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Winter Show 2027:

The Hobbit


Auditions: August 24 & 26, 2026 at NCT Studio • Middletown
Performances: January 8 &  9, 2027 at Casino Theatre • Newport
Registration Fee: $350

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Enter the magical world of JR Tolkien!

Directed by NCT Alum, Tatyana Frost, our winter production will take place at the Casino Theatre on January 8 & 9.

Schedule Details Below

Auditions:
August 24 or 26
Pick a slot between 4:30-7:30 
Click the RED link below.
For children/teens ages 8-18!
 

AUDITIONS

REGISTRATION

TICKETS

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OPTIONAL SHOWTIME GIFTS FOR YOUR ACTOR

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Show Information

Schedule

This show will rehearse starting September 7th on Mondays from 4:30pm-8pm and Saturdays from 9:30a-1pm (Saturday class times may change slightly). Starting November, there will be an additional week night added-TBD. There will be 2 mandatory parents meeting held at the first rehearsal and one before tech week begins. Not every actor will necessarily be called for every rehearsal, and the director will do their best to work with each actor's schedule, so please don't let scheduling conflicts keep you from auditioning! There will be more  rehearsals as the show opening grows closer, and during tech week.

The show will run on January 8th and 9th with tech week taking place January 2-7.  Tech week rehearsals leading up to performances are mandatory for all actors cast. 

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If cast, there is a $350 registration fee due at the time of registration. Klarna, Afterpay, Paypal Credit are available if needed. 

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Limited financial aid is available to those who qualify via the Kelly Nevitt Memorial Scholarship Fund. Email finance@newportchildrenstheatre.org if you are interested in applying for aid. All applications are due by the audition date. Applying for aid does NOT impact casting decisions; all applications are confidential. 

Production Team

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Tatyana Frost

Director

Megan Buchanan

Set Designer

Plot

Bilbo Baggins is a quiet hobbit who loves comfort, food, and a predictable routine. Everything changes when the wizard Gandalf arrives with a band of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. They invite Bilbo on a dangerous journey to help reclaim the dwarves’ homeland and treasure from the dragon Smaug.

 

As the company travels through wild lands, they face trolls, goblins, and giant spiders. Bilbo surprises everyone (including himself) by using courage and cleverness instead of strength. Deep underground, he finds a mysterious ring and outwits the creature Gollum, gaining a tool that will change his life.

 

When the group finally reaches the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo must navigate rising tensions: the dwarves’ desire for their treasure, the fear of Smaug, and the arrival of other peoples who also have claims and needs. The story builds toward a major conflict (often staged as the Battle of the Five Armies) and ends with Bilbo returning home—older, wiser, and forever changed by adventure.

Cast of Characters

  • Bilbo Baggins — The hero. A homebody who discovers he’s braver and smarter than he ever imagined.

  • Gandalf — A wise wizard who sets the adventure in motion and guides the group (though he’s not always present).

  • Thorin Oakenshield — Proud leader of the dwarves. Determined to reclaim his people’s home; his stubbornness can cause trouble.

  • The Dwarves (ensemble) — Thorin’s company. In many stage versions, a few are featured more strongly:

  • Balin — steady, kind, and respected

  • Kíli & Fíli — younger, energetic, and loyal

  • Bombur — often used for comedy and warmth

  • Smaug — The dragon guarding the treasure. Intelligent, terrifying, and vain.

  • Gollum — A strange creature who plays a riddle game with Bilbo; both scary and oddly tragic.

  • Elrond — An elf leader who offers help and wisdom.

  • The Wood-elves / Thranduil — Elves who may be portrayed as suspicious of dwarves, but not purely “bad.”

  • Bard — A brave human leader/archer who stands up for his people.

  • Goblin King / Goblins — Underground enemies; often staged with masks, movement, and comedy/menace.

  • Spiders / Wargs / Eagles — Creature roles usually played by an ensemble using puppetry or choreography.

Production History

  • Original book: The Hobbit was written by J.R.R. Tolkien and first published in 1937.

  • A classic for adaptation: Because it’s episodic (one adventure after another), it’s been adapted many times for stage in both children’s theatre and full-length adult productions.

  • Not one single “official” play: There are multiple licensed stage scripts by different publishers and playwrights. Schools often use shorter, simplified versions; community/regional theatres often use fuller adaptations with more complex staging.

  • Modern staging trends: Recent productions frequently use ensemble doubling, stylized movement, puppetry, and minimalist sets to create dragons, spiders, and battles safely and imaginatively.

Trivia

  • It started as a children’s book: Tolkien originally wrote The Hobbit with a younger audience in mind, which is why it adapts so well for kids.

  • The ring matters later: The ring Bilbo finds becomes central to The Lord of the Rings—many audiences love spotting the “beginning of the bigger story.”

  • Riddles are a highlight: The Bilbo–Gollum riddle scene is one of the most famous dialogue sequences in fantasy literature and is often a centerpiece in stage versions.

  • Smaug is a dream role: Dragons are hard to stage, so productions get creative—Smaug might be a puppet, a mask, a shadow, a voice, or an ensemble-created creature.

  • Themes that land for all ages: Courage, friendship, greed vs. generosity, and the idea that “small” people can do big things.

  • Flexible casting: Many stage versions can be cast with any gender and a wide range of ages, especially for dwarves, elves, and creature ensembles.

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