Blinn Theatre Arts Program kicks off 2025-26 season with 'Spookley the Square Pumpkin'

Production to be staged Oct. 16-19 at Brenham’s O’Donnell Center

October 8, 2025

The Blinn College District Theatre Arts Program will kick off its “What’s in a Name?” season with the child-friendly “Spookley the Square Pumpkin: The Musical.”

“Spookley” will be staged at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 16 and 17, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18 and 19, at the Dr. W.W. O’Donnell Performing Arts Center at 600 Blinn Boulevard on the Brenham Campus. School preview performances will be at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Oct. 16 and 17.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for Blinn students and children. They are available online at www.blinn.edu/boxoffice, by phone at 979-830-4024, or by email at boxoffice@blinn.edu.

“Based on the children's book, The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin, we learn that judging others for being different is wrong,” said Theatre Arts Director Brad Nies, who will direct the play. “Through trial and error, Spookley tries to fit in on Halloween night, despite the other pumpkins wanting him out of the patch.”

The play is recommended for all ages and utilizes flashing lights and atmospheric effects.

As a special tribute to Halloween, children wearing costumes will be admitted free to any of the public performances, he said.

Theatre Arts Instructor Jennifer Patrick oversees costumes, makeup, hair design, puppets, and choreography. Technical direction is by Kevin Patrick, Technical Theatre Arts Director. Jill Stewart, Instrumental Music Coordinator and Clarinet Professor, will serve as music director.

Cast members are Lizzy Foster, Spookley; Aidan Johnson, Jack, a scarecrow; Ryan Kendall, Big and Little Tom, pumpkin brothers; Paige Stewart, Bobo, the prettiest pumpkin in the patch; Ivory Lasker as Melvin, and Keylan Richardson as Otis, “honeydude” melons; Aalahni Reed, Mimi, a “honeydoo” melon; Jaden Mertz as Edgar, Annabelle Chisum as Allen, and Nalani Koester as Poe, spiders; Tevin Simmons, Farmer Hill; and Eric Wilcher, a magician.

Crew members are Michael Silgero, stage manager; Lanna Solomon, assistant stage manager; Isabelle Beaman, properties crew; Ace Burns and Alyssa Hernandez, board operators; Kat Gonzales, assistant scene designer; Rylie King, makeup designer; Ethan Mugambi, front of house/usher; Jude Netanel, audio engineer; Will Stiles, backstage audio; Daeja Wells, fly set/stage crew; and Ayla Witt, costume supervisor.

“Spookley” is Blinn’s entry into the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, a national play festival that allows universities, four-year schools, and community colleges the opportunity for a critique from a theatre professional, as well as individual recognition.

Other productions for the 2025-26 season are:

• “Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play,” 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 13 and 14, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15 and 16 (preview performances are Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.);
• “Romeo and Juliet,” 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 19 and 20, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21 and 22 (preview performances are Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.);
• and “The Boys Next Door,” 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 16 and 17, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19 (preview performances are April 16 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.).

In addition to the plays, the program’s improvisation troupe “Slaphappy” will perform on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. at the O’Donnell Center.

The program’s 10-Minute Play Festival will be held Friday, March 27, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 28, at 2 p.m. Area high school students will submit original 10-minute plays designed to inspire, enlighten, and entertain audiences.

Blinn’s Theatre Arts Program cultivates a high-quality educational foundation through a wide range of performance, technical, and production studies. Its Associate of Arts degree plan integrates artistic, technical, and academic disciplines of theatre from the classroom to the stage. Students have the opportunity to audition for a variety of drama and theatre performances and are prepared to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/theatre.