The Bell Tower Theater, Dubuque’s hometown theater, is pleased to announce its 2025 season. Next year will feature five new comedies, two youth productions and three incredible special events. Season Tickets are on sale now.
Subscription Series
The season opens with Aboveboard by Peter Bloedel & Emily Kimball. When Nick’s food starts disappearing from his apartment fridge, he immediately suspects his best friend Milo, a bumbling magician who lives down the hall. When Milo refuses to confess, Nick installs a camera to catch the culprit in the act—and finds an unlikely trespasser has been secretly living in his apartment. When the video hits the internet, the surprises multiply. This romantic comedy about magic, misunderstanding, and running out of milk is great for Valentine’s Day. See it February 7 to 23, 2025.
The Iowa premiere of new comedy Where You Are by Kristen De Silva runs March 28 to April 13, 2025. Sisters Glenda and Suzanne have lived together since Suzanne arrived single, penniless and pregnant 33 years earlier, moving in with Glenda and her late husband. When Suzanne’s daughter Beth arrives for a visit, things get complicated. Amid a busy week that includes a wild wedding, medicinal experimentation and a budding romance, the sisters are eventually forced to confront truths that will change their lives forever. This a hilarious and heart-warming exploration of family, forgiveness and falling in love.
Summer heats up with The Kitchen Witches by Caroline Smith. Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle are two “mature” cable-access cooking show hostesses who have hated each other for thirty years, ever since Larry Biddle dated one and married the other. When circumstances put them together on the same show, the insults are flung harder than the food and the show is a ratings smash! Can Stephen, Dolly’s long-suffering TV-producer son, keep them from destroying each other and the show? See The Kitchen Witches August 8 to 24, 2025.
Celebrate Arts & Humanities month with the Iowa premiere of The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League by Bell Tower favorites Jones Hope Wooten. When Deedra purchases an historic wedding venue, her dearest friends rally around her and launch “Occasionally Yours,” an events center for all kinds of fresh, new gatherings. With these women so involved in each other’s lives, what could possibly go wrong? Basically, almost everything. This rollicking, fast-paced comedy will bring you endless joy and waves of laughter. See all the ladies crazy antics from October 10 to 26, 2025.
Tired of performing Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic year after year, three actors decide instead to perform every Christmas story ever told—plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to now, and every carol ever sung. This madcap romp through the holiday season will have you in stitches! That’s Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) December 5 to 21, 2025.
The Bell Tower Theater’s schedule for 2025 Subscription Series Shows is: Evening performances on Thursdays, Fridays and the first two Saturdays of the run at 7:30 pm, Afternoon performances on the third Saturday of the run and every Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets are just $26 with discounts available for groups of 20 or more. The popular Early Bird Special performances will continue in 2025. On select days in the opening weekend of each show, tickets are half-price. That’s just $13! As always, Thursday night performances are Girl’s Night Out so everybody (21 years of age and older) will get a free glass of wine before the show!
Youth Musicals
The popular Free Summer Musical Program will once again include two full-scale musicals. First up is Heathers the Musical: Teen Edition, the darkly delicious story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High: the Heathers. But before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, Veronica falls in love with the dangerously handsome new kid, J.D. When Heather Chandler, the Almighty, kicks her out of the group, Veronica decides to suck it up… but J.D. has another plan.
All performers in Heathers the Musical: Teen Edition will be high school students from throughout the area. Performances are June 13, 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 pm and June 15 & 22 at 2 pm. Tickets are $15.
The 17th-Annual Kids-for-Kids Summer Musical will be Disney’s Descendants the Musical. Based on the popular Disney Channel Original Movies, this brand-new musical is jam-packed with comedy, adventure, Disney characters, and hit songs from the films! Imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost – home of the most infamous villains who ever lived – the teenaged children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella De Vil have never ventured off the island… until now. When the four troublemakers are sent to attend prep school alongside the children of beloved Disney heroes, they have a difficult choice to make: should they follow in their parents’ wicked footsteps or learn to be good?
This show will be performed by two casts of kids ages 7 to 18 from throughout the area. The show will run July 10 to 19, 2025 with 11 performances open to the public. The exact schedule is still to be determined. Tickets are $12.
Special Events
Get ready for a whirlwind adventure with As Time Goes By featuring Cathy Goodman and Dave Richter. What happens when a funky redhead asks AI to assist in creating a Cabaret show? With a passion for grammar, style, manners, and the timeless allure of jazz, this ginger is on a mission to breathe new life into these fading gems. Join us for an unforgettable fusion of wit, melody, and pure entertainment. Performances are Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 2 pm.
A brilliant 4-piece band from the Madison Area performs with high energy and musical expertise in Piano Man, a tribute to Billy Joel and other great artist! Don’t be fooled by the small number of musicians—their sound is huge vocally and musically. Fronted by one of the best pianists in the mid-west and supported by a stellar rhythm section this group is a must see! One performance only Friday, September 12, 2025 at 7:30 pm.
Bell Tower favorites, GIT Improv will be back in 2025. These master comedians offer improv comedy at its best. Every performance is a brand-new adventure as they create a unique show right before your very eyes using suggestions from you and your fellow audience members. GIT Improv will perform Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 7:30 pm.
For all three special events tickets are $26.
Ticket Information
Season subscriptions are on sale now. For just $100 subscribers to the Bell Tower Theater will receive one ticket to each of the five subscription series plays and musicals: Aboveboard; Where You Are; The Kitchen Witches ; The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League and Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) along with $10 in Bell Tower Bucks to spend at the concession stand; free ticket exchanges; the chance to purchase discounted tickets for several other events; and the opportunity to reserve tickets before they go on sale to the general public on October 1.
Tickets for the 2025 season go on sale to non-subscribers on October 1, 2024. Gift certificates are always available. To order tickets or gift certificates, call 563-588-3377 or visit BellTowerTheater.net.
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