Stroud Arts Festival July 24,25,26&27 2025

This witty and sparkling musical version of the much-loved classic has been seen in Town Hall and many other New York City venues as well as in summer, college and community theatres in Canada and the United states. Pre Disney with an original publishing date of 1972, this version does not have a singing teapot but instead a singing rose. We hope you will join us for a fun and witty retelling of this classic story.

“Pure as the Driven Snow - a Melodrama in three acts,” brings the traditional characters of classic melodrama to life at the Uland Inn in 1890’s Oklahoma Territory and is performed in the classic acting style of the Melodrama era.  Audiences will cheer the stalwart hero, swoon over the heroine with a dark secret, hiss the manipulative villain and his sidekick, sigh with the lovelorn, and laugh with the down to earth owners of the inn all while being in close proximity to these larger than life characters.  The audience will enjoy traditional melodrama story elements such as, a dark and stormy night, love at first sight, a ticking time bomb, unrequited love, old time songs, and a foundling babe. Pure as the Driven Snow will be offered as a dinner theatre and a dessert theatre.

The Tinderbox is an original theatrical adaptation of the classic Hans Christian Anderson story of the same name. It has been slightly revised to accommodate young performers and a small cast. The tinderbox can be described as the European version of the Aladdin Story, with magic dogs, a great treasure, an evil witch, a beautiful princess and a brave soldier.

With spaces for actors and tech crew, locals will learn about creating films in front and behind the camera. Teens and adults with or without pryor film making knowledge eligable to sign up. A minimum of 10 students will need to sign up for the workshop to meet. This will be a fun, full emersion learing experience. The short film created during the workshop will premeire during the festival.

Stroud Arts is thrilled to provide an opportunity for local artists to display their passion with the Local Artist Gallery. This display of local friends and family will be in the C.W. Wright Auditorium lobby and open to the public before productions of Beauty and the Beast and The Tinderbox.

Join Professional storyteller and local author Marilyn Hudson as she shares stories of history, legend and imagination. 

Come on out on Friday morning for the Sidewalk Chalk Contest. Particapatants will have a 4X4 piece of prime sidewalk realestate to show off their creativity and talent.

The Desserts contest will be judged on presentation and taste. This year there will only be two catagories. Cake and Pie. Should there be enough cream/custard and fruit pies then they will be separated into two catagories. 

You must bring two of each entry. There is no entry fee. The desserts will be judged by a panel and then be served as a tasting dessert plate at the Pure as the Driven Snow Dessert Theatre. Anyone who purchases a ticket will be able to also vote for peoples choice. 

There will be a small prize offered for the top 3 winners and bragging rights!

Throughout the weekend a variety of arts and crafts will be offered for children of all ages and children at heart.