Celebrate America's 250th with M.A.P. Children’s Theatre

Big Buzz Blog - June 2026

If you hear music and laughter coming from Main Street United Methodist Church in July, chances are it’s Music, Art & Practicality Children’s Theatre getting ready to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of America.

This Big Buzz ​is supported by our Partners:

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The only organized celebration in Hancock County, M.A.P. is holding a two-week Theatre Adventure for kids aged 8-18. During July 6-19, kids will learn songs, write scripts, and rehearse historical dances, all in preparation for the biggest show in the county.
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A team of teachers and musicians have written “Happy Birthday, America!” to celebrate not only America’s history, but Mississippi’s history as well. Kids enrolled in the summer program will write about their favorite American or Mississippian hero and deliver their writing during the show. Over the course of 90 minutes, the audience will learn about history and get a chance to sing along to a host of their favorite historical songs.
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Happy Birthday, America! will be the biggest America250 event in Hancock County and is presented through a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council. Leading the charge is Hancock Historical Society and M.A.P.’s own Beverly Frater, who wrote an outline of the show as a starting point. She led us through her draft, and our teachers and musicians piped in to add significant events and songs along the way. 

The show begins with a nod to Mississippi’s indigenous tribes. From there, the actors, singers, and narrators will move through the most significant events in American and Mississippian history. The audience will be invited to sing along, and M.A.P. has arranged to have song lyrics projected on two televisions. There will be no excuse for not having a clap-happy time while celebrating America250.

In addition to the show, M.A.P. will also be holding a silent auction of donated goods and art from some of the area’s most talented artists. Check the M.A.P. website for details, as the auction will be posted online prior to the performances. All items will be at the production, and the highest bidder can take home their treasures after Sunday’s show. 

All shows are held at Main Street United Methodist Church, located at 162 Main Street. Performance times on July 17-18 are 7:00 pm and July 18-19 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are free but limited in number; visit their website at http://www.MapKidsHancock.com to reserve your seats. Unfilled reserved seats will be let go 5 minutes prior to showtime.

Plenty of free parking is available in the Main Street United Methodist Church parking lot on 2nd Street and in the free Community Parking Garage on Court Street. 

Summer Stage in the Bay

On a related note, as of this writing, there are still a few spaces left for area children ages 8-18 in the Music, Art & Practicality Children’s Theatre Summer Stage by the Bay program. Students aged 15-18 can apply to be teaching assistants. Please check their website for additional information and registration forms. 

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