The New Castle Playhouse

December 8, 2025

The New Castle Playhouse Presents Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer – The Musical

Based on the beloved 1964 television special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – The Musical brings the classic holiday story to life on stage with all the characters audiences know and love. Rudolph never feels like he belongs in Christmastown because of his glowing red nose, so he sets off on a journey to find a place where he fits in. Along the way, he meets fellow misfits and discovers that what makes him different is exactly what makes him special. When a snowstorm threatens to keep Santa’s sleigh from taking flight, it’s Rudolph who rises to the occasion to save…

October 28, 2025

The Toxic Avenger: The Musical Delivers Love, Slime, and B-Movie Charm

By Bri Scala It’s a tale as old as time: boy meets girl, boy gets thrown into a vat of toxic sludge, boy emerges as a disfigured mutant hellbent on avenging the planet—and New Jersey, of course. Produced by Troma Entertainment in 1984, Lloyd Kaufman’s The Toxic Avenger didn’t attract mainstream appeal upon its initial release. It was too low-budget, goofy, and a bit too gory for your average filmgoer. But over time, through late-night reruns and VHS rentals, the film eventually found a cult following amongst those who like their heroes grotesque and their love stories with a side…

October 24, 2025

It’s A Toxic Takeover at the New Castle Playhouse

Note: Stay tuned to Ellwoodcity.org for a review after this weekend’s opening performances. Get ready, the most polluted town in New Jersey is coming to the Annex! Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s cult classic film, “The Toxic Avenger” is an award-winning rock musical that has it all. When Melvin Ferd III is tossed into a vat of toxic waste, he reemerges as Toxie – a mutant superhero with superhuman strength and a heart as big as Newark. The Toxic Avenger is a hilarious new monster of a comedy. Armed with superhuman strength and a heart as big as Newark, he’s out…

September 12, 2025

Don’t Miss the New Castle Playhouse Production of Nunsense

You don’t want to miss the upcoming New Castle Playhouse production of Nunsense, a hilarious spoof about the misadventures of five nuns trying to manage a fundraiser. Nunsense begins when the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and they are in dire need of funds for the burials. The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show, so they take over the school auditorium, which is currently set up for the eighth grade production of Grease. Here we meet Reverend Mother Mary Regina, a…

July 11, 2025

It’s Electrifyin’: Grease to Grace the New Castle Playhouse Stage

It’s Greased Lightnin’ at the New Castle Playhouse as local talent presents “Grease,” July 11 – 20 on the main stage. Directed by Amee Boughter, a stellar cast will bring your favorite characters to life on Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. “Grease is more than just a musical—it’s a cultural phenomenon that has stood the test of time, and it’s an absolute blast to bring it to life,” says director and choreographer Amee Boughter. “It’s fun, it’s fast, and it’s filled with heart. At its core, Grease is about identity, friendship, and the…

April 3, 2025

Don’t Miss the New Castle Playhouse Production of Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got the Will?

Don’t miss what Variety called “A masterful comedy,” and what the L.A. Times called “A knockout.” After years of estrangement, the Turnover family reunites at their small-town Texas estate to bid farewell to the family patriarch, who has suffered a debilitating stroke. Joined by their plus-ones, they bring with them a tangled web of family trauma, greed, and jealousy. Everyone is eager to claim their share of the inheritance—but there’s one major problem: who has the will?! What starts as a somber farewell quickly spirals into chaos as the family embarks on a frantic hunt to locate it. This sometimes heartbreaking, often hilarious journey…

July 12, 2024

PART 2 – Cast Q&A: New Castle Playhouse Presents The SpongeBob Musical

The New Castle Playhouse will present The SpongeBob Musical starting tonight July 12-21 and will feature some of Ellwood City’s area favorite actors. At least five Ellwood City Area actors including Lauren Bush, Jacob Storey, Ace Sharer, Alex Hazen, and Lauren Krug will take to the Main Stage in Augustine Auditorium on July 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and on July 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. (ticket information can be found at the end of the article) In PART 1 of our series, published Thursday, we caught up with Bush, Storey, and Sharer for a…

July 11, 2024

PART 1 – Cast Q&A: New Castle Playhouse Presents The SpongeBob Musical

The New Castle Playhouse will present The SpongeBob Musical starting tomorrow July 12-21 and will feature some of Ellwood City’s area favorite actors. At least five Ellwood City Area actors including Lauren Bush, Jacob Storey, Ace Sharer, Alex Hazen, and Lauren Krug will take to the Main Stage in Augustine Auditorium on July 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and on July 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. (ticket information can be found at the end of the article) In Part 1 of our series, we caught up with Bush, Storey, and Sharer for a cast Q&A….