The Greater Ocean City Theatre Company (OCTC) announced its 2026 Summer Children’s Theatre Series. From July 7 through August 4, OCTC will present five fully staged family musicals every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier.
Tickets are $11 in advance and $13 on the day of the performance. Reserve seats today at www.oceancitytheatrecompany.com.
In a new twist for 2026, each performance will feature a special themed opportunity designed to help children create lasting memories at the theatre. From free admission for teddy bears to patriotic red, white, and blue attire, families are encouraged to join in the fun each week. Additional themed details and participation opportunities are listed below with each performance description.
2026 Ocean City Music Pier Children’s Theatre Series
July 7 – WINNIE THE POOH: The Musical
Join Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and friends in this charming musical adaptation of A.A. Milne’s classic stories. Winnie-the-Pooh spends his days searching for honey, doing his exercises, and playing with his best friends. Adventures ensue when a new animal — a kangaroo — arrives in the Hundred Acre Wood. Free admission for Winie The Pooh themed stuffed animals!
July 14 – HOW I BECAME A PIRATE
Set sail on a fantastic musical adventure when a band of comical pirates lands at North Beach looking for an expert digger to join their crew. Braid Beard and his mates recruit young Jeremy Jacob as they search for the perfect spot to bury their treasure. Jeremy discovers that while adventure is exciting, love and home are treasures that cannot be found on any map. The whole family will enjoy this delightful swashbuckling musical. Princess and pirate attire encouraged!
July 21 – THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: The Musical
Cowboy Joe, the self-proclaimed “world’s foremost expert on the Berenstain Bears,” serves as stage director for this entertaining musical celebration of the beloved book series. The production weaves together stories from The Berenstain Bears’ New Baby, The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room, The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare, The Berenstain Bears Tell the Truth, and The Berenstain Bears Get Stage Fright, bringing these classic tales from page to stage. Free admission for all stuffed teddy bears.
July 28 – JUNIE B. JONES: The Musical
It’s Junie B.’s first day of first grade, and everything seems different. Her friend Lucille no longer wants to be her best pal, but Junie makes a new friend, Herb, on the school bus. She also struggles to read the blackboard, leading Mr. Scary to suggest she may need glasses. Add in a cafeteria lady, a kickball tournament, and Junie’s “Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Journal,” and first grade becomes an unforgettable adventure. Featuring fun-filled songs and a lovable heroine, Junie B. Jones captures the spirit that has delighted generations of young readers. Bring your own “beeswax journal” to collect autographs after the show.
August 4 – SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! (TYA)
The Emmy Award-winning 1970s Saturday morning cartoon series comes to life on stage in this energetic musical. Schoolhouse Rock Live! follows Tom, a nervous schoolteacher preparing for his first day in the classroom. As he watches television to calm his nerves, characters representing different facets of his personality emerge from the TV set to help him win over his students through imagination and music. Audiences will enjoy classic songs including “Just a Bill,” “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly,” and “Conjunction Junction.” Audiences are encouraged the wear their favorite red, white, and blue attire!
The Ocean City Theatre Company is proud to announce that funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts / Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners through the Cape May County Division of Culture & Heritage. OCTC also extends its gratitude to the City of Ocean City for their support of live, family-friendly entertainment and welcoming the 2026 Children’s Series lineup back to the Ocean City Music Pier.
