Established in 1986, Smiles and Frowns Playhouse has provided generations of children and young people with opportunities to participate in theatre, develop their creative voices, build confidence, and form lasting connections through the performing arts.
Our 40th anniversary will be celebrated throughout this season’s production of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, adapted and directed by Susan McCrea.
Below are opportunities to celebrate this huge milestone with us.
40th Anniversary Tee Shirts
We have a selection of tee-shirts for purchase to celebrate our 40 year milestone. We have three designs created by local alumni parent Rick Glosson that pay homage to our roots and nod to our tradition of returning to The Wizard of Oz every 10 years. Proceeds from the tee-shirts will go towards supporting our future of theatre for children, by children
3rd-12th Monologue Writing and Performance Competitions
As part of the 40th anniversary celebration, Smiles & Frowns Playhouse will host monologue writing and performance competitions for students in 3rd through 12th grade.
The competitions will give young people in Pitt County opportunities to write and perform original monologues.
Youth Monologue Performance Competition
Smiles and Frowns Playhouse invites youth in grades 3–12 to submit a filmed monologue performance for our 40th Anniversary celebrations. This competition highlights collaboration between young writers and young performers, and the overall winners in each grade division will perform the winning youth‑written monologue from our Playwriting Competition during the 40th Anniversary Weekend, November 13–14, 2026.
Prizes: One $50 winner will be selected in each division: Elementary, Middle School, and High School.
Submission Requirements
Students may perform a monologue from any source, including movies, plays, or books, or they may choose an original piece. To ensure copyright safety, excerpts should be short (approximately 1–2 minutes) and used only for educational competition purposes. Student winners must be available for two in person rehearsals in the time frame of Nov. 1- Nov. 12th.
All monologues must be filmed and submitted in one of the following formats:
- A Google Drive link with sharing enabled
- A YouTube link (public or unlisted)
- A direct video upload
Eligibility
All students in grades 3–12 are welcome to submit. Teachers, theatre educators, and community partners are encouraged to share this opportunity with students interested in acting, storytelling, or performance.
Submission Window Open: October 1–25, 2026
Deadline: October 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
For questions or support, contact Maxine at maxine@smilesandfrowns.org
Youth Monologue Playwriting Competition
Smiles and Frowns Playhouse invites youth in grades 3–12 to submit original, student‑written monologues inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.
This competition highlights collaboration between young writers and young performers, and the overall winners in each grade division will have their monologue performed by our Monologue Performance Competition winners during the 40th Anniversary Weekend, November 13–14, 2026.
Prizes: One $50 winner will be selected in each division: Elementary, Middle School, and High School.
Eligibility
All students in grades 3–12 are welcome to submit. Teachers, theatre educators, and community partners are encouraged to share this opportunity with students interested in acting, storytelling, or performance.
Submission Window Open: October 10–25, 2026
Deadline: October 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
For questions or support, contact Maxine at maxine@smilesandfrowns.org
Alumni Gathering
Smiles & Frowns is hosting an alumni gathering on Saturday, November 14, following the production of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
The gathering will take place from 5:00–9:00 p.m. at Second Street Community Building in Ayden, NC. Former Smiles and Frowns participants, families, volunteers, and directors of the organization are invited to reconnect and celebrate four decades of children’s theatre in Pitt County.
Light refreshments will be provided.
The gathering will provide an opportunity for generations of Smiles & Frowns alumni to come together, share memories, and celebrate the people who have contributed to our 40-year history.
Alumni Contact Form
Alumni are encouraged to RSVP via the form linked below to get important updates on the event and to stay connected.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Post-Show Alumni Talkback
Join us Friday, November 13th and Saturday, November 14th for a trip to the land of Oz! You can purchase tickets here.
After the show on November 13th, the Alumni Panel will explore The Lasting Impact of Theatre. Former Smiles & Frowns kids will discuss how their experiences have shaped their careers and lives, and reflect on the positive impacts of children’s theatre.
The talkback will offer current students, families, audience members, and community members an opportunity to hear firsthand about the lasting impact that participation in the arts can have long after a young person leaves the stage.