The Old Cowtown Museum’s theatrical troupe, Empire House Players, is presenting a melodrama at Cowtown Empire House Theater diffrent times throuout the year.
This will be a fun, all-ages theatrical performance, and priced very reasonably for a date night, family outing or just somthing differnt to do in Wichita.
Pro Tip: Empire House Players are volunteers. Proceeds from performances and any donations you make go right back into making shows possible.
What is a Melodrama?
- Characters in melodramas express heightened emotions and reactions, often to an extreme degree.
- They are always about good and evil.
- Plots often involve dramatic events, such as abductions, murders, and natural disasters, to keep the audience engaged.
2026 Melodrama in Wichita at Cowtown
- The Clock Runs Out for Isabelle Tyme
- April 24–26
- May 1–3, 2026
- The Great Ice Cream Scheme
- August 21–23
- August 28–30, 2026
- The Christmas Princess
- November 6–8
- November 13–15, 2026
Melo?drama is a form of theater that was hugely popular in the Victorian era, especially in the old west. These plays feature stock characters (usually a maiden in peril, a dastardly villain, a dashing hero) in exaggerated scenarios that run the full gamut of love, betrayal, danger, sacrifice ?and redemption. Misadventure ensues, with plenty of plot twists puns along the way. Audience participation is encouraged to ensure a happy ending, with the bad guy ALWAYS getting what’s coming to him!
Ticket Prices, Showtimes, and Parking
Adults (13+): $15
Children (ages 6-12): $7
FREE for kids under 6 years.
You’ll find the Empire House Theater on the WEST end of Old Cowtown Museum.
Parking is in the WEST lot, 1/4 mile down from the museum’s main entrance Fri & Sat. Parking in standard Old Cowtown Museum Visitor Center parking on Sunday.
