Murray State University Theatre Arts opens 2026-27 season with BEANSTALK! THE PLAY!
By Dr. Carrie Jerrell | Sep 21, 2026
MURRAY, Ky. — The Murray State University Theatre Arts Program will open its 2026-27 season with BEANSTALK! THE PLAY!, a production by Roz Mihalko and Donna Swift, directed by Murray State senior theatre major Samantha Brannigan.
Performances will take place Tuesday-Friday, Sept. 22-25 at 9:30 a.m. and Saturday, Sept. 26, at 2:30 p.m. in the Robert E. Johnson Theatre on Murray State’s campus.
The weekday performances on Sept. 22-25 have reserved seating for elementary school groups. Demand for the weekday performances is already strong. The Wednesday, Sept. 23, performance is sold out, while the Thursday, Sept. 24, performance is nearly full. Plenty of seating remains available for the Tuesday, Sept. 22, and Friday, Sept. 25, performances.
General admission tickets are $3. Murray State students get in free with a valid ID, as seats are available. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling the box office at 270-809-4421.
BEANSTALK! THE PLAY! brings the classic story of Jack and the Beanstalk to the stage in a playful production designed to entertain young audiences while introducing children to the excitement of live theatre. When the magic beans Jack trades for the family cow grow into a gigantic beanstalk, Jack finally gets the chance to have a fairytale adventure of his very own. Now if he can only find the treasure, save his family, and get the cow back, today might just really be his magical fairytale after all.
For Brannigan, directing the production has been an especially rewarding experience.
“This process has been so much fun,” Brannigan said. “A big thank you to everyone from the production team to the cast and the crew. Without them, none of this would be possible.”
Cast members include Addison Biggs, a freshman theatre/musical theatre major with an art minor from Paris, Tennessee; Paige Elaine, a freshman musical theatre major with a creative writing minor from Owensboro, Kentucky; Colton Block, a freshman theatre major from Shelbyville, Kentucky; Logan Range, a junior theatre film major with a psychology minor from Carterville, Kentucky; Karley Yahl, a senior advertising major with a theatre performance minor from St. Louis, Missouri; Dawn Neal, a sophomore theatre/musical theatre major from Dover, Tennessee; Brianna Roy, a freshman undeclared major from Henderson, Kentucky; Mackie Noelle, a sophomore theatre/film major with a dance minor from Columbia, Kentucky; Francesca Caporali, a sophomore theatre/musical theatre major from Benton, Kentucky; and Blaize Free, a freshman theatre major with an arts administration minor from Owensboro, Kentucky.
For several cast members, BEANSTALK! THE PLAY! marks a new opportunity as a Murray State student.
Mackie Noelle said, “This is the first time performing a play with Murray State and I am so excited for y'all to see it!”
The production team also includes Murray State students gaining hands-on experience behind the scenes. Logan Combs, a senior from Evansville, Indiana, serves as stage manager. Combs is a musical theatre major with a theatre technical/design minor.
“I’ve had a wonderful first experience with stage managing so far,” Combs said. “Getting to know everyone and seeing how they bring the show to life on stage is truly spectacular.”
Spencer Ray, a sixth-year student from Evansville, Indiana, also serves on the production team while pursuing a first-year pre-veterinary, post-graduate path.
For all the students involved, the production is an opportunity to collaborate as an ensemble and bring a familiar story to life for young audiences and the community. For Brannigan, the experience has demonstrated the importance of the entire team behind a theatrical production.
“I’ve had an amazing time directing this show,” Brannigan said. “This is a great group of people to bring this story to life.”