The Hobbit

The Hobbit

When homebody Bilbo Baggins is whisked away by a band of dwarves and a very mysterious wizard, he finds himself facing trolls, goblins, and a fire-breathing dragon—with only his courage and a bit of luck to guide him!

February 7 - February 22, 2026
The Starlight Theater at MYArts

Based on the
Novel by J.R.R. Tolkien

Licensed by
Middle-Earth Enterprises

Adapted for the Stage by
Greg Banks

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90 minutes | For ages 7 and up

Themes: Adventure – Courage – Home

The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved tale comes to life in this adventurous stage adaptation, filled with heart, humor, and heroism. When homebody Bilbo Baggins is whisked away by a band of dwarves and a very mysterious wizard, he finds himself facing trolls, goblins, and a fire-breathing dragon—with only his courage and a bit of luck to guide him! You won’t want to miss this amazing adventure!

Directed by Brian Cowing

Originally commissioned and produced by Children’s Theatre Company
Produced by special arrangement with Plays for New Audiences

Click Here for Digital Playbill

GET INTO THE MINDS OF OUR CREATORS – WATCH OUR PRE-SHOW VIDEO NOW!

Want to enhance your theater experience?

Our enrichment guide provides additional learning, activities and resources. Filled with conversation starters and resources galore, this guide can be utilized to prepare young audience members for the show, introduce them to the theater, encourage them to reflect on their experience, engage them in an activity, and enrich their overall experience with the play.

Enrichment Guide

With Music by
Tom Johnston

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Show Times

Sorry! This series has no upcoming performances.

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Meet The Cast and Creative Team!

Alisha Chitko

Bilbo Baggins

Bio

Alisha is elated to be a part of The Hobbit! Her past CTM credits include Chirag in Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Zoe in The Trials, and most recently, Erica in Matilda. An 8th grader at Madison Country Day School, Alisha’s time offstage is mostly spent reading, gardening, and listening to the Hamilton and Hadestown cast albums. Special thank-you to her parents, friends, and teachers for supporting and encouraging her. Enjoy the show!

Ben Haden

Bilbo Baggins

Bio

Ben is thrilled to return to CTM, and grateful to play the role of Bilbo! He was previously seen at CTM as Bruce in Matilda The Musical, Tim Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, and has also appeared in productions of Rock of Ages, The Lion King, and Something Rotten. He is a 7th grader at Prairie View Middle School and enjoys playing DnD, Magic the Gathering, and spending time in nature. Special thanks to his family and friends for their support!

Casem AbuLughod

Thorin, Goblin, Wolf, Eagle

Bio

Casem is a Madison based performer and human. He is an improv performer and instructor with the Monkey Business Institute, an actor and teaching artist with Whoopensocker, and a member of Forward Theater’s Advisory Company. He is very excited to return to the CTM stage and wants you to know that you are awesome! Casem’s most recent CTM production was Pooh in Winnie the Pooh (And His Pals Too!) Big hugs and thanks to his family.

Samuel Alvarez

Bifor, Troll 4, Goblin, Gollum, Wolf, Guard 1, Bard

Bio

CTM has been Samuel’s home away from home for almost a decade! There is no place he’d rather be than on stage, and he’s excited to be a part of The Hobbit! With much love and thanks to all who have come alongside him on this adventure: Roseann Sheridan, Melanie Cain, ALL the staff and crew who make CTM possible, and forever – the hematology/oncology team at UW Children’s Hospital. Oh, and his parents.

Asiah Aman Wagabaza Doyle

Gandalf, Bombur

Bio

Asiah is a professional actor, musician, composer, audio/visual technician, and designer from Madison, WI. He graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 2022 with a comprehensive degree in Theatre Arts, and a minor in Guitar. Asiah is very excited to be back onstage in a CTM production. He sends his love to his friends & family who have always supported him, and to his teachers & mentors who have motivated and encouraged him over the years.

Parnassus Funk

Kili, Goblin, Elf Queen

Bio

Parnassus is excited to return to the CTM stage, a place so special to her! A performer raised in Madison, Parnassus recently graduated with her BFA from Sargent Conservatory in St. Louis. She was most recently seen in CTM’s Matilda The Musical. Offstage, she enjoys laughing with her friends, rereading her favorite novels, and searching for the best vanilla latte she can get her hands on… which she hasn’t found yet. She is open to recommendations. Biggest thanks to her family, always.

Tess Lenzen

Balin, Troll 3, Goblin

Bio

Tess is honored to be back with CTM for another spectacular production! Recent CTM credits include Ms. Trunchbull cover in Matilda, Clarisse in Percy Jackson’s The Lightning Thief, as well as being featured in the Taste of Broadway. She would like to thank her incredible partner Andrew as well as her friends, family, and puppy Netti for their incredible support. Enjoy!

Rosemary Walsh

Bofur, Troll 2, Goblin, Wolf, Wood Elf, Guard 2

Bio

Rosemary is excited to be part of The Hobbit! She last performed at CTM covering for Teshi in The Trials. Credits at Madison West High School, where she is a senior, include Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Ensemble) and Surprise (Esther). Rosemary spends her time playing flute, studying Spanish, visiting with family, and listening to Sondheim. CTM will always feel like a family. Thank you, Mom, Dad, and John.

Nick Chiaverini

Understudy Ensemble

Bio

Nick is an actor, motion-capture performer, and voice actor from Madison, WI. He has performed in theaters around the Midwest, indie films and video games, and has voiced characters for podcasts. Some of his recent theatre productions include Assassins (Davey/Bystander) and Cinderella (Charles the Cat/Coachman). He would like to thank his family and friends for their support.

Maggie Hinterhuer

Understudy Ensemble

Bio

Maggie is excited to be part of CTM again after being an understudy for last year’s production of The Trials. She is a 9th grader at East High School where she is part of the theater and music community. Maggie enjoys reading, drawing, playing piano and hanging out with her two awesome cats.

Chloe Maier

Understudy Ensemble

Bio

Chloe is thrilled to be working with CTM on The Hobbit. She recently graduated from UW-Madison’s theatre and dance programs, where you may have seen her last spring as the Adult Women and dance captain for UT’s Spring Awakening, or this fall as Kendra in StageQ’s The Gulf. She also works as a teaching artist for CTM and is directing Peter and The Starcatcher for VAHS this February. She thanks those who support her “there and back again”.

Max Saari-Pausch

Understudy Ensemble

Bio

Max is excited to make his second mainstage show at CTM! He has loved being a part of their classes and shows. Max is in 9th grade at La Follette High School and loves drawing, animating, and singing.! He has appeared in Summer Stage productions of Newsies, Mary Poppins and Matilda and is a member of the Advanced Acting Company. Thanks to his family and friends for their support.

Brian Cowing

Director

Bio

Brian is honored to be in his third season as Artistic Director. Favorite CTM directing credits include The Wizard of Oz, Seussical, Tuck Everlasting, A Christmas Carol, Cinderella and The Lightning Thief. His work has also been seen at American Players Theater, Madison Opera, Skylight Music Theatre, Four Seasons Theatre, Capital City Theatre, Music Theatre of Madison, UW-Madison, and Clinton Showboat. He has performed around the country and world with the national tours of Annie and Something Rotten! Brian has extensive teaching experience including CTM’s Summer Stage, Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway Bootcamp, Tianjin Conservatory of Music, and Whoopensocker. He is a proud graduate of Oklahoma City University’s musical theater program and UW-Madison Bolz Center for Arts Administration.

Jennifer Vosters

Music Director, Assistant Director

Bio

Jennifer is so excited to help bring one of her favorite stories to life! Previously at CTM: six seasons in the company of A Christmas Carol. Directing/assistant directing credits include Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, Next Act Theatre, Forward Theater, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, and Voices Found Repertory. She is the writer, performer, and producer of the award-winning solo play, Songs Without Words. Thanks to Brian, Allen, and the whole CTM team! “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

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Shelley Cornia

Costume Designer

Bio

Shelley is honored to work with Brian Cowing and design The Hobbit for CTM’s 60th season. CTM designs include Matilda, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Mean Girls (CTM Summer Stage), The Diary of Anne Frank and A Christmas Carol. Other recent works include Summer, 1976 and The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk at Forward Theater and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone and Fences at University Theater, UW-Madison. Work at previous companies include the Ohio Light Opera, the Eastman School of Music, LSU Opera and University Opera-UW Madison. Shelley was awarded a Kennedy Center Design Fellowship for work on Trojan Women, her MFA thesis design. Love to RSC.

Seth Howard

Scenic Designer

Bio

Seth is a freelance scenic designer based out of St. Louis, MO. Some of his design credits include Athena (The Rep St. Louis); Grease (Bucks County Playhouse); Mamma Mia! and Come From Away (Theatre Aspen); The Lightning Thief and Cinderella (Children’s Theater of Madison); Topdog/Underdog (Palm Beach Dramaworks); The Addams Family and 42nd Street (Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre). Check out @sethhowarddesigns on social media.

Marnie Cummings

Lighting Designer

Bio

Marnie designs for dance, theater and opera. She started out working in the downtown theater scene in NYC and has a particular affinity for experimental and ensemble work. Upon graduation from University of Washington Marnie spent the next 7 years designing in and around Seattle. She moved to the Midwest just before 2020 and has happily started to design in the Madison area. Favorite designs include Susannah at Wolftrap and Anne Frank with CTM.

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Isabel White

Sound Designer

Bio

Isabel is a theatre artist in the Madison area. She has most recently been involved in CTM’s The Diary of Anne Frank (Sound Designer), Capital City Theatre’s It’s A Wonderful Life (Audio Engineer), and University Theatre’s Spring Awakening (Audio Engineer) and Orlando (Sound Designer). She would like to thank her friends and family for all their support, and she hopes you enjoy this adventure!

Anders Goodwin

Production Stage Manager

Bio

Anders is ecstatic to be a part of the stage & production management team at CTM! He’s worked with CTM since 2018 and he believes that CTM’s mission of community-building and spreading the joy of theater is more important than ever in an increasingly fragmented world. A graduate of Ripon College, he has a background in psychology and philosophy which informs his theatrical praxis. As a freelance stage & production manager, he’s helped bring shows to stages across the East Coast and the Midwest, including at American Players Theatre, Playhouse Stage Company, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

Production Team

Assistant Stage Manager………………………….. Kate Kowalcyzk

Audio Engineer……………………………………. Holly Johnson

Audio Assistant, Deck Crew……………………………………… James Viall III

Wardrobe Supervisor…………………………….. Claire Twedt

Stitchers……………………..Abigail Alvarez, Alli Durst, Emma Fried, Amy Gribb, Nancy Horns, Claire Twedt, Nicole White

Carpenters……………… Jordan Rockman, Ryan Seifert

Scenic Charge Artist…………………….. Katie Andreachi

Lead Properties Artisan……………………… Karen Ebert

Lead Electrician…………………………….. Jarrod Bainter

Follow Spot Operator………………………….. Charly Sparks

Plan Your Visit

This show is located at the MYArts Building at 1055 E. Mifflin, Madison, WI 53703. The Starlight Theater is on the 4th floor. Come early! The Ticket Box Office is located at the reception desk on the 1st floor and opens 60 minutes prior to curtain to allow enough time for a security inspection and to find your seat. There is plenty of free and 2-hour parking on the streets in the neighborhood around MYArts and Breese Stevens Field, especially on Dayton and E. Mifflin St.

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