There are some real characters in CHARLOTTE’S WEB, and all of them have positive traits we can learn from. Here are just a few…

“Well, I am pretty. There’s no denying that. Almost all spiders are rather nice looking. I’m not as flashy as some, but I’ll do.”

– Charlotte

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“A good life is much more important than having a long life. There are more important things than just thinking about yourself all the time.”

– Wilbur

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“You are my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little, we die. By helping you, perhaps I was lifting up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.”

– Charlotte

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NOW WRITE YOUR OWN!

Pick a character trait you like, and a favorite animal. If you need help, check out this list!)

Examples:

• The Loyal Chicken

• The Fair and Just Rooster

• The Respectful Horse

Why might they need that character trait? Draw or write a paragraph or story about them!

Next, think of an animal you might like a little less, maybe even one that makes you a little nervous. What positive qualities do they have?

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CHARLOTTE’S WEB is a story about an unlikely friendship between two very different, but still wonderful creatures. How could this animal you like less, befriend the animal you like a lot? What qualities do they admire in each other?

We’d love to see what you come up with! Share your story with family@dct.org and with your permission, we’ll share it in an blog post like this one…

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CHARLOTTE’S WEB

Written by Joseph Robinette
Adapted from the book by E.B. White
Directed by Artie Olaisen

Recommended for ages 5 and up
April 29 – May 27, 2023

The best-loved children’s story of all time and winner of The Newbery Honor! Discover the true meaning of friendship and life’s everyday miracles. Get caught in Charlotte’s web to save Wilbur, the “radiant” and “humble” pig, and make friends once again with all his loveable barnyard neighbors. One of the first books ever written for children exploring issues of mortality, CHARLOTTE’S WEB is an emotional tribute to friendship with universal themes depicting courage, compassion, and the ever-changing cycle of life.

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Title Sponsors

CHARLOTTE’S WEB produced by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing, Woodstock, Illinois.
Sources:
E.B. Charlotte’s Web: Full Color Edition, HarperCollins Publishers, 2001.
Production photos by: Lawrence Jenkins
Additional photos via Unsplash by: Jason Sung and Krista Mangulsone

All that I hope to say in books, all that I ever hope to say, is that I love the world. I guess you can find that in there, if you dig around.

–E.B. White (Author of Charlotte’s Web)

1. Charlotte’s Web was a sneeze.

Whenever E.B. White was asked why he wrote Charlotte’s Web, he replied: “I haven’t told why I wrote the book, but I haven’t told you why I sneeze, either. A book is a sneeze.“ [1]

 

2. The real Wilbur had a more tragic story…

When E.B. White was a child, he spent a lot of time raising pigs. He bonded a lot with a sick, runt pig, taking care of him much like Fern does Wilbur. Unfortunately, in spite of his best efforts, the pig did lose his life to illness. As a lifetime lover of animals, E.B. took the news hard, only finding hope after discovering an egg sack left behind by a spider. Which brings us to…

3. Charlotte was inspired by a real spider E.B. White saw on his farm in Maine in the fall of 1949.

He watched her make her egg sack while caring for the sickly pig, and then never saw her again. On impulse, before he left for New York, he cut the egg sack down, and put it in a candy box with holes punched at the top. Later, it hatched and a ton of baby spiders were let loose in the house. They were very small, almost invisible, and E.B. White greatly enjoyed their company. …his family was a little less pleased. In his words: “We all lived together happily for a couple of weeks, and then somebody whose duty it was to dust my dresser balked, and I broke up the show.” [2]

4. Charlotte’s middle and last name reference a specific type of spider.

Charlotte A. Cavatica speaks to Aranea cavatica, a species of barn spider. E.B. White did his research on this species, frequenting the American Museum of Natural History to research and discuss spiders with the curators. According to arachnologist B.J. Kaston, he originally wanted to name her Charlotte Epeira, because White originally thought the spider he saw in childhood was a gray cross spider: Epeira sclopetaria. [3]

5. 18 years after writing it E.B. White recorded an audio book for Charlotte’s Web.

The recording process was very smooth, except for the end. “Every time, he broke down when he got to Charlotte’s death… He took 17 takes to get through Charlotte’s death without his voice cracking or beginning to cry.” [4]

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CHARLOTTE’S WEB

Written by Joseph Robinette
Adapted from the book by E.B. White
Directed by Artie Olaisen

Recommended for ages 5 and up
April 29 – May 27, 2023

The best-loved children’s story of all time and winner of The Newbery Honor! Discover the true meaning of friendship and life’s everyday miracles. Get caught in Charlotte’s web to save Wilbur, the “radiant” and “humble” pig, and make friends once again with all his loveable barnyard neighbors. One of the first books ever written for children exploring issues of mortality, CHARLOTTE’S WEB is an emotional tribute to friendship with universal themes depicting courage, compassion, and the ever-changing cycle of life.

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CHARLOTTE’S WEB produced by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing, Woodstock, Illinois.

Sources:
[1] https://www.cbcbooks[dot]org/2014/07/11/a-book-is-a-sneeze-e-b-white-on-why-he-wrote-charlottes-web/
[2] https://www.amnh[dot]org/explore/news-blogs/news-posts/e.-b.-white-s-charlotte-s-web-and-the-museum
[3] https://web.archive[dot]org/web/20200814081559/https://lettersofnote.com/2013/08/02/a-book-is-a-sneeze/
[4] https://www.npr[dot]org/2012/10/15/162735079/some-book-charlottes-web-turns-60
https://storywarren[dot]com/he-loved-the-world-a-short-biography-of-e-b-white/
https://archive.nytimes[dot]com/www.nytimes.com/books/97/08/03/lifetimes/white-tales.html

Image credits: https://commons.wikimedia[dot]org/wiki/File:EB_White_and_his_dog_Minnie.png
Photo by Maddy Weiss on Unsplash

“Where’s Papa going with that axe?”

…So begins Charlotte’s Web in one of the most iconic opening lines to a children’s book, ever.

Mortality is a tough topic for most people, and it’s an especially difficult one for children. From its opening line, Charlotte’s Web tells you what to expect. It lays out all the upsetting things: a loved one is holding an axe, a creature is slated to die because it is not as big or strong as its siblings. Instead, the thinking is that it will be used to feed others.

Charlotte’s Web is frank, it is honest, and most importantly, it doesn’t force the child to go along with it.

Fern does not let her father use that axe. Wilbur, the runt pig, survives, and survives, and survives on his own merits, and by the affection of others.  He is humble, he is terrific, he is loved.

That is the core of Charlotte’s Web: mortality is frightening, death can be lonely and sudden, but love outlasts even that anxiety.

By laying things out through the eyes of a child, of a pig, and a spider – who all just want the best for each other, it becomes a tremendously gentle introduction to concepts that never truly go away. It lets children wrestle with these life challenges alongside their animal friends, and in the end, helps them acknowledge that even though partings are difficult: true friendship has lasting power.

This is what keeps families coming back to Charlotte’s Web 71 years later. Not the death, …but the life. Not the parting, …but the friendship.

A spider’s web is stronger than it looks. Although it is made of thin, delicate strands, the web is not easily broken.

No one is easily broken. In Charlotte’s words:

A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.

Written by Joanna Coogan

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CHARLOTTE’S WEB

Written by Joseph Robinette
Adapted from the book by E.B. White
Directed by Artie Olaisen

Recommended for ages 5 and up
April 29 – May 27, 2023

The best-loved children’s story of all time and winner of The Newbery Honor! Discover the true meaning of friendship and life’s everyday miracles. Get caught in Charlotte’s web to save Wilbur, the “radiant” and “humble” pig, and make friends once again with all his loveable barnyard neighbors. One of the first books ever written for children exploring issues of mortality, CHARLOTTE’S WEB is an emotional tribute to friendship with universal themes depicting courage, compassion, and the ever-changing cycle of life.

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Title Sponsors

CHARLOTTE’S WEB produced by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing, Woodstock, Illinois.
Wilbur’s New Friends, Charlotte’s Web, page 181 illustration by GM Williams, 1952
There Was the Handsome Pig Charlotte’s Web, page 95 illustration by GM Williams, 1952

As a friend to Dallas Children’s Theater, you’ve probably noticed our focus on Brighter Days for the past few years. While it began as a way to emphasize positivity during the lockdown, we have continued to use Brighter Days to describe our perspective on the future, both in the education and enrichment of our youth and in the trajectory of DCT. As we approach our 40th season, we are excited to proclaim that Brighter Days are here to stay!

Thanks to patrons and donors like you, we are approaching the end of our first complete season back with full in-person audience capacity. We are honored that you have been an essential part of helping us survive this past year. We would be grateful if you would consider making a donation in an amount that is meaningful to you so that we can continue to foster growth of North Texas children.

Your gift of $25, $50, $100, $250, or more is critical now more than ever.

With your support, we can look to our next season with confidence that we can meet the needs of the children that come through our doors. Whether a child is experiencing live theater for the first time on a field trip or finding a place of acceptance and understanding in our sensory-friendly classes, your donation is an important part of helping children blossom at this pivotal time in their young lives.

Please help us inspire Brighter Days through theater for children by making a gift of $25, $50, $100, $250, or more.

Sincerely,

P.S. Visit dct.org/give or text DCTGIVE to 44-321 and donate an amount that is meaningful to you! Be a part of keeping the future playfully bright for the children of North Texas.

Kindness is a language everyone knows…

Three years ago, for their son Milo’s 5th birthday, the Thompson family made a trip to Disney World wearing DCT’s Choose Kindness Shirts.

Here’s what they had to say:

Thank you for your kind words, Katie and Milo!

Time marches on, Milo is now 8 years old! The world is different than it was, but now, more than ever, we need to carry kindness, and the memory of the kindness of others in our hearts.

LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET closes this weekend. Don’t miss your chance to be inspired by this show that was three years in the making!

Saturday, April 1, 1:30PM
Sunday, April 2, 1:30PM

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DCT Mom, Sherry Ward, shares her thoughts and experiences with children and difference.

The book, Last Stop On Market Street, won several awards for many reasons. I loved finding a video of the book being read aloud by the author while on a city bus, and having everyone, of all ages, totally captivated.

There are so many times when we all go through the “haves and have-nots” comparison with our peers. Why do they have this, but I don’t have this…it feels unfair. But, one of the last lines of the book speaks to the perspective that Nana tries to encourage CJ to think about. “Sometimes when you’re surrounded by dirt, CJ, you’re a better witness for what’s beautiful.”

I have ridden a city bus several times because it used to be that my only way of getting around was via wheelchair, and I didn’t have a car. This gave me a unique perspective that my kids just never had. However, my kids have learned what it’s like to have a mom in a wheelchair, and this has organically passed to their friends who learned what it’s like to be comfortable around a grownup in a wheelchair.

When I saw my kids looking at me with curiosity, I always tried to make eye contact and smile at them, and usually they’d smile back. It made me happy when they didn’t turn away quickly in that way kids do when their grownups tell them not to stare. It’s that human connection that we all want to have regardless of our differences.

Please come see this beautiful production. Hopefully you and your youngster will leave with a better understanding of how to also live with your minds and hearts open. We will see you at the theater!

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LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET
Winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal
By Matt de la Peña, Illustrated by Christian Robinson
Adapted by Gloria Bond Clunie
Directed by vickie washington

March 18 – April 2
Ages 4 and up

On a Sunday after church in a bustling, ethnically and culturally diverse American city, CJ and his Nana board the public bus for their weekly trip across town to help out at a soup kitchen. Along the way, CJ notices the many differences among people and asks tons of curious questions: Why don’t we have a car? How come that man can’t see? How come it’s always so dirty over there? How?…Why?…With Nana’s fearless and compassionate guidance, CJ discovers that everyone and everything has a unique rhythm and purpose; that the world’s got answers if we listen with more than our ears and see with more than our eyes. This inspiring and imaginative play is based on The New York Times bestseller that won a Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, and a Caldecott Honor.

Title Sponsors

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Poignant DCT production shut down in final rehearsals before opening in March 2020 makes its debut

(DALLAS, TX) – Dallas Children’s Theater (DCT) is excited to finally bring LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET, to the stage March 18 – April 2, 2023 at the Rosewood Center for the Arts. With production halted days before the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, this heartfelt spectacular has been years in the making! Based on The New York Times bestseller that won a Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, and a Caldecott Honor, LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET is a compassionate tale filled with both the mature joy of a grandparent and the pure wonder of a child.

The story follows young CJ and his Nana on their journey as they board the public bus for their weekly trip across town to help out at a soup kitchen. Along the way, CJ notices the many differences among people and asks tons of curious questions: Why don’t we have a car? How come that man can’t see? How come it’s always so dirty over there? How? Why? With Nana’s fearless and compassionate guidance, CJ discovers that everyone and everything has a unique rhythm and purpose; that the world’s got answers if CJ listens with more than his ears and sees with more than his eyes.

Directed by vickie washington (North Texas director, actress, and teacher at Booker T. Washington for the Performing Arts) LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET carries the poignant message of the picture book without ever losing the fun. While the premise appears ordinary, a trip to the soup kitchen across town, colorful stagecraft, and plenty of spectacle and music work together to create a memorable experience for the young and young at heart. “While riding the bus with CJ and Nana, we learn the value of meeting people where they are, and the joy of opening our hearts and minds to the experiences of others.” washington says, smiling. “With all that is happening in our city and in our world today, these are very important lessons for all of us.”

Playwright Gloria Bond Clunie was in Dallas for three weeks working with the team to further develop the play. Some of the scenes will make their debut here in Dallas.

Imaginative and hopeful in its capture of a genuine experience of everyday beauty, LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET is a gentle journey recommended for ages 4 and up.  In the spirit of true kindness, these funders have stepped up to make this production a reality:  The Howard Family in loving memory of Eleanor “Gammy” Howard, Jean Baptists(Tad) Adoue III Fund of The Dallas Foundation; TACA Donna Wilhelm Family New Works Fund; The M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation; Capital One; the National Endowment for the Arts, the Cece Smith Lacy and John Ford Lacy Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and Southwest Airlines.

The DCT staff dedicates this production to the amazing Ms. Bonnie Jean Stoner who introduced us to this book almost five years ago.  While she is no longer with us, Bonnie Jean will forever live in our hearts because of the gifts of advice, support and kindness that she gave to us over the years. DCT also dedicates the production to the March 2020 stage manager, Ashley Newman, a compassionate person and wonderful colleague that we lost way too soon.

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LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET

By Matt de la Peña, Illustrated by Christian Robinson

Winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal

Adapted by Gloria Bond Clunie

Directed by vicki washington

March 18 – April 2, 2023

Recommended for ages 4 and up

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Cast:

CJ – Jori Jackson*

Nana – M. Denise Lee*

Reverend / Guitar Man / Ensemble – Randy Pearlman*

Mr. Dennis / Blind Man / Ensemble – Nik Blocker**

Butterfly Lady / Ensemble / Dance Captain – Monalisa Amidar*

Woman with a Lovely Hat / Ensemble – Melissa Crouch

Tattoo Man / Mumford the Dragon / Ensemble – Austin Hines**

Street Man / Musician / Ensemble – Gerald Taylor II*

Understudy – Tiana Alexander

 

Production Team:

Director – vickie washington

Scenic/Video Designer – Kristina M. Miller

Lighting Designer – Troy Carrico

Props Designer – Lauren Wheat

Sound Designer – Marco Salinas

Costume Designer – Cat Dillon & Lyle Huchton

Original Composition & Musical Direction – Steven A. Taylor

Puppetry Design – Sally Fiorello

Stage Manager – Davvi Solomon*

Production Manager – Janel Villatoro

Technical Director – Josh Smith

*Denotes member of Actors Equity Association.

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Performance Dates and Times:

Saturday, March 18, 1:30PM – Opening

Saturday, March 18, 4:30PM (NPD)

Sunday, March 19, 1:30PM

Sunday, March 19, 4:30PM (ASL)

Saturday, March 25, 1:30PM (Sensory)

Saturday, March 25, 4:30PM

Sunday, March 26, 1:30PM

Saturday, April 1, 1:30PM

Sunday, April 2, 1:30PM – Closing

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Ticket Prices:

$17-$30 for single tickets. Prices subject to change. Group rates available for parties of 10 or more. Phone reservations required for Sensory-Friendly performances which are $5 per person. Call the Box Office for details, 214-740-0051. General tickets are available online at dct.org

Weekday Student Matinee shows also available Tuesdays through Fridays. Call Dallas Children’s Theater at 214-978-0120 or visit dct.org/fieldtrips

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Photo credit: Karen Almond. 

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2022-23 Season Sponsors are: Texas Instruments, City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture, March Family Foundation, The Carlson Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, TACA, and CARES Act/American Rescue Plan. General Sponsors Include:  Hearst Foundations, The Rosewood Corporation, The Holloway Family Foundation, The M.R. and Evelyn Hudson Foundation, The Theodore and Beulah Beasley Foundation, Inc., Harold Simmons Foundation, Sharron Hunt, Lara and Stephen Harrison, and the Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation. Additional Support is Provided By:  Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, TXU Energy, Frost Bank, Joan Becker, Capital for Kids, Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, The Koz Foundation, Stephen M. Seay Foundation, Margot B. Perot, Maintenance Inc., Central Market, and Green Mountain Energy, DCT’s official renewable energy partner. Sensory-Friendly Sponsors Include:  Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust and the Crawley Family Foundation. Building Fund Supported By: The Carlson Foundation, The March Family Foundation, Laurie Sands Harrison, The Rosewood Corporation, Anonymous Family, Elizabeth & Bart Showalter, Karen & Ken Travis, The Hersh Foundation, and Everett & Becky Spaeth.

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Dallas Children’s Theater

Rosewood Center for Family Arts

5938 Skillman Street

Dallas, Texas 75231

About Dallas Children’s Theater

Dallas Children’s Theater features professional actors performing for an annual audience of 250,000 young people and their families through mainstage productions and an arts-in-education program. As the only major organization in Dallas focusing solely on youth and family theater, DCT builds bridges of understanding between generations and cultures, instilling an early appreciation of literature, art, and the performing arts in tomorrow’s artists and patrons.

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LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET is produced by special arrangement with GURMAN AGENCY, LLC, a theatrical literary agency. gurmanagency[dot]com. World Premiere Produced by Children’s Theatre of Charlotte November 2018. Adam Burke Artistic Director.

It’s not easy being a kid, or a Pigeon!

Mo Willems said in a Nov. 13th interview, “probably the most fundamental insight is that even a good childhood is difficult: You’re powerless; the furniture is not made to your size”, and this is an idea that permeates all of his books. The conflicts in his stories are big topics with simple setups: A Pigeon who wants to drive a bus, a toddler who can’t speak yet, but left her bunny at the laundromat (Knuffle Bunny).

As silly as it sounds, it was a controversial decision to not let the Pigeon drive in the original drafts for Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus. In 2003, when the book was published, editors weren’t sure if the Pigeon’s plight would resonate with younger audiences or frustrate them. The results speak for themselves: Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! is one of the most popular children’s books to this day.

Mo Willems has often said that his books are meant to be “played” not read, and this is true for his stage adaptations as well. DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL! has a slightly different story than the picture book audiences have come to love. The Pigeon is still very much himself, but the conflict is broadened a bit. The plucky bird still does not drive the bus, but this time, the show asks why? Because he can’t reach the pedals? Because he doesn’t have the training? Because the bus absolutely must reach each stop on time?

The conflict is bigger. It isn’t about simply wanting to do the impossible on impulse, but something larger: wanting to have a thing. Everyone’s got one. The Bus Driver drives buses, the Teenager loves movies, the Little Old Lady likes to throw birdseed around. Everyone has a “thing” that makes them unique, and the Pigeon is feeling insecure because he doesn’t know what his “thing” is yet.

It’s a big conflict, truly worthy of a Mo Willem’s story, and it’s told with the same simple, connective, honesty that fills all of his work.

Will the Pigeon find his “thing”? Do the Pigeon’s yearnings sound like someone you know in your own household? Come see DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL! and find out…

Written by DCT Staff Member, Joanna Coogan

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Don’t miss your chance to see the show, we’re selling fast!

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But what has Mo Willems done, besides write DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL!? Well…

From 1995-2001, Mo Willems was writing and animating on Sesame Street. He received six Emmy Awards as part of the writing team. He wrote a whole lot of Elmo’s World.

He is most popularly known for his #1 New York Times bestselling picture books and early readers series including: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, The Elephant & Piggie series, Knuffle Bunny, Knuffle Bunny Too, the Unlimited Squirrels series, Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, Nanette’s Baguette, and Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct.

This 15-episode series was released at the start of the 2020 pandemic, and was a valuable resource to families struggling to navigate isolation and big feelings. Mo Willems serves as the inaugural Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence. Check them out here.

Mr. Warburton is a long-time friend and collaborator with Mo Willems. They’ve been working together off-and-on since Mo’s Sesame Street days. Mo tends to identify more with Elephant Gerald, and Mr. Warburton with the smiley Piggie. You might recognize some of their work, Codename: Kids Next Door.

Mr. Warburton’s animated series, Codename: Kids Next Door, featured Mo Willems as head writer for one of the award-winning episodes! The two also collaborated on several other animated series including Sheep in the Big City. Mo Willems has also featured Mr. Warburton in Don’t Let The Pigeon Finish this Activity Book!

Last, but not least… Mo Willems and              Mr. Warburton are the brilliant minds behind the DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL! That’s right! DCT’s musical is a collaboration between two close friends!

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DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL!
Based on the book by Mo Willems
Published by Hyperion Books for Children
Script by Mo Willems & Mr. Warburton
Lyrics by Mo Willems
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Dramaturgy by Megan Alrutz
Directed by Nancy Schaeffer

January 28 – February 19
Ages 3 and up

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TITLE SPONSOR:

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Image credits:
Mo Willems and Pigeon image:  Courtesy of HarperCollins
Sesame Street: Shutterstock
Mr. Warburton Images: warburtonlabs[dot]blogspot[dot]com
Mo Willems Characters: Art © Mo Willems. ELEPHANT & PIGGIE is a trademark of The Mo Willems Studio, Inc.
Lunch Doodles logo: kennedy-center[dot]org/education/mo-willems/lunch-doodles/CDM image: Courtesy of cartoonnetworkme[dot]com/show/codename-kids-next-door

DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL! produced through special arrangement with Music Theatre International www.MTIshows[dot]com.
Photo by: Karen Almond

Be one of DCT’s holiday singing families!

Send us a video of you, your child, or your family in action!

 

 

 

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Harry Connick, Jr.’s
THE HAPPY ELF
Music & Lyrics by Harry Connick, Jr.
Book by Lauren Gunderson & Andrew Fishman
Directed by K. Doug Miller

Now thru December 23
Ages 5 and up

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Harry Connick, Jr.’s THE HAPPY ELF produced through special arrangement with Music Theatre International www.MTIshows[dot]com.
Photo by: Karen Almond

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