The Young Festival Stage

04/02/2026

07/07/2025

🦁🎭 Cue the epic music… because you seriously Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.

That’s right—Androcles and the Lion is here, and it’s ROARING with laughter, music, and more charm than a Roman toga party.

Whether it’s a singing lion, dancing Romans, or kids who deliver one-liners like Broadway pros—this show is the perfect bite-sized burst of joy your summer needs.

🎟️ $15 kids’ tickets
🔥 JULY 3–14 at Baylor’s Mabee Theatre
🎧 Sensory-friendly: July 12
🤟 ASL-interpreted: July 14

📽️ Watch the video. Feel the feels. Then grab your tickets—because you really, truly, absolutely don’t want to miss a thing.

🎟️ https://baylortheatre.evenue.net/events/BT-YAL

07/06/2025

07/02/2025

🐾 THE KIDS SHOW YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IS HERE! 🐾

Young Festival Stage presents Androcles and the Lion—a laugh-out-loud, heart-full-of-joy, bring-the-whole-family kind of event that will leave your kids roaring with delight! 🦁✨

🎟️ Perfect for ages 6–12 (and all grownups still young at heart!)
🗓️ July 3–14
📍 Baylor's Maybee Theatre
💵 Tickets start at $15

This is not your grandma’s toga party—it’s a wild, wise, and totally wacky adventure that proves even the smallest act of kindness can rewrite the ending. 🧵🦁💥

🎟️ Tickets: https://baylortheatre.evenue.net/events/BT-YAL

07/02/2025

🦁✨RUNAWAY SLAVES. GRUMPY EMPERORS. ONE VERY LARGE LION.

Welcome to Androcles and the Lion—the wildest, wittiest, most heartwarming Roman adventure this side of Saturday morning cartoons.

There’s danger!
There’s dancing!
There’s a lion who may or may not be the smartest character on stage.

It’s fast.
It’s funny.
It’s the kind of show where kindness saves the day and laughter steals the spotlight.

Perfect for anyone who likes their stories with big heart, big laughs, and just a little bit of roaring.

🎟️ Tickets on sale now for as low as $15 @ https://baylortheatre.evenue.net/events/BT-YAL
📅 July 3-14
📍 Baylor Maybee Theatre
🦁 Trust us—the lion is worth it.

06/30/2025

"DING!" "BONK!" "ZOOM!" These are some of the LIVE sound effects you will hear in our production of Androcles and the Lion. Not only do our onstage musicians play all the music for Androcles and the Lion, they also produce all the sound effects - live and in-person!

If you're looking for a lively, silly, and musical experience for your kids this summer, look no further than The Young Festival Stage's Androcles and the Lion. This play skyrockets with zany comedy and glows with the warmth of friendship.

Children's Tickets available for only $15!

Don't miss Androcles and the Lion! It's sure to be the hit of the summer in Waco!

06/26/2025

ROAR if you're ready for some singing, dancing, and laughter!

Androcles and the Lion has special performances just for YOU! Whether you're celebrating the 4th of July, looking for a sensory-friendly experience, or need ASL interpretation — we’ve got you covered!

July 4 @ 10AM & 2PM – Fourth of July Shows
July 12 @ 2PM – Sensory-Friendly Performance
July 14 @ 6:30PM – ASL-Interpreted Performance

Get your tickets now @
https://baylortheatre.evenue.net/events/BT-YAL

Tickets for kids are now $15!

06/24/2025

Thank you, Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities! We are so excited to offer Sensory Friendly and ASL-interpreted performances. Join us!

🎭 The Young Festival Stage invites you to two accessible performances of Androcles and the Lion at Baylor University's Mabee Theatre!

✨ Sensory Friendly Performance
🗓 Saturday, July 12 at 2pm
This performance includes:
• Dimmed (not dark) house lights
• Lower sound levels
• A quiet room for breaks
• Use of tablets/smartphones
• Prep materials: parent tip sheet, social story, and synopsis

🤟 ASL-Interpreted Performance
🗓 Monday, July 14 at 6:30pm
This performance will feature a live American Sign Language interpretation.
🎫 Tickets Available Now
Online: baylortheatre.evenue.net
Phone: (254) 710-1865

06/21/2025

The Young Festival Stage has an exciting announcement. Kids tickets for Androcles and the Lion are now just $15!

This show’s got everything. Music, dancing, giggles, action... and yep, even a lion! 🦁 (Don’t worry, he’s a friendly one.)

It’s the funniest, most heartfelt show of the summer, and you can grab your tickets online, in-person, or by giving us a ring!

Check our website for all the details and don’t miss out on this show...it'll be the highlight of your kids' summer!

06/18/2025

Meet the Design/Tech Summer Fellows! While some of our Summer Fellows are featured on the stage, these Summer Fellows serve on the YFS production team -- Also known as the behind-the-scenes superheroes who truly make the magic of theater happen.

Shout out to Baylor Engaged Learning for turning ambition into action! Without them, these professional opportunities for young artists would not be possible.

Tickets for Androcles and the Lion are going fast (like, actually fast), so grab yours now to see our work come to life July 3–14.

Last but not least…give these fellows a ROAR in the comments!

06/14/2025

"Conversations with Creative Waco” just got a little more theatrical! Our very own Guilherme Almeida (Music Director/Company Manager) and Michael Sullivan (Producing Director) sat down with Fiona Bond at KWBU to talk about the origin story of The Young Festival Stage, the magic of live theatre for kids, and—of course—our upcoming musical romp Androcles and the Lion.

We want to take the time to highlight our partners this Summer, especially Cultural Arts of Waco. YFS is grateful for their support!

🎧 Catch the full episode here: https://www.kwbu.org/show/conversations-with-creative-waco/2025-05-30/conversations-with-creative-waco-michael-sullivan-and-guilherme-almeida-vincent-thomas

🎟️ And don’t forget - Androcles and the Lion opens July 3 at Baylor’s Mabee Theatre. Tickets are live on our website.

Bring your kids. Bring your inner child. Just don’t bring a real lion!