By David Markham

The Theatre in the Park recently announced its show lineup for 2025 with major improvements now underway at TIP’s outdoor facility in Shawnee Mission Park in order to be ready for next year ’s season.

“Our 2025 season is full of great titles for the whole family,” said Theatre in the Park Associate Artistic Director Guy Gardner. “Theatre in the Park is anticipating its 56th year of great entertainment, and 2025 will be no different!”

Next year’s schedule involves eight shows, including three indoor productions at The Black Box Theatre in the Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, and five summer outdoor shows on TIP’s outdoor stage in Shawnee Mission Park.

Up first in 2025 is “Steel Magnolias,” which will be performed at The Black Box Theatre from Feb. 28 to March 16.

Outdoor summer productions will include:

• “James and the Giant Peach,” May 30 to June 7
• “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” June 13-21
• “My Fair Lady,” June 27 to July 5;
• “Catch Me If You Can” the musical, July 11-19
• A Disney double feature of “The Aristocats Kids” and “My Son Pinocchio Jr.,” July 25 to Aug. 2.

Improvements to the TIP outdoor facility are now under way for the 2025 season with demolishing the concrete block restroom structure, which was originally built in 1981, and preparing for the addition of new accessible restroom facilities.

In 2023, JCPRD accepted $2 million in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds funding from the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners for the purpose of funding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements at Theatre in the Park. The project also includes parking, pedestrian paths and a variety of additional ADA improvements to the existing TIP facility.

The new restrooms will be located on the north side of the TIP complex and will be visible from anywhere in the parking lot. The restrooms, which will be about 25% larger than the previous ones, include accessible stalls and family restrooms.

Parking improvements will move accessible parking closer to the accessible entry gate with an improved quality and quantity of spaces. The parking lot will also be reconfigured with new pavement markings. It will have a large island with trees and landscaping to improve safety and flow of traffic.

The project will also improve accessibility on the paths connecting ADA parking, restrooms, concourse area and path to accessible seating areas in the bowl.

The final production to end of TIP’s 2024 season will be “Seussical the Musical” from Dec. 6-23 in the Black Box Theater.

The popular musical is suitable for all audiences. More information, including times, dates and ticket prices, can be found at theatreinthepark.org/2024-seussical.

Ticket prices vary depending on the showtime and age of the theatre goer. Tickets are available online or can be purchased at JCAHC during regular hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

David Markham is communications specialist at the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.