Playful Fox Productions recently announced it will be doing a full, four show season at the Sanderson Centre for Performing Arts on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Having done five successful productions at the Sanderson Centre over the past three years, Playful Fox co-owners, Malakai Fox and his wife Marissa Wilson-Fox said they’re looking forward to their first full season at the historic Brantford theatre.
The season will kick off in August 2026 with Shrek the Musical, and will be followed by Mean Girls the Musical in October. Going into December, the company will bring a beloved classic story to the stage.
“An annual tradition for Playful Fox has been to stage a late December musical, or play at the Sanderson Centre and this will not change,” said Fox in a video posted to YouTube on January 1. “We have already been granted the licensing and the permission to stage one of the most beloved Christmas musicals of all time, as we present Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Filled with the songs that you know and love, the unforgettable characters, White Christmas will be a perfect Christmas tradition for you to enjoy.”
And finally to end out the season, the series will finish in March 2027 with Fiddler on the Roof.
In an interview with the Brant Beacon back in December, the co-owners of Playful Fox said they were grateful for the Sanderson Centre’s support and mentorship. Noting that Glen Brown, Sanderson’s general manager, encouraged them back when they first started out years ago, to continue building their brand and their audience before securing a spot on such a coveted stage, the announcement has been a long time coming.
“That’s exactly what we did, and then they partnered with us and have given us these last three years to really show what we can do and show that this can be done,” said Fox. “…This will really allow us to herald in a new era with the Sanderson Centre …and it’s our hope that the 2026-2027 year is going to be that one where, whether you love theatre, you don’t love theatre, whether you love us or you don’t love us, you are aware of us.”
As part of the big announcement, the couple said they will also be partnering with the Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation, and that a percentage of ticket sales will be donated to support the foundation.
“A big thank you to the Sanderson Centre for their years of guidance and mentorship, and guiding us towards this first ever full season,” said Fox in their YouTube announcement. “Truly, we have been so blessed to have such wonderful people to work with. …A big shout out goes to Leanne Rich, Glenn Brown and all the workers there who have made this transition from one to two shows a year to a full four show season.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
