Capitol Theatre kicks off its Capitol Best 2026-2027 season with a pair of extraordinary family-friendly musical theatre offerings. Nationwide touring schedules often mean some of the best shows reach the Pacific Northwest in overlapping timeframes. These two may occur in quick succession, but we didn’t want to miss out on either of these amazing titles and fabulous productions.
Our first show, Elf the Musical, may seem to come a bit early for a Christmas holiday-themed offering, but Yakima and the Capitol Theatre have the great opportunity once again to host the pre-tour tech of the production prior to its nationwide tour. You will like see members of the company downtown for most of October while they rehearse and stage the show in preparation for its preview performances in Yakima and then its non-stop, eight-week national tour. Welcome them with a smile and all of that Yakima hospitality.
Elf the Musical, inspired by the hit film, is the hilarious and heartwarming tale of Buddy, a young orphan child whose life is changed forever when he mistakenly crawls into Santa’s sack of toys one Christmas Eve. When he discovers he is human, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and, in turn, helps the Big Apple rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. This all-new tour, based on the acclaimed 2024 Broadway production, was hailed by The New York Times, which said, “The show has cracked the code of all-ages comedy, the kind that will leave children and grown-ups equally helpless with laughter,” and celebrated in The New Yorker, “It’s enough to make you believe in the magic of Christmas.”
Performances are Saturday and Sunday, October 31 and November 1. To embrace the holidays of Halloween and Dia de los Muertos that weekend, both shows are presented as 2:00pm matinees. Saturday patrons on Halloween are encouraged to come in costume in preparation for their evening festivities. When choosing your costume, please be mindful on other patrons and remember that seats are narrow. Please leave any headgear and accessories in the car for your later activities. The show will finish up at 4:30pm and we will host a trunk-or-treat just outside the front doors on 3rd Street. Local businesses and organizations are invited to join us in hosting a “trunk” to hand out holiday treats for patrons. Interested businesses can contact the theatre for more information.
Just two weeks later the Capitol Theatre presents the all-time classic favorite, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. Performances are Wednesday and Thursday, November 11 & 12, each at 7:30pm.
Meredith Willson's six-time, Tony Award-winning musical comedy follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band that he vows to organize–this, despite the fact that he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the li-brarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain's fall. Featuring songs such as Seventy-Six Trombones, Trouble, Til There Was You, and Gary, Indiana, The Music Man is a family-friendly story to be shared with every generation.
Tickets for both productions are available at www.capitoltheatre.org/events or by calling the Box Office, 509-853-ARTS (2787). Don’t let the google search fool you. Ticket resellers are ever more creative in capturing your attention. Their prices can be many times higher than those offered by the Capitol Theatre and do not guarantee you an actual seat. Be sure you are connecting directly with the Capitol Theatre website to be certain you are getting the Best Seats at the Best Prices.
Posted September 16, 2026
