The Children’s Theater Series presented by University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital returns to Playhouse Square for an exciting 2023-2024 season. From taking undersea and jungle adventures to making friends with not-so-scary monsters and learning with Rosie Revere and her classmates, the Children’s Theater Series offers a time for families to create new memories at Playhouse Square.
Individual show tickets are available today starting at $15 at playhousesquare.org or by calling 216-241-6000. All performances throughout the series take place at the Mimi Ohio Theatre, and a sign language interpreter will be at specific shows in the series.
2023-24 Children’s Theater Series
Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster
Produced by Manual Cinema
Performance dates: Oct. 21-22, 2023
Leonardo is a terrible monster. He tries so hard to be scary, but he just… isn’t. Then Leonardo finds Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the world. Will Leonardo finally get to scare the tuna salad out of someone? Or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship? The plot thickens when this pair meets Kerry and Frankenthaler, an even scaredier-cat and her monster friend. Kerry and Sam need to make a big decision: will they just be scaredy cats or can they become friends?
Leonardo! uses hundreds of illustrated paper puppets, book pages, two-dimensional props, furry monster puppets, and songs to bring Mo Willems’ books to life. Manual Cinema wanted to re-create the experience of holding one of Mo’s book pages, which are big, bold, colorful, and full of visual rhythm, with a playful use of scale. Like all Manual Cinema productions, you’re invited to watch the big screen like a traditional movie, or to watch the artists below as they create the story in real time. (There is no wrong way to watch the show!)
Giraffes Can’t Dance The Musical
Produced by Wishing Star Productions, LLC
Performance dates: Nov. 4-5, 2023
All the animals in the jungle know their own special dance, but Gerald the Giraffe can't seem to move without a clumsy step. But with the help of a wise cricket, he finds his own song, and dances to the beat of his own drum! In this stage adaptation of the beloved children's book written by Giles Andreae and illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees, puppets, African rhythm, and lots of dancing help Gerald learn that his differences are what make him special. Book and lyrics by Gloria Bond Clunie, music by Elton Bradman & Leela Olesziewicz.
The Rainbow Fish
Produced by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
Performance dates: Jan. 27-28, 2024
Please note a sensory-friendly performance of The Rainbow Fish takes place on Jan. 28, 2024.
The Rainbow Fish will enchant even the youngest child with his silver scales and heart of gold in this award-winning book about the beautiful fish who learned to share his most prized possession. Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia brings The Rainbow Fish to life with their enchanting puppetry. The first of three tales introduces the most beautiful fish in the sea, whose scales shimmer in all the colors of the rainbow. He is admired – and resented – by the entire underwater world, until a clever octopus advises him to give each fish one of his scales. Further adventures follow as The Rainbow Fish finds the courage to explore the great unknown deep sea, discovering a new world with wonderful sights and friendly creatures of all shapes, sizes and colors who are eager to make his acquaintance. The underworld wonderland is the setting for an introduction to the concept of opposites. As a fitting finale, the story ends with the most satisfying opposite of all—give and take— as Rainbow Fish shares one of his shining scales with a friend.
Rosie Revere, Engineer & Friends
Produced by TheaterWorksUSA
Performance dates: Mar. 9-10, 2024
Ms. Greer's classroom includes three inquisitive out-of-the-box thinkers. Rosie Revere has big dreams. Iggy Peck has a relentless passion for architecture. And Ada Twist's curiosity can lead her to solve any problem. A fun musical based on the books Rosie Revere, Engineer; Iggy Peck, Architect, and Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, spotlighting the STEM curriculum (focusing on science, technology, engineering and math).