Lyle the Crocodile

After the beautiful opening scene of Lyle the Crocodile, I’m holding my breath.  Could the rest of the production be as good?  An hour and a half later, I answer yes.  This is children’s theater at its best. Read more

Heidi

For kids who are unlikely to sit through 280 pages of the 19^th century book by Johanna Spyri, Imagination Stage’s new musical adaptation of Heidi is an excellent alternative. Read more

Zomo the Rabbit

Zomo the Rabbit-A Hip-Hop Creation Myth
Written and Directed by Psalmayene 24
Produced by Imagination Stage
Reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson

With some artists, you can purchase a ticket on trust, knowing that they will deliver quality goods.  Psalmayene 24 is quickly becoming such an artist.  Renown in the metro area for his uniquely personal and creative flair, poetry slams, and hip-hop infused productions, Psalmayene 24 is now bringing a bippity bop beat to children’s theater Read more

Miss Nelson Is Missing

Miss Nelson Is Missing!
Based on the book by Harry Allard
Book, music, & lyrics by Joan Cushing
Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer
Produced by Imagination Stage
Reviewed by Steven McKnight

Miss Nelson Is Missing!, a hit children’s musical that made its world premiere at Imagination Stage in 2001, has returned to delight a new generation of children.  This enchanting and entertaining production offers a wonderful family theatre opportunity for the holiday season. Read more

Playing from the Heart

Playing from the Heart
By Charles Way
Directed by Janet Stanford
Produced by Imagination Stage
Reviewed by Leslie Weisman

What do you get when you take an almost bare-bones set, a heroine who can’t hear but who won’t hear of not making music, an orchestra of ideophones evoked by sticks, boards, panes and chimes and an indefatigable determination to do what those who love you, those who laugh at you, those who doubt you and those who deny you, say just can’t be done?

If it’s Charles Way’s innovative and inspirational Playing from the Heart, you get an absorbing and evocative biographical drama about a young woman both from and of the sticks who proved them all wrong to become the premier percussion artist of her generation. Read more

Busytown

Busytown
adapted for the stage by Kevin Kling
from the book “What Do People Do All Day” by Richard Scarry
music by Michael Koerner
lyrics by Kevin Kling and Michael Koerner
directed by Krissy Marty
produced by Imagination Stage
reviewed by Ted Ying

“So simple, yet so brilliant.”  says Huckle the cat when the postal service is explained to him.  But he might just as well be describing this wonderfully enchanting production Read more

The Neverending Story

• The Neverending Story
• Based on the novel by Michael Ende . Adapted by David S. Craig
• Directed by Janet Stanford
• Produced by Imagination Stage
• Reviewed by Ted Ying

Only a human child can save the land of Fantastica.  Such stuff as dreams are made on-or at least children’s fantasy.  The Neverending Story is such a fantasy, brought to life by Imagination Stage. Read more

Looking for Roberto Clemente

• Looking for Roberto Clemente
• Book and Lyrics by Karen Zacarias . Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
• Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer
• Choreographed by Krissie Marty
• Produced by Imagination Stage
• Reviewed by Ted Ying

Do You Remember Where You Were…?

When you heard about 9/11?  When space shuttle Columbia crashed?  When JFK was assassinated?  Most people remember where they were when pivotal events in history occurred.  And like any other Pittsburgher, I remember when I learned in 1972 of the passing of our local hero, Roberto Clemente.  Read more

Lost and Found

• Lost & Foundling
• By Eric R. Pfeffinger
• Directed by Janet Stanford
• Produced by Imagination Stage
• Reviewed by Janice Cane

The dark woods are so overdone as a scary-story setting that the forest has lost its fright. And kids these days don’t really wander around in the forest. So why not set a fairy tale in a more familiar place-like, say, a buy-in-bulk mega-store? That’s where we meet the heroine of Lost & Foundling, Pryce. Read more

Twice Upon a Time

• Twice Upon A Time: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and
• The Emperor’s New Clothes
• By Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
• Directed By Nick Olcott.
• Produced by Imagination Stage.
• Reviewed by Max Talisman.

Imagination Stage’s Twice Upon a Time opens with a well staged musical number which tells the story of The Lorax. The Lorax is the story of Onceler (Bobby Smith) who begins cutting down all the trees in the land and The Lorax, who speaks for them, will not have it! Read more

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