The Hobbit

2/7-22, Starlight Theater, at 2 & 7 pm Saturday and 1 & 6 pm Sunday, plus 7 pm, 2/20.

media release: When homebody Bilbo Baggins is whisked away by a band of dwarves and a very mysterious wizard, he finds himself facing trolls, goblins and a fire-breathing dragon—with only his courage and a bit of luck to guide him! J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved tale comes to life in this adventurous stage adaptation filled with heart, humor and heroism.

Based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Licensed by Middle-Earth Enterprises. Adapted for the stage by Greg Banks. With Music by Tom Johnson.

Originally commissioned and produced by Children’s Theatre Company.

Produced by special arrangement with Plays for New Audiences.

more news from CTM:

Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM), one of Wisconsin’s premier nonprofit theaters for young people and families, has been awarded a Legacy Grant of $4,970 by the Wispact Foundation. 

Live theater is a multisensory experience, but without audio description, many visually impaired individuals may not have a fully engaging performance. Thanks to the Wispact Foundation Legacy Grant, CTM is currently working on providing audio description services for two performances of our upcoming shows to pilot this program – The Hobbit Saturday, February 14 at 2pm and Disney’s Newsies The Musical on Saturday May 9 at 2pm. CTM hopes to expand the audio description program in the 2027 season. 

Direct feedback from patrons and members of the disability community has made it clear that offering a way to experience visual action, costumes, and sets onstage would improve both independence and enjoyment of live theater.

The Wiscpact Foundation grant will help fund CTM’s ability to have dedicated equipment, trained personnel, and established technical systems in place to launch and sustain this mission driven accessibility service for CTM performances at the Madison Youth Arts Center (MYArts).

“By expanding our access program to include audio description, we’re creating more ways for our community members to fully experience CTM productions. This reinforces our commitment to inclusion and ensures that youth, their families, and patrons of all abilities feel welcomed and connected to our shows,” says Amy Montoya, Director of Operations at CTM. 

Support from the Wispact Foundation makes it possible to pilot this program and create a plan for a replicable model for a fully-implemented, season-long program in 2027.

“Live theater should be accessible to every person. By offering audio description, we’re opening the door wider so more youth and families can experience the magic of storytelling at CTM,” says Brian Cowing, Artistic Director at CTM. 

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ABOUT CHILDREN’S THEATER OF MADISON

Since 1965, Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM) has been a leading force in youth theater.  Engaging over half a million audience members, offering accessible education, and championing inclusive storytelling. As a resident company at the Overture Center for the Arts and founding partner of MYArts, CTM empowers tens of thousands annually through high-quality productions, classes, and engagement.

CTM's mission is to spark imagination and build community through the creation and experience of theater.

ABOUT WISPACT FOUNDATION

The Wispact Foundation was established in 2021 and provides grants to support the mission of nonprofits supporting Wisconsin residents with disabilities. The Wispact Foundation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wispact, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons with disabilities through pooled and community special needs trusts (SNT). Wispact was created in 2003 and is now one of the largest of its kind in the United States; and currently serves more than 4,000 beneficiaries throughout Wisconsin.