“Stuff of Dreams,” a new musical, will have its world premiere at The Lewis and Shirley White Theatre at The J on Sept. 13.
Co-writer Barabra Nichols directs, while fellow co-writer Krista Eyler stars as one of the show’s leads. The show tells the story of a small-town theatre group given the chance to put on a hit Broadway musical. “Stuff of Dreams” is a “show within a show” that celebrates the grit and heart behind every curtain call.
Developed over the past two years, “Stuff of Dreams” is a tribute to community theatre and the people who keep it alive.
“This show is our love letter to local theatre,” Nichols said. “We want to show what it takes to keep grassroots theatres going — including the constant financial struggles, collaboration and dedication of all involved. Many of the characters and situations come from our combined experience of working in community theatre for the past 30+ years.”
Nichols and Eyler initially set out to write a musical version of the cult classic film “Waiting for Guffman,” but when that project stalled, the pair decided to craft their own story drawn from decades of real-life experiences.
“It’s a hilarious, heartwarming musical written specifically for fans of community and musical theatre,” said Jonah Greene, The J’s new arts and culture director. “With its original story and local roots, ‘Stuff of Dreams’ captures the passion, humor and resilience that define small-town theatre, and we’re thrilled to premiere it on our stage.”
Tickets for “Stuff of Dreams” are available now at TheWhiteTheatre.org. Performance dates and times include Saturdays, Sept. 13 and 20, at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, Sept. 14 and 21, at 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m.
“Stuff of Dreams” marks the end of the season at The White Theatre. The 2025–2026 season will kick off with “Hello, Dolly,” running from Nov 1 to 23, 2025. The new season also features a full lineup of productions, including “Rent,” “The Play That Goes Wrong” and “Disney’s Frozen.” For show details, performance dates and tickets, visit TheWhiteTheatre.org.
