individual learning experience! Come play with us! Classes run during Spring Break, April 14th-18th, 2025.

For students in grades Pre-K-8.

Each year, more than 180 schools in New York State bring live professional theatre to over 60,000 students in grades K–12 — and enhance learning at a remarkably low cost. How? Through The REV Theatre Company’s K–12 Sequential Dramatics Program. With more than 40 years of expertise, we are a pioneer and a leader in arts education. Our complete series of curriculum-based plays, classroom lessons, and creative workshops spans the school year to provide a continuum of learning across the grade levels.

For more information, visit TheREVTheatre.com/Education