July 25, 26, August 1, 2 , 8, 9, 15, 16, 2026

Oliver! is a stage musical by Lionel Bart, who wrote the book, music, and lyrics. It was adapted from Charles Dickens’s novel Oliver Twist, first published in serial form between 1837 and 1839. Bart’s musical was first staged in London in 1960. The musical reached Broadway in 1963, establishing Bart as one of the leading British musical-theatre writers of the period. The musical won three Tony Award including Best Composer and Lyricist.

In 1968, Oliver! was adapted for the cinema by director Carol Reed, with a screenplay by Vernon Harris, winning eight Academy Awards.. The film helped preserve the musical’s songs and story for a wider audience and became one of the best-known screen versions of Dickens’s novel.

Among the show’s most familiar songs are “Food, Glorious Food,” “Consider Yourself,” and “As Long as He Needs Me.” Other frequently performed numbers include “Where Is Love?” and “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two.”

The plot follows Oliver Twist, an orphan raised in a workhouse who is sent away after asking for more food. He escapes to London and falls in with a group of young thieves led by the Artful Dodger and directed by the older criminal Fagin. Oliver is drawn into the group but remains separate from its corruption. The central figures include Fagin, whose mixture of calculation and attachment gives him an ambiguous place in the story; Nancy, who tries to protect Oliver despite her dependence on the violent Bill Sikes; and Mr. Brownlow, who recognizes Oliver’s innocence and offers him security. Through Oliver’s movement between the workhouse, the streets, and respectable society, the musical follows his struggle to discover his identity and find a home.

Lionel Bart's classic musical returned to the Kitsap Forest Theater stage for the first time since 2004. Trina Williamson directed with Linda Kappus as Music Director. Guy Caridi choreographed his second show in 2026. Guy choreographed the 2004 version of Oliver!. 

Oliver! is a difficult show to stage because, as with Charles Dicken's Oliver Twist, it seeks to entertain all audiences, but comes with a dark background. Melanie Waldman portrayed the innocent and vulnerable Oliver Twist. Oliver! was her fourth production. She previously been with the set of young women who featured in Matilda (2024) and Annie! (2025), as well as being one of two younger people in Cinderella (2024).

Kevin Matthew, who has been Technical Sound Director for the theater since 2023, had to step in almost at the last minute when the actor playing Fagin had to drop. Fortunately it was one of his 'bucket list" roles, so he seemed to seamlessly move into the part.

There are portions of the show which are very 'dark' but the two areas where people we allowed to be 'over the top' were the people who made Oliver's life so bad at the beginning of the show — the despicable workhouse couple, Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney (Michael Sterling and Laura McFarlane), and the mortuary owners, Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry (Michael Hause and Jackie Alves). Laura choreographed three shows working with Trina and Linda in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

The sets were created by George Pledger and Jim Johnson, but were reworked from being castles to the streets and bridges of London. Directly behind the 'mound' stage was a large painting of St Paul's Cathedral. The castle wall changed into London Bridge and the castle doors into the doors to the tavern. For special effecs by the stage managers and Dannette Lam, the fog of London replaced the snow of Arendelle.

Director: Trina Williamson; Music Director: Linda Kappus; Choreographer: Guy Caridi; Stage Managers: Kristen Deskin and Ta'mara Bale; Costumes: Dawn Janow; Accompanist:  Shana Prine;  Props: Danette Lam;  Sets: George Pledger & Jim Johnson; Technical Director: Kevin Matthew;  Sound Board:  Michael VanderDoes ; Production Manager: Gala Lindvall; Associate Production Managers: Jenny Dreessen and Ila Faubion Dreessen. 

2026 - Frozen

2026 - Miss Holmes