By Kevin Ferrisi –

Summer Orlando spent the past eight years bringing the 1993 cult classic Hocus Pocus to life on stage, and her 2025 Hocus Pocus Live tour was no exception. The tour wrapped up with two final performances at the Garde Arts Center in New London, closing nearly three months of high-energy shows filled with music, comedy, and a touch of stage magic. Reflecting on the experience, Summer shared on social media, “Our hearts overflow with gratitude for YOU, our spellbound audiences! Your laughter, cheers, and love make every note we sing and every cackle we shriek worth it. You are the true magic that brings us back year after year!” 

The Hocus Pocus Live tour came to an exciting close at the Garde Arts Center, adding a dazzling new element that hadn’t appeared earlier this season. For the final shows, Summer Orlando introduced flying witches, first seen at the Palace Theater in Waterbury last year, giving the performance a breathtaking new dimension. With the help of ZFX Flying Effects, the team behind Wicked on Broadway, the witches soared through the air, leaving audiences captivated. The addition added a sense of magic that made the tour’s finale a truly memorable experience for fans. 

Summer Orlando’s Hocus Pocus Live cast a magical spell, enchanting audiences with a lively take on the beloved Disney classic. Summer lit up the stage as the fiery Winifred Sanderson, joined by newcomer Bonnie Petite as the clumsy Mary and Miranda Miranda as the playful Sarah. The show perfectly mixed humor and magic, pulling the audience into the witches’ mischievous world. Danielle Orlando charmed as Dani Dennison, with Cameron Krauth as Max, Alexis Dascher as Allison, Stephen Michelsson as Billy Butcherson, Theresa Moscato as Miss Olin, and Ken Normandin as a townsman rounding out the cast. Together, they delivered a vibrant, unforgettable performance that left the audience spellbound. 

Summer has spent years perfecting her production, turning it into a fully realized theatrical experience. This season, she updated the show with a stronger second act, new songs, and additional scenes that mixed memorable moments from the movie with her own creative twists. A full-stage screen brought each setting to life, while moving backdrops and new set pieces, including a detailed set of cemetery gates, added a level of polish that hadn’t appeared in earlier seasons. The production leaned heavily on special effects, from richer lighting to rolling fog, with new props. With more cast members filling the stage, the show felt larger, livelier, and more cinematic than ever.

She credited much of this year’s expanded Hocus Pocus Live production to her collaboration with her sister, Danielle Orlando, who returned for a third season as Dani. Together, they rewrote the entire script after the previous year’s run, turning the show into a fully realized stage parody musical running over ninety minutes. The updated production featured a stronger second act, new songs, and additional scenes that brought iconic moments from the film to life while adding original twists of their own. Summer and Danielle also incorporated new video elements and other surprises into the performance, giving audiences a richer, more immersive theatrical experience.

This year, Summer Orlando brought new creative talent to Hocus Pocus Live, giving the production fresh energy and vision. Choreographer Shelby Griffin helped revitalize the staging, transforming existing routines and creating fully realized production numbers for the cast. On the technical side, John Rush joined as technical director, using his lighting and design skills to enhance the show’s atmosphere. His work with special effects and visual elements added depth to every scene, helping Summer carry the magic and spirit of Hocus Pocus through the entire performance. 

Summer Orlando and her team devoted significant time to preparing this year’s Hocus Pocus Live, holding full cast rehearsals and run-throughs in a rented studio space for the first time. The sessions took place at Woodbury Ballet, giving the cast a professional environment to refine their performances before moving into the theater. This focused preparation paid off, resulting in a tighter, more polished production that reflected months of hard work and careful planning.

Exciting things are on the horizon for Hocus Pocus Live. With plans already underway for the 2026 season, Summer Orlando teased on her social media, “And fear not, dearies! We’re already brewing BIG things for 2026! Yes, bookings are now OPEN for 2026, so if you wish to bring the Sanderson Sisters to your town, call upon us before the moon rises thrice!” Big dreams are in the works, with goals of a larger U.S. tour. Additional information is always available at hocuspocusliveofficial.com, giving audiences the chance to stay up to date for next year.