Your Downtown Community Theater
Captivating performances and heartfelt community in downtown Searcy for the last 26 years!
Your Downtown Community Theater
Captivating performances and heartfelt community in downtown Searcy for the last 26 years!
Performing Arts Center on the Square
Welcome to Performing Arts Center on the Square
Discover the heart of Searcy's vibrant performing arts scene at our community theater, located right in the heart of downtown. Immerse yourself in a diverse range of theatrical productions, from classic dramas to cutting-edge contemporary plays. Our stage is a canvas for local talent to shine, creating unforgettable experiences for audiences of all ages. Join us as we celebrate the power of live performance and the arts to bring our community together.
Experience the Magic of Performing Arts Center on the Square
Peter and the Starcatcher Tickets Now Available!
Coming Soon! A Christmas Carol Classic Radiocast Tickets On Sale.
Season Tickets On Sale! Last Day to Purchase is Friday, Nov 7
Tickets are officially on sale on October 1st for our upcoming production of Peter and the Starcatcher! Join us for this humorous and fantastical backstory for the beloved character of Peter Pan and his arch-nemesis Captain Hook. In this wickedly imaginative play, we meet a poor orphaned child on the high seas simply called Boy because, in the absence of a mother and a father, he was never given a name. His sad and lonely world is turned upside down when he meets Molly, the daughter of famous Starcatcher Lord Astor. Our heroine is on a mission to save the world and protect a treasure trunk filled with magical star stuff from getting into the hands of evil and greedy pirate, Black Stache. As they travel aboard the Neverland ship headed for a faraway land, Molly and Boy learn about love, friendship, and forge an unbreakable bond. New this season, we have EIGHT performance dates for you to choose from!
Performance Dates:
- Thursday, November 13 - 7:00
- Friday, November 14 - 7:00
- Saturday, November 15 - 2:00
- Sunday, November 16 - 2:00
- Thursday, November 20 - 7:00
- Friday, November 21 - 7:00
- Saturday, November 22 - 2:00
- Sunday, November 23 - 2:00
Tickets:
- Adults: $15
- Seniors (60+) & Military: $12
- Students & Children: $10
- Children 4 and under: FREE
Don’t miss your chance to experience this magical adventure—secure your seats today!
We look forward to seeing you at the theater.
Season Tickets On Sale! Last Day to Purchase is Friday, Nov 7
Coming Soon! A Christmas Carol Classic Radiocast Tickets On Sale.
Season Tickets On Sale! Last Day to Purchase is Friday, Nov 7
We are thrilled to announce that 2025/26 Season Tickets are now available! Secure your spot for a year of unforgettable theater at Center on the Square.
Your season ticket includes admission to all five of our Mainstage productions:
- Peter and the Starcatcher
- A Christmas Carol Classic Radiocast
- The Hollow
- The Book of Dog
- Meet Me in St. Louis
Season Ticket Pricing:
- Adult: $75
- Senior (60+)/Military: $60
- Student/Child: $50
✨ The biggest benefit of becoming a season ticket holder? You’ll enjoy reserved seating for each show—no need to worry about missing out on the best seats in the house!
We are so grateful for the support of our season ticket holders—your commitment makes community theater thrive in Searcy.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at director@centeronthesquare.org.
We can’t wait to share another incredible season with you!
Coming Soon! A Christmas Carol Classic Radiocast Tickets On Sale.
Coming Soon! A Christmas Carol Classic Radiocast Tickets On Sale.
🎄 Tickets On Sale November 8!
A Christmas Carol: Classic Radiocast
Show Dates: December 11–14 & December 18–21
Step back in time this holiday season with A Christmas Carol: Classic Radiocast, a heartwarming retelling of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale—brought to life as a 1940s-style live radio broadcast!
Adapted for the stage by Nathan Jerkins, this imaginative production blends nostalgia, laughter, and the true spirit of Christmas.
Join us at Center on the Square for a festive favorite that’s sure to warm your heart and delight the whole family. Tickets for our Christmas shows traditionally sell fast, so be sure to get your tickets early starting November 8!
You Can Make A Difference!
At Performing Arts Center on the Square, our mission is to provide a space for creativity and artistic expression and provide opportunities for everyone to learn and enjoy the art of theater. Support our mission by making a one time donation or a monthly donation today! As a 501c3 nonprofit, we are sustained by donations from supporters like you. Together, we can continue to make the magic of theatre accessible to everyone in our community!
Volunteer with Us
Volunteer with Us
Get involved with the Performing Arts Center on the Square by volunteering! We are always looking for passionate individuals to assist with various roles, from ushering and costumes to set design and promotional activities. Volunteering is a fantastic way to meet new people, learn about theater production, and support the arts in our community.
Our History
On August 20, 1999, a performance of Neil Simon's 'Rumors' opened for an audience of 55 people at 111 Arch Street in Searcy, Arkansas, and a great tradition began impacting a small town.
Opening a dinner theater in a town of 14,000 people proved to be an adventure for founder, Lana Hallmark, who had recently retired from teaching drama at Searcy High School. As the proprietor of a for-profit organization, Hallmark directed shows and organized caterers for nearly four years before she invited community leaders to participate with her in further developing the organization. In April of 2003, the non-profit 501(c)(3) Performing Arts Center on the Square, PACOTS for short, began with a board of twelve members. Hallmark was named Executive Director and continued to shoulder most of the responsibilities for running the business and the productions until 2011.
All of that came to a screeching halt when the Covid-19 Pandemic began in March of 2020. Like many other theaters around the world, PACOTS shuttered its doors, hoping that one day they would become open to the community once more. After being closed for a year, the theater re-opened in the Summer of 2021, with a few changes. The largest change, due to the ongoing pandemic, was the decision that Performing Arts Center on the Square would no longer be a dinner theater, at least for the time being. Instead, it would be a regular community theater, with hopes to expand and grow in new directions.
Performing Arts Center on the Square now has volunteer directors, two part-time paid staff positions, as well as a Board of Directors. The Board directs administrative functions, fundraising activities, special events, and orchestrated the purchase and renovation of a new facility in 2012. The theater currently has a Board of seven members, with the current Chairperson of the Board being Ryan Gibbons.
The theater offers a variety of plays and musicals throughout the season, utilizing local talent, directors, and volunteers from Searcy and White County and the surrounding areas, giving participants an opportunity to study and grow in their knowledge and theater experience. In addition to the regular-season schedule, Performing Arts Center on the Square offers technical, performance, and learning opportunities through our KidStage program.
KidStage began in the summer of 2000 with eight students, and now is a year-round program with sessions offered in the Spring, Summer, and Fall! Children from 4th-12th grade are split into age appropriate groups where they learn performing skills, audition techniques, and technical aspects of show production including set building, costuming, stage make-up, lighting, sound, and more! Each class culminates in a production to showcase what they have learned along the way.
Local businesses have supported the efforts of Performing Arts Center on the Square and its contribution to the overall quality of life in the region by sponsoring shows and events, purchasing advertising, and promoting the productions to their employees. The theater is also open as a venue to the community to host events such as, but not limited to, concerts, banquets, stand-up comedy routines, and more!
Since its inception, Performing Arts Center on the Square has become a Searcy tradition, a place to meet new people, develop friendships, be entertained, entertain others, and give back to the community. The Board of Directors is honored to serve this region of the state by sustaining the performing arts for everyone to enjoy.
Our Mission
Performing Arts Center on the Square will nurture artists, technicians, volunteers, and audience members by providing opportunities for them to study and enjoy the art of theater. It will have a significant impact on the level of arts participation in the community by undertaking a wide range of artistic endeavors.
Contact Us
Have a question that you don't see the answer for?
For inquiries about venue availability or our upcoming events, or simply need help with a question, please send us a message and we will do our best to get back to you within 24 business hours.
We will get back to you soon!
Performing Arts Center on the Square
219 West Arch Avenue, Searcy, Arkansas 72143, United States
