Julius Caesar at Knoxville Children's Theatre: A Fall Shakespeare Run for Older Kids (Oct 23–Nov 8)
Knoxville Children's Theatre has wrapped Charlotte's Web and its next show is Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, running Friday, October 23 through Sunday, November 8 at 109 E Churchwell Ave in Knoxville. This one skews older than their typical family fare, so it's the production to point at when your kid is finally ready for something past picture-book theater.
KCT produces plays for children, by children, which means every part is played by a young actor. For a middle schooler or an early teen, watching kids their own age handle one of the great political tragedies is a different kind of motivating than reading it in class.
Showtimes:
- Friday, Oct 23 at 7pm
- Saturday, Oct 24 at 1pm
- Sunday, Oct 25 at 3pm
- Thursday, Oct 29 at 7pm
- Thursday, Oct 30 at 7pm
- Sunday, Nov 1 at 3pm
- Thursday, Nov 5 at 7pm
- Friday, Nov 6 at 7pm
- Sunday, Nov 8 at 3pm
Tickets run $14–18 and are sold through the KCT website. The afternoon shows on Saturdays and Sundays are easier for families than the 7pm weeknights, and the Thursday evening slots are the ones I'd grab first if your schedule is packed on weekends.
Age note: Julius Caesar is about assassination, ambition, and political betrayal — it's a tragedy. It's a fantastic introduction to real Shakespeare for a tween or teen who's ready for heavier material, but I wouldn't take the little ones expecting the same experience as their storybook productions. If you've got a mixed-age crew, keep this one for the older kids and save the family show for another run.
The theatre is about 25 minutes from Maryville up I-140 and Highway 129, with easy parking right around Churchwell Avenue. You can grab tickets and check the full schedule at knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com or call (865) 208-3677. Book ahead — their runs are short and the evening shows fill up.