Olney Theatre Center presents the world premiere of Little Miss Perfect, a new musical, on the Roberts Mainstage February 8 – March 8, 2026, in association with Straighten Your Crown Productions. Leanne Antonio (Lion King Broadway/National Tour and A Wrinkle In Time at Arena Stage) stars as Noelle Sanders, the titular character in the musical penned by Joriah Kwamé, directed by Zhailon Levingston (Cats: The Jellicle Ball – coming to Broadway), and choreographed by Chloe O. Davis (Paradise Square).
About the Show
Joriah Kwamé became a viral TikTok star with his song “Little Miss Perfect,” which garnered millions of views after winning the Write Out Loud Contest, and launched this new musical with Broadway aspirations. High school kids are under a lot of pressure. Just ask Noelle (Antonio), who has lived up to expectations of perfection her whole life, even as she’s attempted to blend in as one of the few Black students at a predominantly white school. But now it’s senior year, and a scholarship to Howard University is within her reach —if she can demonstrate leadership skills. With an irresistible mix of hip-hop, showtunes, and pop sounds, Little Miss Perfect distills Noelle’s journey as she seeks to escape her small Midwestern town. Joriah’s hit songs “Little Miss Perfect” and “Ordinary” feature prominently, and you’ll be humming the new numbers – like “Black Girl Magic,” “Malaya’s Words,” and “Legendary” by the time the curtain falls. A series of social media drops have teased music from the upcoming show on Instagram @olneytheatre and on @lmpthemusical and on TikTok: @realolneytheatre and @lmpmusical
Newcomer Madelynn Ayen plays Malaya, an exchange student from the Philippines who lands in Noelle’s home and upends her world. Kara-Tameika Watkins plays Noelle’s adopted mother, Sylvia, a respected local pastor; Mia Goodman plays Gia Douglass, the high school’s incumbent queen bee; Jonah Gavi Schwartz plays Vaughn Douglass, Gia’s brother, a jock with a brain and a soul; Donovan Fowler plays Eli, Noelle’s loyal friend and campaign manager. Also featured are Graciela Rey as Leanne, Gia’s deputy; Russell Rinker (Principal Harry/Mr. Douglas), and Brynn Williams (Howard Admissions Counselor). The ensemble includes Caroline Graham, Matthew Millin, Nikki Mirza, Nico Nazal, Tyrell Stanley, Bryan Stopak, and Montria Walker. Karter, Anna Maria C. Ferrari, and Olivia Clavel-Davis are swings.
The powerhouse creative team backing Kwamé, Levingston, and Davis includes Patrick B. Phillips (Music Supervisor/Music Director), Conor Keelan (Orchestrator/Electronic Music Programmer), Lawrence Moten III (Scenic Designer), Abigail Hoke-Brady (Lighting Designer), Danielle Preston (Costume Designer), Kevin Alexander (Sound Designer), Zavier Taylor (Projections Designer), and Michael Korie (Dramaturg). Also working on the production are Peri Ellis (Associate Choreographer), Aria Velz (Assistant Director), Sage Green (Assistant Lighting Designer), Cameron Miya (Music Assistant), and Danielle DeLaFuente (Assistant Scenic Designer). Ben Walsh is the Stage Manager.
Little Miss Perfect runs February 8 – March 8, 2026 on the Roberts Mainstage at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd, Olney, MD 20832. Tickets range from $42-$102 and are available online or by calling the box office at 301-924-3400. Discounts for teachers, active military, and first responders are available at: olneytheatre.org/discounts
Performance Schedule
Tuesday, February 10 at 7:30 pm.
Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm.
Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday matinees at 1:30 pm.
Friday Matinee on March 6 at 1:30 pm.
Sunday Evenings: February 8, March 1, evenings at 7:00 pm.
See the full schedule at: https://tickets.olneytheatre.org/littlemissperfect
Accessible Performances
Audio-Described Performance – Wednesday, March 4, at 7:30 pm
ASL Interpreted Performance – Thursday, March 5, at 7:30 pm
ABOUT OLNEY THEATRE CENTER
Mission
Olney Theatre Center for the Arts produces and curates theatrical performance for the diverse audiences in its community, and educates, learns from, supports, and inspires a more inclusive generation of theater-makers.
Vision
Olney strives to become an arts and culture powerhouse, redefining the American regional theater movement by cultivating and sharing the creativity of its community.
History
Founded in 1938 as a summer playhouse, Olney Theatre Center (OTC) now produces world and American premieres of plays and musicals, and reimaginings of familiar titles year-round; presents the work of leading companies and artists; tours nationally and locally; teaches students of all ages; and mentors a more inclusive generation of theater-makers. For more than 8 decades, OTC has brought impactful theater performance and education to our community, helping to grow the vibrancy and vitality of its home in the Washington, DC region.
Over the years, some of the biggest names in theater and film have appeared on Olney stages, including Tallulah Bankhead, Helen Hayes, Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, Bob Fosse, Phillip Bosco, Eve Arden, Eva Gabor, Burl Ives, Jose Ferrer, Carol Channing, Olivia d’Havilland, Tony Randall, Paulette Goddard, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, Jane Seymour, Anne Revere, Frances Sternhagen, Arthur Treacher, James Broderick, Olympia Dukakis, Sir Ian McKellen, Marica Gay Harden, John Colicos, Uzo Aduba, Alan Cumming, Cheyenne Jackson, Robin de Jesus, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Bernadette Peters, among many, many others.
Olney Theatre is now the cultural anchor of a rapidly changing region and serves one of the most diverse, best educated, and wealthiest counties in the country. Situated on the unceded land of the Piscataway-Conoy people, the Olney area was once a rural farming community with a unique Quaker heritage. Now the area is occupied by every kind of family that makes up 21st Century America, along with major corporations, shopping districts, civic associations, nonprofit organizations, and a diverse collection of houses of worship. Montgomery County’s 1 million residents play a dynamic role in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, and are a driving force behind the region’s creative economy.
