Free musical at the Kroc Center

Celebrating its 13th year of providing free productions, the Kroc Center is presenting the Broadway musical "Tuck Everlasting" tonight at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. 

“Through our fundraisers, donations and sponsorships, we are able to raise the funds to cover the costs of offering a high-quality, full-scale Broadway musical at the Kroc free of charge,” said Executive and Artistic Director Kristi Mendoza. "We have found that this opens doors to many individuals and families who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend such productions.” 

"Tuck Everlasting" is a timeless coming-of-age story about love, immortality and the choices we make when faced with eternal life. 

"It's based on the book by Natalie Babbitt and tells the story of the Tuck family who drink from a spring that unknowingly gives them everlasting life," Mendoza said. "It is a beautiful tale that allows the audience to appreciate the joys and trials of life, while pondering the question, 'If you could live forever, would you?'"

The plot centers around 15-year-old Winnie Foster, played by Elionna Cornwell, who comes from an upper-class family in Treegap and runs away from boarding school to explore the woods.  

There, she meets Jesse Tuck, played by Ethan Libby, who is drinking from a magical spring that grants immortality. Captured by Jesse’s older brother Miles and taken to the Tucks’ home, Winnie becomes enamored with their simple, timeless life. She learns that the Tucks cannot age or be injured because they drank from the spring a century ago, and they keep the secret to prevent others from seeking it.   

Tickets are available at howmuchmoreproductions.com. 

“We usually tell people that even if the show is sold out on our website, come anyway, as we usually have no shows, and thus plenty of seats available,” Mendoza said.