Dallas Children's Theater Blog

Astonishing Kids And Families With The Fun of Broadway-Like Plays and A Lot More!

What do your children do when they face something different? Are they kind?

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!

Written by former colleague Sherry Ward in March of 2020.


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


 

LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET HELPS US SEE BEAUTIFUL WHERE WE NEVER EVEN THOUGHT TO LOOK

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.


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


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.


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


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


Photo credit: Karen Almond. 


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.


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.


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.

Finding your “thing” with DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! THE MUSICAL!

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


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

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

Now thru February 19
Recommended for ages 3 and up

The Pigeon is having a bit of an identity crisis – he never gets to do ANYTHING, and people just want him to “fly off”. Everything changes when the confident, cool Bus Driver rolls into town, and the Pigeon finds himself with a brand new goal: DRIVE THE BUS! But, is it even possible? Time to find out! Written by Mo Willems: creator of the #1 New York Times bestselling, Caldecott Honor award-winning Pigeon picture books…this zany show is ready to take audiences for the ride of their lives!

TITLE SPONSOR


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

Does the name Mo Willems ring a bell? It should…

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!


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

The Pigeon is having a bit of an identity crisis – he never gets to do ANYTHING, and people just want him to “fly off”. Everything changes when the confident, cool Bus Driver rolls into town, and the Pigeon finds himself with a brand new goal: DRIVE THE BUS! But, is it even possible? Time to find out! Written by Mo Willems: creator of the #1 New York Times bestselling, Caldecott Honor award-winning Pigeon picture books…this zany show is ready to take audiences for the ride of their lives!

TITLE SPONSOR:


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

Learn this holiday song before seeing DCT’s Harry Connick Jr.’s THE HAPPY ELF!

Be one of DCT’s holiday singing families!

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

 

 

 


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

From the Grammy–winning musician, Harry Connick, Jr…. this jazz musical is sure to get you in the holiday spirit! Eubie is, much to the exhaustion of his coworkers, an elf of unparalleled and endless energy looking to get a spot on Santa’s coveted sleigh team. When his unstoppably sunny spirit comes into contact with the miserable town of Bluesville – where every single child is on the naughty list – he’s in for the shock of a lifetime. Will his relentless positive attitude be enough to turn this gloomy place around, or has the happiest elf in the North Pole finally met his match?


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


Spotlight on DCT’s Student Matinee Performance Series…

What is The Student Matinee Performance Series?

  • Each year, thousands of students take a field trip to DCT to see a show.
  • Some children are seeing a professional production for the very first time.
  • More than 75% come from schools located in areas rated as economically challenged.
  • DCT provides deep discounts for these tickets so that cost is not a barrier to them having this experience.
  • In Dallas, no other arts organization is able to provide a Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) aligned Fine Arts experience to the volume of children that DCT does every year.
“Every grade level at our school tries to attend a “fine arts” field trip and since I am the field trip coordinator for my grade level I always choose a theatrical performance. The kiddos sit in front of screens for too much of their lives and expect that to be the only form of entertainment when there is so much else out there. There are a lot of parents who do not take children to the theater whether because of cost or knowledge. I believe it is so important for kids to know about the theater and to develop an appreciation for the arts. Yes, we make sure we read the story to the students and connect it with the TEKS but my ultimate goal is that the students walk away excited about the idea of the theater.”
– Jessica Black, Ethridge Elementary
Photos by Lawrence Jenkins and DCT staff

See what others are saying about JUNIE B.’s ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL!

The reviews are in…


Don’t wait! Only two shows remaining.

Listen up, I tell you! Junie B. Jones is back, and she’s got some advice to give…eventually. It was her brilliant idea to put together a survival guide for next year’s students, but now she’s at a total loss for what to add to it! It doesn’t help that all her friends are full of cool ideas and dance numbers. How’s a girl supposed to deal with all this competition? Hilariously, of course! In this musical extravaganza great for back-to-school time, Junie B. Jones learns some important lessons about school, patience, and personal growth. This play is perfect for fans of Junie B. and newcomers alike!

DCT’S LONGTIME LEADER TO RETIRE

As Dallas Children’s Theater (DCT) approaches its fortieth (40th) anniversary season of providing high quality professional theater to children and families in North Texas, its founder, Robyn Flatt, has determined that now is the ideal time to secure new leadership in order to best position DCT for the organization’s next chapter. Effective upon the selection of a new executive director in 2023, Robyn Flatt will transition from her role as executive director and refocus her energies in service of the Baker Idea Institute, a special DCT initiative.

In communicating her decision to the Board of Trustees, Robyn Flatt paid homage to her father, Paul Baker, the founding director of Dallas Theater Center and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts when she said, “As you all know, thanks to my father, theater will forever be a part of the fabric of my life. It is what inspired me to take on what some said was the impossible mission of starting Dallas Children’s Theater in the early ‘80s. I am very proud that both he and I have been able to make significant contributions to the North Texas cultural landscape; contributions that I expect to continue for decades to come.”

Flatt co-founded DCT in 1984 with start-up funds of $500. Over the years, the theater presented shows and officed out of the old Withers Elementary building, El Centro Community College, and The Crescent Center when it was owned by Caroline Rose Hunt. Ms. Hunt, along with her daughter, Laurie Sands Harrison, were two of DCT’s earliest and most longstanding supporters. In the early 2000s, with the help of a strong board of community leaders, Flatt and the DCT team raised more than $14 million dollars to purchase and renovate the old Don Carter Bowling Alley on Northwest Highway and Skillman. Thanks to the generosity of loyal patrons, the 58,000 square foot facility is now owned mortgage-free. From its modest financial beginnings of $500, DCT has grown to a pre‑COVID annual budget of more than $4 million. The theater has twenty-seven (27) fulltime staff members, seventy-five (75) part-time employees and currently thirty‑nine (39) seasonal employees. DCT has served more than five (5) million children and families through a critically‑lauded annual season of plays and an arts-in-education school for children ages three-and-one-half (3.5) to eighteen (18). Pre-COVID, DCT also produced a sought-after national tour that traveled to thirty-one (31) cities and twenty-six (26) states each year. DCT is considered one of the leading professional family theaters in the nation.

Under Flatt’s leadership, DCT has always had a deliberate and visible commitment to diverse casting, culturally-specific plays, and using the power of theater to spark important conversations. Flatt’s own projects of note include YANA WANA’S LEGEND OF THE BLUEBONNET, a DCT‑commissioned play that provides a glimpse into the heritage of the indigenous, First People of Texas; John Steptoe’s MUFARO’S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS, an African-American Cinderella tale; AND THEN THEY CAME FOR ME featuring the story of Eva Schloss and recounting scenes from the lives of Holocaust survivors during World War II; and 10 SECONDS, a play that demonstrates what can happen when young people and members of law enforcement take the time to consider their interactions with each other.  Flatt’s signature work was Harper Lee’s classic TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD which she produced several times, and an innovative and collaborative production entitled TREASURE ISLAND Reimagined! that combined puppetry, circus arts, and movement.

DCT’s Board of Trustees is committed to a smooth leadership transition and has engaged Management Consultants for the Arts to conduct a national search for a new executive director. On Flatt’s announcement, Jim Markus, President of the Board expressed pride in his own long‑term association with both DCT and Flatt. Markus said, “Having originally joined DCT’s Board of Trustees over twenty-five (25) years ago, I am one of many theater-loving community volunteers who became inspired by Robyn’s leadership and the innovative programing being provided each year by DCT.  I have considered it a unique privilege, rather than a responsibility, to support this North Texas treasure.”

In November of 2020, DCT initiated an important first step in its succession plan when Nancy Schaeffer was elevated to the role of Artistic Director. Schaeffer’s association with DCT dates to its beginning days in 1984 when she was not only a leading actress in many productions, but also took on the administration of its fledgling school of theater classes. With her energy and expertise, DCT’s school has grown to become a highly sought-after Academy serving up to 4,000 students a year, and now includes a vibrant musical theater conservatory as well as the Blue Pegasus Players classes for children with sensory sensitivities.

Flatt plans to continue directing plays and will take on special projects as needed for Dallas Children’s Theater. She intends to devote much of her creative energy to a book and film about her father through the Baker Idea Institute, an incubator initiative for creative thinking and imagination in ways that benefit business, education, and individuals in general.

In addition to her leadership of DCT, Flatt’s sixty (60) year theatrical career has brought her acclaim as a professional director, actor, teacher, and lighting designer. She holds a MA degree from Baylor University and studied under Paul Baker, Juana Laban, and Hanya Holm. For 38 years, she has served on national boards including AATE, ASSITEJ/USA, and CTFA. She is a recipient of The 500, Inc.’s prestigious Ken Bryant Visionary Award, Dallas Historical Society’s 1999 Excellence in Community Service for Creative Arts, the 2002 Leon Rabin Standing Ovation Award, the AATE 2004 Sara Spencer Award, and the Excellence in Nonprofit Management Award. Flatt is a member of the College of Fellows of American Theatre. She was nominated by The Dallas Morning News arts staff for the Texan of the Year Award in both 2010 and 2015, and was honored in 2016 with the Orlin Corey Award for Artistic Excellence from the American Alliance for Theater and Education.

A round of applause for our very own Robyn Flatt!


Photo credits: Lawrence Jenkins, Joseph Haubert, DCT staff

All hail the Lizard Queen: Meet Junie B.’s nemesis – Tattletale May

Junie and May have never quite seen eye-to-eye…

May Murkee is a fellow first grader in Junie B.’s class. May seems to know just about every zoo animal there is to know, but can’t seem to remember to include the “B.” in Junie B.’s name. May and June might be right next to each other on the calendar, but you won’t catch these two similarly named girls sitting side-by-side anytime soon.

She and Junie B. often find themselves competing for attention in class. And outside of class. And, well, pretty much whenever they see each other. Junie B. struggles with her temper whenever May is around, and May only seems to get louder in response. Will these two girls ever be able to see past their differences? Find out in JUNIE B.’s ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL!


Listen up, I tell you! Junie B. Jones is back, and she’s got some advice to give…eventually. It was her brilliant idea to put together a survival guide for next year’s students, but now she’s at a total loss for what to add to it! It doesn’t help that all her friends are full of cool ideas and dance numbers. How’s a girl supposed to deal with all this competition? Hilariously, of course! In this musical extravaganza great for back-to-school time, Junie B. Jones learns some important lessons about school, patience, and personal growth. This play is perfect for fans of Junie B. and newcomers alike!

Saturday, October 22, 1:30PM

Sunday, October 23, 1:30PM

Saturday, October 29, 1:30PM

Sunday, October 30, 1:30PM

Photos by Lawrence Jenkins
JUNIE B.’s ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL produced through special arrangement with Music Theatre International www.MTIshows[dot]com.

Report Cards aren’t always easy – life lessons with Junie B.

1st grade is an eventful time…

In a pivotal scene in JUNIE B.’s ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL, Junie B. attempts to bury her 1st grade report card under the neighbor’s begonias. She is immediately found out, and laments to her mother saying:

Junie B. has not had the perfect year. She’s learned that carpools are not real pools which created an embarrassing moment as she stood on the street in her inner tube as the school bus passed by. She was caught by Mrs. Principal making silly faces against the bus window and ended up getting lectured by Mr. Principal. She has carried a multitude of notes home from her teacher with requests including, but not limited to: “Please do not head butt the other students,” and “Please refrain from using the word stinkyhead.” Let’s just say the Needs Improvement in her report card is more than a little earned.

But Junie B.’s greatest challenge comes in the form of her temper. She describes it as a bull in her stomach named El Toro Fabuloso. This bull, in the musical, looks suspiciously similar to her school-supply-loving, tattletale classmate, May.

When Junie B.’s actions catch up to her, and leave her with those horrifying words on her report card, it’s a confirmation of all her fears. She’s a “bad” kid. She’s scared. She despairs. And…she learns a few things, too. Eventually, her mother comes clean and decides to show Junie her own childhood report card, and Junie B. is shocked to see a “Needs Improvement” clearly written there, too!


Listen up, I tell you! Junie B. Jones is back, and she’s got some advice to give…eventually. It was her brilliant idea to put together a survival guide for next year’s students, but now she’s at a total loss for what to add to it! It doesn’t help that all her friends are full of cool ideas and dance numbers. How’s a girl supposed to deal with all this competition? Hilariously, of course! In this musical extravaganza great for back-to-school time, Junie B. Jones learns some important lessons about school, patience, and personal growth. This play is perfect for fans of Junie B. and newcomers alike!

Saturday, October 15, 1:30PM
Sunday, October 16, 1:30PM
Sunday, October 16, 4:30PM
Saturday, October 22, 1:30PM
Sunday, October 23, 1:30PM
Saturday, October 29, 1:30PM
Sunday, October 30, 1:30PM

Photos by Lawrence Jenkins
JUNIE B.’s ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL produced through special arrangement with Music Theatre International www.MTIshows[dot]com.