The 2025-26 Season at Cape Fear Regional Theatre is sure to be exciting, filled with shows that will be familiar to some audience members and new to others. The theatre will continue to welcome audiences to the temporary location at 1707 Owen Drive as their home on Hay Street undergoes major renovation.
No matter where they are, artistic director Mary Catherine Burke and the team at CFRT work to present high-quality productions, featuring a combination of local and “out-of-town” talent.
The theatre is kicking off its 2025-26 season with the Up & Coming Weekly sponsored musical 9 to 5 The Musical. This live musical reimagining of the 1980 film features music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, who starred in the original movie. The show tells the story of three women who have had enough of their boss’s bad behavior and plot to get revenge and change the culture of their office in the process. The show is high-energy, funny, and relatable.
Following the season opener, the CFRT stage will transform into Skid Row with the show Little Shop of Horrors. Audiences may be familiar with the film from 1986, but even if they’ve never seen it, all are sure to love the story of Seymour, Audrey, and Audrey II, the giant carnivorous plant who arrives after a “total eclipse of the sun.”
As the title implies, the musical is a unique mix of horror story and musical comedy, with funny, high-energy musical numbers.
The holiday season in Fayetteville would not be complete without the Herdman kids terrorizing the town and almost ruining the local church’s annual Christmas pageant in the 35th annual production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
Showcasing some of our community’s younger performers, the production features four different casts of kids, totaling over 100 school-aged actors. It’s not just a kids’ show, though; the funny, tender story is sure to be a blast for kids of all ages, the young and the young-at-heart.
The new year will have us “All in this Together” as CFRT presents the Disney classic High School Musical. The stage adaptation of the beloved 2006 film includes all the favorite songs and characters from the film, telling the story of Troy and Gabriella as they navigate the complex social structure and pressures of high school, all while putting together the annual high school musical.
Fun for all ages, this show will be sure to fill the seats at CFRT!
In March, the theatre will travel a bit farther back in time to tell the story of Driving Miss Daisy. Another adaptation of a beloved film, the play tells the story of Daisy Werthan, an elderly lady who is loath to give up her freedom when her son insists she stop driving and employ a chauffeur. An unlikely friendship blossoms between Daisy and Hoke Coleburn over a span of 25 years.
The final show in the line-up is Crowns, a gospel musical. The show is described as “a moving and celebratory musical play in which hats become a springboard for an exploration of Black history and identity” (broadwaylicensing.com). The show tells the story of Yolanda, a young black woman who moves from Brooklyn to South Carolina and discovers the social and historical significance of hats. While there is some rap included, the show largely uses Gospel music to explore this unique but significant aspect of the culture.
Season tickets are available for purchase by going to cfrt.org or calling the box office at 910-323-4233.

(Photo: CFRT's production of Once on This Island closes out the 2024-25 season. Photo courtesy of CFRT Facebook page)