YOUNG PLAYERS SECOND STAGE
AT THE ROYAL THEATRE
presents
DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS: THE MUSICAL
Sponsored by Mid-Town Plumbing

January 8-18, 2026

The upcoming musical “Descendants” brings Disney’s most famous villains and their not-so-evil kids to the Royal Theatre stage in a spectacular blend of fantasy and fun.

The book by Nick Blaemire tells the story of Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos - the teenage children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella DeVil - as they leave the Isle of the Lost for Auradon Prep.

The music adaptation by Madeline Smith, vocal and incidental music by Madeline Smith, additional lyrics by Nick Blaemire and Orchestrations by Matthew Tishler all add to the energy and heart of this show full of humor, color, and those unforgettable Disney moments that remind us all - no matter where we come from - we get to choose who we become.

DATES AND TIMES

Performances are January 8-11 and January 15-18, 2026

All Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening performances (January 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17) will begin at 7:00pm. Sunday matinees (January 11 and 18) will begin at 2:00pm.

TICKET INFORMATION

This show is designated as assigned seating. Please check your seating assignment BEFORE completing your purchase. For accessible or special needs seating, please email [email protected] or call 501-315-5483 (voice mail only). Online ticket prices are $15 for all seating plus additional fees. For online ticket sales, go to https://onthestage.tickets/the-royal-theatre. 

Box office ticket prices are $17 for all seating, which includes all fees. The Royal Theatre is located at 111 S. Market Street in Historic Downtown Benton. The box office will open at 6:00pm on performance dates and the house will open approximately 15 - 20 minutes prior to curtain. Box Office opens at 1:00 pm on matinee days. There is no lobby seating. For more information email [email protected].

We highly recommend that tickets be purchased in advance, as we cannot guarantee availability at the door.

Special thanks to the Benton A&P Commission for their support.

The Royal Theatre at 111 S. Market St. in Benton, Arkansas was built in 1948-1949 as an extensive renovation of a prior theatre and that was already deemed historic. The oldest part of the theatre was part of the 1920 "Imp" (for "Independent Motion Pictures") theatre. The sign and marquee of the theatre, and the rest of the 1948-1949 redesign, were designed by Little Rock architects Frank Ginocchio and Edwin B. Cromwell in Moderne style. Ginocchio and Cromwell had designed a Royal Theatre in Little Rock that used the sign and marquee; they reused the material in the Benton theatre later.

In 1996, the Royal Theatre was bought and renovated by actor Jerry Van Dyke. Most of the block that the theatre is located on was also renovated at that time. Jerry Van Dyke added Jerry Van Dyke's Soda Shoppe, a candy store, a baseball card trading store, as well as a small antique store. Jerry Van Dyke sold the Royal Theatre and the rest of the property in 2000 and 2001. The Royal Theatre was donated to the “Central Arkansas Community Players", who then changed the name to the "Royal Players" and continues to perform in it to this day.

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.