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
Call for Directors!
CALL FOR DIRECTORS: 2026/2027 SEASON
Have you ever wanted to direct a show at Center on the Square? Now’s your chance!
We are currently accepting interest from volunteer directors for our upcoming 2026/2027 season. Our Board has already selected the shows, and we’re looking for passionate, collaborative leaders to help bring them to life on stage.
Whether your experience comes from directing, acting, stage management, technical theatre, education, or another area of theatre, we’d love to hear from you!
Interested applicants should email director@centeronthesquare.org with:
- A brief outline of your theatre experience (as a director or in any theatre capacity)
-Why you feel you would make a great director at Center on the Square
- A few thoughts on why community theatre is such a special opportunity for directors
Community theatre is powered by volunteers, creativity, and people who love storytelling. If that sounds like you, we encourage you to apply!
Questions? Feel free to reach out. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Auditions for Meet Me in St. Louis
Center on the Square is pleased to announce auditions for Meet Me in St. Louis, directed by Ryan Gibbons. We invite performers of all experience levels to join us for this classic, heartwarming musical.
Audition Information:
Monday, May 18 and Tuesday, May 19 at 6:00 PM
Please note: those auditioning only need to attend one of the scheduled dates.
Location:
Center on the Square
219 W Arch Ave
Searcy, AR
Performance Dates:
August 6–9 and August 13–16
Audition Information
- Open to actors and actresses of all experience levels
- No prior experience required; all are welcome
- Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script (no preparation necessary)
- Singing will be included as part of the audition process (no preparation required)
- Rehearsals will begin in June
About the Show
Set in the summer of 1903, Meet Me in St. Louis follows the Smith family as they eagerly anticipate the opening of the 1904 World’s Fair. Over the course of a year, they experience romance, opportunity, and heartbreak, all grounded in strong family bonds and gentle humor.
The musical features several beloved songs from the original film, along with additional numbers written for the stage, including “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “The Boy Next Door,” “The Trolley Song,” and “Whenever I’m with You.”
Sign Up for Auditions
Please complete the audition form at the link below:
https://forms.gle/FdkujQFC8NFkVmVCA
Questions
For additional information, please contact Kim at director@centeronthesquare.org.
We look forward to welcoming you to auditions and to another exciting production at Center on the Square.
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
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
