Our Story
The little log cabin by the Town Commons on the Neuse River... we came to have our home in the late 1980s and became the sole occupants in the mid-to-late 1990s.
Few small communities have experienced the quality of local theatre that has graced Johnston County’s stages. From its founding in 1974, the Neuse Little Theatre has maintained the highest standards of quality. From Neil Simon to Rogers & Hammerstein; from Spoon River Anthology to Wizard of Oz, NLT has strived to delight young and old alike.
After years of traveling from pillar to post in search of a home, the Neuse Little Theatre found a place to call its own. “The Hut”, as it is affectionately known, is NLT’s home. Originally the American Legion Log Cabin, Neuse Little Theatre has worked hard at upkeep of the building while making it work as a live performance space. With only 100 seats, the Hut provides ample seating while maintaining the intimate theatrical experience that our audiences enjoy.
Come see a show and see what NLT can do! See you at the theater!
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With school finally out for the summer, there are several programs happening throughout the summer downtown that both children and adults can take advantage of!
The Howell Theatre - Downtown Smithfield NC’s
Summer Movie Program offers $1 tickets for everyone to kid-friendly movies at 10am Tuesday-Thursday, as well as a $2 drink and popcorn special! Visit
https://www.howellmovies.com for more information and to see showtimes for their other movies as well!
The Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield’s Summer Reading Program, “Oceans of Possibilities” offers a variety of programming for elementary aged children throughout June and July. The Library also has events planned for teens, as well as an adult book club. For more information, visit
https://www.pljcs.org.
Neuse Little Theatre’s Summer Drama Program is back June 13-24, and registration is open for ages 8-18. Students will learn acting techniques, theatre terminology, and everything it takes to create the theatre experience. At the end of the 2-week session, the attendees will perform the show they have been working on and demonstrate what they've learned. For more information or to register, visit
http://neuselittletheatre.org.
Johnston County Arts Council’s Music for the Lunch Bunch returns beginning with a June 8 performance from Neuse Little Theatre. Since 1985, Music for the Lunch Bunch has provided a series of free summer concerts held every Wednesday. Each concert begins at 12:15pm at First Presbyterian Church Smithfield and features local artists performing a variety of music. Enjoy the wonderful music then head to one of our downtown restaurants for lunch!
Neuse Little Theatre’s The Trip to Bountiful opens tonight! Call (919) 934-1873 to make your reservation to watch as Mrs. Carrie Watts as she tries to return to her hometown of Bountiful, restore a little of her dignity, and find some peace that she has been missing since moving to the big city.
Show dates are May 27 & 28 at 8pm, May 29 at 3pm, and June 3 & 4 at 8pm. Call (919) 934-1873 to reserve your tickets. $13 with reservation/$15 walkup at the door. Pay cash when you check in at the box office on show night (no credit or debit cards accepted).
Johnston County Arts Council’s Music for the Lunch Bunch is back in Downtown Smithfield starting with June 8’s performance from Neuse Little Theatre! Since 1985, Music for the Lunch Bunch has provided a series of free summer concerts held every Wednesday. Each concert begins at 12:15pm at First Presbyterian Church Smithfield and features local artists performing a variety of music.
You’ll want to put all of these dates on your calendar so you don’t miss these very talented musicians!
A couple of our downtown restaurants are offering special menus this Saturday, February 26!
The Gilded Pear Brew House is doing a special menu inspired by Neuse Little Theatre’s The Outsiders! Dine in or take out from 5-7:30, then catch the show at 8 (reserve your theatre tickets by calling 919-934-1873)!
Under the Oak Restaurant is hosting a Steakhouse Dinner! This three-course meal features a classic caesar salad, pan roasted 14 oz ribeye or pan seared NC market catch served with a twice baked potato, and creme brûlée. Make your reservations at
https://undertheoakgrocery.square.site/shop/76.
A couple of our downtown restaurants are offering special menus this Saturday, February 26!
The Gilded Pear Brew House is doing a special menu inspired by Neuse Little Theatre’s The Outsiders! Dine in or take out from 5-7:30, then catch the show at 8 (reserve your theatre tickets by calling 919-934-1873)!
Under the Oak Restaurant is hosting a Steakhouse Dinner! This three-course meal features a classic caesar salad, pan roasted 14 oz ribeye or pan seared NC market catch served with a twice baked potato, and creme brûlée. Make your reservations at
https://undertheoakgrocery.square.site/shop/76.
A couple of our downtown restaurants are offering special menus this Saturday, February 26!
The Gilded Pear Brew House is doing a special menu inspired by Neuse Little Theatre’s The Outsiders! Dine in or take out from 5-7:30, then catch the show at 8 (reserve your theatre tickets by calling 919-934-1873)!
Under the Oak Restaurant is hosting a Steakhouse Dinner! This three-course meal features a classic caesar salad, pan roasted 14 oz ribeye or pan seared NC market catch served with a twice baked potato, and creme brûlée. Make your reservations at
https://undertheoakgrocery.square.site/shop/76.
Help make Smithfield more pedestrian friendly, sign the kids up for softball, baseball and t-ball at Smithfield Parks and Recreation, and join us at the Neuse Little Theatre this weekend!
TELL US TUESDAY! We are so fortunate to have wonderful community theatre in Downtown Smithfield! Have you been to one of Neuse Little Theatre’s shows? Which one has been your favorite?
Any guesses at what shows these pictures were taken?
The Outsiders opens this Friday! Call 919-934-1873 to reserve your ticket!
We spotted some families taking advantage of the hills by the Neuse Little Theatre this morning! Are you doing some sledding with your family? Have some great pictures to share? We'd love to see 'em. Post your pics in the comments below or use #SmithfieldSnow.
~A Message From the Wayne County Museum~
The New Year will bring lots of new exhibits, events, and surprises! Our first event of the year will be Great Expectations at the Wayne County Museum on Jan. 5th-8th. The reader's theater "Radio show" style performances will feature a special voice actor that you all know and love, Wayne Alley. This beloved former voice of WBGR will be our new voice of WCMR (Wayne County Museum Radio). We are so excited that he is joining us for this production, it has been a real community project featuring actors from Center Stage Theatre StageStruck: The Young People's Own Theatre Neuse Little Theatre The Child of the Promise (Goldsboro). We are grateful to have so much talent making "Great Expectations" come to life as an innovative fundraiser. Tickets are only $10 and the proceeds benefit the Wayne County Museum.
https://www.facebook.com/events/440795634308905?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22search_results%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22search%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D
2022 will bring lots of new exhibits, events, and surprises to the museum. Our first event of the year is Great Expectations at the Wayne County Museum. The reader's theater "Radio show" style performances will feature a special voice actor that you all know and love, Mr. Wayne Alley. This beloved former voice of WBGR will be our new voice of WCMR (Wayne County Museum Radio). We are so excited that he is joining us for this production, it has been a real community project featuring actors from Center Stage Theatre StageStruck: The Young People's Own Theatre Neuse Little Theatre and The Child of the Promise (Goldsboro) We are grateful to have so much talent making "Great Expectations" come to life as an innovative fundraiser. Tickets are only $10 and the proceeds benefit the Wayne County Museum.
We are SO excited for the return of the Third StrEATery tonight! It looks like it will be a gorgeous night to enjoy being out and about in our downtown! Here’s a lineup of what’s going on tonight. We can’t wait to see YOU downtown tonight!
6-9pm: Music from Nate Browns Rhythms Of Soul
6-9pm: Free 9-Hole Miniature Golf
6-9pm Free Carriage Rides (reservations required)
6-8pm: Lobster Rolls from The Gilded Pear Brew House
6-7pm: Redneck Nachos from Under the Oak Restaurant and Market
8pm: Neuse Little Theatre’s Almost Maine
All night:
- Shopping on Third Street at Oak City Collection and The Southern Bostonian
- great movies at the Howell Theatre - Downtown Smithfield NC - The Dry, Scoob!, Spiral from the Book of Saw, and Wrath of Man
- buy beer and wine from the Howell, SoDoSoPa, and Under the Oak to enjoy with your meal as you listen to the music
- wonderful food from our downtown restaurants: The Chicken Barn, Last Call Smithfield, Sami’s Pizza and Pasta, Simple Twist, SoDoSoPa, The Gilded Pear, and Under the Oak
- late night drinks at Last Call, Little Brown Jug, and Saddle Up Saloon
