Announcing the 2027 Season!
ARIEL has some BIG News! Stay tuned for further details on program registration and more!
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Darren Adler on July 31, 2026. Darren was a dear friend and dedicated employee of ARIEL Theatrical for more than 30 years. He brought a kind, calming presence to the “mic line” and intentionally scheduled his life so that he would be available for tech weeks and performances at ARIEL. Making time for the young casts at ARIEL was not only a priority, it was a source of joy in Darren’s life. Darren will be fondly remembered and missed by all. The Adler family has announced that a service for Darren will be held on Friday, August 7 at 10 am, 255 Alvin Drive, Salinas. All are invited.
Darren with a furry friend.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is coming to ARIEL Theatrical in Oldtown Salinas
If you are fishing for a summertime event for the whole family, catch the beloved American classic, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, on stage at ARIEL Theatrical. Performers from our local community set the scene as Tom, Huck, Becky, and a colorful cast of characters jump into adventures and misadventures on the banks of the Mississippi River. This production features veteran ARIEL performers, community players of all ages, and live bluegrass music for a summer production not to be missed!
Performances: July 10, 11, 16, 17 & 18 at 7 pm on all dates, with additional 2 pm shows on Saturdays
Location: The Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre – Home of ARIEL Theatrical, 320 Main Street, Salinas, CA 93901
Tickets: Adults – $20, Students/Seniors/Military – $18, Children 3-12 – $12, Under age 3 – FREE
Tickets may be purchased online HERE, over the phone (831-775-0976), and at the ARIEL box office (advance purchase or at the door until sold out).
Celebrating 25 years on Main Street in Salinas, ARIEL Theatrical provides opportunities for children to explore the stage while learning valuable lessons about Accountability, Respect, Integrity, Excellence and Leadership – A-R-I-E-L. ARIEL is a safe and nurturing gathering place for young people where engaging programs and family-friendly entertainment take center stage.
ARIEL is honored to acknowledge the Sally Hughes Church Foundation as the 2026 Presenting Partner. ARIEL is also grateful to local individuals and businesses for their generous support, including 2026 Season Sponsors, Taylor Farms, Hastie Financial Group, Tanimura Family Foundation, Cardinale Moving & Storage and Aladin Properties. Show sponsors include Teichert Foundation and Yellow Brick Road Benefit Shop.
For more information, visit ARIEL in the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre, 320 Main Street, online or call 831-775-0976.
We are excited to be “backstage” at the Salinas Rodeo again and we invite you join us as a volunteer representing ARIEL Theatrical. Go behind-the-scenes at one of the largest annual events in Monterey County as you work with friends and neighbors setting up and serving in the VIP Hospitality Tent. Volunteers ages 14+ are welcome.
Every volunteer hour will be tracked and used to calculate the contribution given to ARIEL from the Salinas Rodeo Foundation. Volunteering at the Salinas Rodeo definitely puts the “FUN” in fundraising!
There are many shift options including concert and Pre-Rodeo set-up (July 10-15), Rodeo days (July 16-19), and Post-Rodeo take-down (July 20). You may sign-up for multiple shifts, and if you’d like to work with friends or family members, sign-up for the same shift and volunteer together! All details are listed on the Google sign up form that can be found HERE. Please note – shift sign ups are due by July 7.
For specific dates, details and other important information about this opportunity, click HERE.
We hope you’ll consider joining this fundraising effort that will directly benefit ARIEL Theatrical programs for youth. If you are unable to volunteer at this time but would like to make a direct donation to ARIEL, please click HERE to access our Zeffy donation page.
We look forward to seeing you at the Rodeo, and at ARIEL!
ARIEL is honored to acknowledge the Sally Hughes Church Foundation as the 2026 Presenting Partner. ARIEL is also grateful to local individuals and businesses for their generous support, including 2026 Season Sponsors, Taylor Farms, Hastie Financial Group, Cardinale Moving & Storage, and Aladin Properties.
For 25 years, ARIEL Theatrical has been a fixture on Main Street, and on April 3, our doors will be open for a “First Friday Salinas” Open House.
Take this opportunity to explore our space, peek behind the scenes, chat with our staff and board, and learn more about ARIEL programs and performances.
We’ll have sweet treats and an exclusive ticket deal for our upcoming production of Merlin’s Apprentice for our First Friday friends – while supplies last, of course. We’ll be here from 5-8 pm, or until the treats run out, so bring a friend and come say hi!
This year marks a major milestone for ARIEL Theatrical – 25 years in the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre on Main Street in Oldtown Salinas. In the early days, for 15 years prior to having a permanent home, ARIEL utilized driveways, garages, barns, homes, churches, schools, and warehouses, as rehearsal spaces. Performances were scattered around Salinas in a variety of venues, and Sherwood Hall shows, attended by tens of thousands of school children, became the main event each year.
Despite these achievements, ARIEL had nowhere to call home.
After an “all-hands-on-deck” capital fundraising campaign and years of planning and construction, ARIEL could now call the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre on Main Street “home.” This new reality was wonderful and exciting, but not without challenge. Earthquake retrofits, electrical and plumbing upgrades, audience seating, lighting and sound equipment, and hundreds of other projects kept the early years in the building very busy – and expensive. When one problem was solved, another would not be far behind. Most notably, in 2015 a massive fire in the neighboring building put the theatre in extreme peril and caused significant damage. In 2020, the COVID pandemic closed theatre doors around the world. ARIEL continued to endure.
What began as an idea discussed decades ago at founder Gail Higginbotham’s kitchen table, stands today as a welcoming and vibrant community gathering place where engaging programs and family-friendly entertainment are available to all.
At ARIEL, young people are encouraged to make choices that will help them achieve success on stage, and more importantly, in their own lives.
Annually, approximately 500 kids perform at ARIEL, and roughly 10,000 audience members attend shows. ARIEL has seen growth and change over the years, but continues to stand firmly on its guiding foundational principles: Accountability, Respect, Integrity, Excellence and Leadership – A-R-I-E-L. Here’s to the next 25 years on Main Street!
ARIEL is honored to acknowledge the Sally Hughes Church Foundation as the 2026 Presenting Partner. ARIEL is also grateful to local individuals and businesses for their generous support, including the 2026 Season Sponsors Taylor Farms, Hastie Financial Group, Cardinale Moving & Storage, and Aladin Properties.
For more information, visit ARIEL in the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre, 320 Main Street, online at www.arieltheatrical.org or call 831-775-0976.