(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- Aspire Performing Arts Company, an award-winning performing arts company based in Wayne, will present Disney's Descendants: The Musical from July 24-26, 2026 at the Barn Theatre in Montville. The production features two casts of young performers and is directed by Joey Nasta with musical direction by Shannen Lynn and choreography by Charlize Dominguez.
Based on the popular Disney Channel Original Movies, Disney's Descendants: The Musical is a musical jam-packed with comedy, adventure, Disney characters, and hit songs from the films! Imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost, the teenaged children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella De Vil have never ventured off the island...until now. When the four troublemakers are sent to attend prep school alongside the children of beloved Disney heroes, they have a difficult choice to make: should they follow in their parents’ wicked footsteps or learn to be good?
“We are thrilled to revisit Disney’s Descendants: The Musical,” says Artistic Director Lisa Beth Vettoso. “We had the exciting opportunity to pilot the show with Disney seven years ago as it was being developed. It’s so much fun to share it with this new crop of performers and have just as much fun now as we did then!”
Tickets are $22 in advance and available for purchase online or $25 at the door. Performances will take place Friday, July 24 at 7:00pm; Saturday, July 25 at 2:00pm & 7:00pm; and Sunday, July 26 at 2:00pm. Performances will be held at Barn Theatre, located at 32 Skyline Dr, Montville, NJ.
Aspire PAC’s Descendants: The Musical will feature two alternating casts of emerging young performers:
Cast A (Friday July 24 at 7:00pm / Saturday, July 25 at 2:00pm) includes Arianna Dietz as Mal, Penelope Delpiano as Evie, Vivian Burde as Maleficent, Emily Best as Cruella de Vil, Gianna Amorosi as Evil Queen, Isabelle Martone as Audrey, Jade Azarian as Jane, and Abigail Dittamo as Belle.
Cast B (Saturday, July 25 at 7:00pm / Sunday, July 26 at 2:00pm) includes Lorelei Lascar as Mal, Makayla McCombs as Evie, Inara Ahmad as Maleficent, Samantha Scilleri as Cruella de Vil, Kennedy O'Connor as Evil Queen, Eve Cangemi as Audrey, Elodie Nazarewicz as Jane, and Charly Walker as Belle.
Performing in all shows is Luca Iapicca as Ben, Tomas Monteiro as Jay, Jotham Archibong as Carlos, Sofia DeNude as Chad, Joey Carson as Doug, Julia Budesheim as Fairy Godmother, Jeremy Hsu as Jafar, DJ Sperry as King Beast, Christine Occhipinti as Snow White, Eleanor Rooney as Coach, Eliana Morgan as Royal Page, Petra Ponce as Royal Guard, and Keira Murphy as Maurice. Victoria Bisig, Marian Bisig, and Annabella Finn round out the cast as the Featured Ensemble.
Descendants: The Musical is directed by Joey Nasta, featuring musical direction by Shannen Lynn and choreography by Charlize Dominguez. Cheryl Wilbur serves as Production Manager, Emma Cieslik is Stage Manager, Alexa Ahmuty is Choreography Assistant, Brennan Scott is Production Assistant, and Lisa Beth Vettoso is Producer.
Aspire PAC, established in 2011, has earned a strong reputation in the Northern New Jersey area. Since 2016, Aspire has received 35 New Jersey Association of Community Theaters (NJACT) Award nominations – along with winning a 2025 Perry Award for Outstanding Youth Actress in a Play Category - four Broadway World Regional Awards (50+ nominations), and 35 National Youth Arts Awards (50+ nominations).
