Beatrice Likes the Dark Casts a Gentle Spell at Adventure Theatre MTC
Some children are afraid of the dark, and some find it the most magical part of the day. In Beatrice Likes the Dark, now playing at Adventure Theatre MTC in Glen Echo Park through Nov 1, 2026, young audiences meet a girl who belongs firmly in the second group, and a sister who couldn't be more different. Written by Dani Stoller and based on the beloved picture book by April Genevieve Tucholke, this tender new adaptation is a story about siblings learning to understand each other and about discovering that the night can be beautiful rather than frightening.
Irene Hamilton stars as Beatrice, a girl who feels most at home after the sun goes down, while Chelsea Majors plays her sister Roo, who loves nothing more than a bright and sunny day. Guiding the audience through their adventure are the family pets, Buttons and Raven, played by Jordan Brown and Hannah Taylor, who serve as both narrators and constant on-stage companions. Tobi Baisburd and Jordan Essex complete the ensemble, with Baisburd adding a welcome dose of humor as she helps conjure the spells that drive the story. The cast brings a warmth and softness to the production that pulls in grown-ups and little ones alike.
Under the direction of Patrick Flynn, the show unfolds as a dreamy trip through the darkness, and its look is one of its great pleasures. Lynn Joslin's lighting fills the stage with glowing points of light and plays beautifully against Roo's love of sunshine, while Kenny Neal's sound design weaves in Debussy and Beethoven to build moments of suspense and resolution. Projections by Hailey LaRoe bring sweet images of cookies, the moon, and more to life as the sisters brew a special potion that helps them face their fears and learn from one another.
Families will also be dazzled by the sheer number of enchanted objects on display. Resident props designer Andrea "Dre" Moore has filled the production with more than 50 props, including a glowing spell book whose pages flutter open on their own and a spell cart carrying a neon potion that bathes the stage in a radiant glow.
Stoller's script is written so the youngest theatergoers can follow along easily, with a few winks tucked in for the parents in the audience. A heartfelt monologue for Beatrice partway through, in which she reflects on why people fear what they've never truly experienced, gives the story real emotional weight. At its heart, this is a show about embracing differences, and children who see it will come away with a gentle lesson about family and acceptance.
Running 45 minutes with no intermission, Beatrice Likes the Dark is an ideal first theatre outing and is recommended for ages 5 and up. Performances are weekend and weekday matinees through Nov 1, 2026, at Adventure Theatre MTC, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD.