A new season of youth theater is coming to southeast Iowa, with Fairfield Youth Performing Arts announcing its 2026 lineup. On the heels of their inaugural 2025 season where they explored what was “possible,” 2026 promises to “inspire” these young performers to reach new heights and transform their communities in Southeast Iowa through theatre and art.
The organization, founded by Tommy Brower, will present a campy parody, Xanadu Jr. this summer. The award winning musical based on the 1980s cult-classic starring Olivia Newton-John, is scheduled for performances July 30th and 31st, and August 1st and 2nd. Auditions will be announced soon. To sign up for updates, fill out this form.
Later in the year, the group will shift to a more dramatic production with The Outsiders, set for December. The play is based on the classic novel by S. E. Hinton and will challenge young men in the area to get more involved with the performing arts.
As part of the lead-up to auditions, Fairfield Youth Performing Arts is also hosting a special event tied to Xanadu Jr. A pre-show “Glow” karaoke and pizza party is planned for Saturday, May 9th from 4 to 9 p.m. at 200 South Main Street in Fairfield, Iowa. The event includes a screening of the original Xanadu film, followed by pizza and Broadway-style karaoke. RSVP for the event is encouraged, but not required.
Organizers say the pre-show “glow” is open to current participants and those interested in getting involved. Everyone is encouraged to bring a friend and experience the program firsthand.
Click below to hear the full conversation with Tommy Brower about FYPA and their upcoming season.