Peoria Players

06/13/2026

Simply The Best brought down the house on opening night! Don't miss the exciting performances from this talented bunch. Only 2 performances remain -- tomorrow and Sunday afternoon at 1:30 pm both days. Tickets are available at the door one hour before each performance.

Thank you to our Simply The Best sponsors, Ricketts & Cochran Clan, Castle Patio Inn, Olympia Sports Bar and Grill, City Heat, and Monica Kalman.

📸 Stacy Ropp

06/13/2026

Such a pretty shot of the Simply The Best set by photographer, Stacy Ropp!

06/12/2026

Our annual Normie Awards are tomorrow night, and we are at a record attendance!! We have beat our pre-pandemic record. Congrats, everyone! If you are attending, don't forget to take lots of pictures and post them with the hashtag

06/12/2026

Simply The Best opens TONIGHT! Peoria Players and The Friends of the Regional Office of Education #48 are thrilled to team up for this exceptional production. Come and enjoy many of your favorite Broadway tunes brought to life by this ridiculously talented group.

Performances include tonight at 7:30 pm and tomorrow and Sunday afternoon at 1:30 pm. Tickets will be available online until 4:00 pm today here: https://www.peoriaplayers.org/simply-the-best.html
They will then be available for purchase at the door one hour before each performance.

Thank you to our Simply The Best sponsors, Ricketts & Cochran Clan, Castle Patio Inn, Olympia Sports Bar and Grill, City Heat, and Monica Kalman.

📸 Stacy Ropp

06/11/2026

Simply The Best kicks off a weekend of explosive performances from some of the best talent in our area! Join Peoria Players and The Friends of the Regional Office of Education #48 for this spectacular show June 12 at 7:30 pm and June 13 and 14 at 1:30 pm. For tickets, click here: https://www.peoriaplayers.org/simply-the-best.html

Thank you to our Simply The Best sponsors, Ricketts & Cochran Clan, Castle Patio Inn, Olympia Sports Bar and Grill, City Heat, and Monica Kalman.

📸 Stacy Ropp

06/11/2026

Our friends at ExplorePeoria are back at it -- this time giving everyone a sneak peek of Simply The Best, which opens tomorrow night and runs through Sunday afternoon! For tickets, click here: https://www.peoriaplayers.org/simply-the-best.html

Friday, June 12 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, June 13 at 1:30 pm
Sunday, June 14 at 1:30 pm

06/10/2026

Simply The Best Co-Director, Mary Ellen Ulrich, chatted with Gretchen Wirtz about the show which comes to our stage this Friday! Enjoy!

Performances include June 12 at 7:30 pm and June 13 and 14 at 1:30 pm. For tickets, head over to peoriaplayers.org.

https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/loving-living-local/peoria-players-theatre-broadway-music/

Peoria Players Theatre is set to perform “Simply the Best, a Night of Broadway Best Music” in an upcoming episode of Loving Living Local.

06/10/2026

Congratulations to the following who have been cast in COME FROM AWAY:

Claude: Dave Schick
Bonnie: Sharon Russell
Beulah: Bridget Nowicki
Oz: Seth Katz
Janice: Helaina Kalman
Beverley: Courtney Moore
Diane: Kathy McCormick
Nick: Nick Benson
Kevin T: J.J. Simpson
Kevin J: Sean Kendall
Hannah: Ayana Thompson
Bob: Bryan Blanks

Thank you to all who auditioned. You made all of our jobs incredibly difficult. For those who did not make it, please keep looking to see what Peoria Players has to offer this season.

Congratulations to all who are cast. The first cast rehearsal will be Thursday, June 11 at First Baptist Church in the chapel at 6:30 pm.

-Director Steve Bortolotti

Show dates include September 11-13 and 16-20. Tickets will be on sale August 31. 

06/09/2026

Simply The Best will simply knock you off your feet with performances from some of the best younger talent in our area! The production will showcase students from District 150, Pleasant Valley, Morton, Dunlap, Brimfield, Limestone, Peoria Notre Dame and Washington schools. Featured musicals include Hairspray, The Wiz, Hamilton, Wicked, Grease, Dear Evan Hansen and more. Peoria Players is proud to collaborate with The Friends of the Regional Office of Education #48 to celebrate Arts in Education with this special presentation.

Co-Directors Bryan Blanks and Mary Ellen Ulrich are thrilled to bring this show to our audiences. Bryan says, "This show is a great opportunity for a diverse group of students to come together for one common goal. So many students from other districts don't get to interact with their peers from other neighboring schools, and I think this is important to do so." Mary Ellen agrees, "How often do these talented performers get to join forces for one standout production? The talent in this show is through the roof!"

Join us this weekend! Performances include June 12 at 7:30 pm and June 13 and 14 at 1:30 pm. For tickets, click here: https://www.peoriaplayers.org/simply-the-best.html

Thank you to our Simply The Best sponsors, Ricketts & Cochran Clan, Castle Patio Inn, Olympia Sports Bar and Grill, City Heat, and Monica Kalman.

06/08/2026

COME FROM AWAY CALLBACKS:

Callbacks will be in the fellowship hall at First Baptist Church, at 6:30 pm Tuesday June 9. Please check out the accent links that are provided on the audition page, under past events.

Claude/Derm/Eddie: Dave Schick, Seth Katz

Bonnie/Martha: Vicky Snyder, Nikki Johnson, Sharon Russell

Beulah/Delores: Bridget Nowicki, Kathy McCormick

Oz/Joey/Rabbi: Nick Benson, Seth Katz, Dave Montague

Janice/Brittany/Flight Attendant: Helaina Kalman, Vicky Snyder

Beverley/Annette: Courtney Moore, Jessica Rave

Diane/Crystal/Brenda: Bridget Nowicki, Kathy McCormick, Sharon Russell, Nikki Johnson, Courtney Moore

Nick/Doug: Nick Benson, JJ Simpson, Dave Schick, Seth Katz

Kevin T/President Bush/Garth: JJ Simpson, Sean Kendall, Dave Montague

Kevin J/Ali: Bryan Blanks, Sean Kendall, Dave Montague

Hannah/Margie/Mickey: Ayana Thompson, Vicky Snyder, and Jessica Rave

Bob/Muhumuza: Bryan Blanks, Nick Benson

Thank you to everyone who auditioned. You all made our choices very difficult. For those who are not called back, please mark your calendars for our Get Acquainted on July 19 at 2:00 pm at Peoria Players to learn about more this season and how to get involved.