For a very long time, Pumpkin Theatre has been producing shows for children. Seussical the Musical Jr. makes their first foray into “for children, by children.” A cast of twenty-eight young people obviously put in a lot of hard work to make the first performance a decent maiden voyage into child performers.

Seussical tells the story of Horton the Elephant (Connor Moore), who hears Whos and hatches eggs. Moore has a nice voice and a likeable sweetness to his portrayal. The tale is narrated by The Cat in the Hat (Allison Mudd) with assistance from Jo Jo (Steven Gross), a young Who who thinks many strange thinks. It is high-action with song after song. The choreography is a real hero in this production. It was kept simple but interesting in a way that all the young performers were able to dance in perfect sync.

Throughout the show, there were several standout performances. Sheridan Merrick was dynamic with a solidly developing belt as Mayzie. Ruby Kinstle was sweet with adorable comedic timing as Gertrude. Jake Miller was especially excellent as he charmed and sang beautifully in the role of the Mayor.

The downfall in using child performers, because they are simply not adult professionals, is that this was the most antsy audience I had ever seen at Pumpkin. Usually, their shows keep the 3 & 4 year-olds engaged, but, with child actors instead of adults, 5 or older would probably be recommended for the audience. So, if you have taken really little ones to Pumpkin in the past, you might want to reconsider. However, five and older are certain to enjoy watching other children their age have fun in this high-energy show.

Cast

• Bird Girls: Emily Wheeler, Madelyn Schloss, Sophie Brodinsky
• Mayzie La Bird: Sheridan Merrick
• Gertrude McFuzz: Ruby Kinstle
• Wickersham Brothers: David Polsky, Carly Dagilis, Alex Cashman, Myles Muse, & Maddie Reecer
• The Cat in the Hat: Allison Mudd
• Yertle the Turtle: Emma Moore
• Horton the Elephant: Connor Moore
• Sour Kangaroo: Eva Hellerback
• Young Kangaroo: Sadie Lange
• Vlad Vladikoff: Anthony Hobbs
• Mayor’s Wife: Maya Walsh-Little
• Whos: Sam Willen, Ruby Webb, Claire Mitchell, Nick Dimitriades, Luke Miller, Victoria Miller, Holly Miller, & Jacob Rose
• Mayor: Jake Miller
• Jo Jo: Steven Gross

Design Team & Crew

• Director: Jimi Kinstle
• Assistant Director: Erin Confair
• Musical Director: Mandee Ferrier Roberts
• Stage Manager: Allyson Haley
• Properties Designer: Ally Cribbs
• Costume Designer: Karen Saar
• Lighting Designer: Adrienne Gieszl
• Sound Designer: Nick Hood
• Set Designer: Heather M. Mork
• Technical Director: Seth Glasser

Disclaimer: Pumpkin Theatre provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

Based on the book “The Hardest Word” by Jacqueline Jules, Quest of the Ziz Bird is an original musical with book and lyrics by Jimi Kinstle and music by Ryan Michael Haase. The result is ideally geared for younger audience with catchy, repeating riffs, a simple story with a good moral, and bright-colored costumes.

The set was simple but bright and colorful with detailed fruits, vegetables, and plants. The costumes were well-designed, especially the very bright and interesting design of the Ziz. The staging was simple but effective, and the occasional breaking of the fourth wall worked to keep the kids participating in the action.

In the story, four children (Noah Tunis, Jory Holmes, Paris Weeks, and Liz Tilley) have been working under the guidance of their parents (Anthony Scimonelli and Vanessa Kinzey) to tend a garden. The Ziz, a large mythological bird (Danielle Robinette, Amanda Rife, and Jayne Harris), accidentally creates a pool in the garden. Excited over the positive reception of the pool, the Ziz becomes excited and destroys much of the rest of the garden. In order to make friends with the children, the Ziz has to find and use “the hardest word” to make everything right.

The performances were all solid, and the kids were cute and talented. The two strongest performances came from Amanda Rife and Jayne Harris who brought tons of enthusiasm and beautiful harmonies to the trio that comprised the Ziz.

While this may not be one of those productions that transcends and enraptures adult audiences as well, even my usually overactive two-and-a-half-year-old was an attentive audience member and that is what really matters.

Cast

• Ziz: Danielle Robinette
• Ziz Left Wing: Amanda Rife
• Ziz Right Wing: Jayne Harris
• Father/Voice of God: Anthony Scimonelli
• Mother/Voice of God: Vanessa Kinzey
• Joshua: Noah Tunis
• Robert: Jory Holmes
• Dawn: Paris Weeks
• Ruby: Liz Tilley

The Band

• Musical Direction: Ryan Michael Haase
• Flute: Katie Baseman
• Clarinet, Saxophone: Daniel Benbow
• Cello: Steven Bainbridge
• Guitar: Brian Loeper

Design Team & Crew

• Director: Jimi Kinstle
• Stage Manager/Properties Design: Ally Cribs
• Costume Design: Heather Jackson
• Ziz Design: Valarie Perez-Schere
• Lighting Design/Projection Design: Heather M. Mork
• Set Design: Ryan Michael Haase
• Sound Operator: Kwame Alston
• Stage Crew: Seth Glasser
• Scenic Artist: Stefan Hauswald

Disclaimer: Pumpkin Theatre provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a compilation of skits based on the famous comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz. It is infused with fun numbers that are true to the characters through delightful music and lyrics written by Clark M. Gesner. Since it is just a series of vignettes without a real through storyline, it is easily truncated into Pumpkin Theatre’s hour-long production. They manage to pack that hour full of laughter and show-stopping numbers.

Every detail in the production is quality: sets, costumes, lights, and props. They do an excellent job of having the original comic strip leap off the pages into a 3-D experience. The cast also really embraces bringing life and heart to the familiar characters.

Dean Davis is delightfully hopeless and yet full of hope as Charlie Brown. Stacey Needle’s Lucy is despicable and loveable. Gary Dieter’s Snoopy is both dog and human. Drew Gaver’s Linus is both childlike and mature. Tammy Crisp’s Sally is a delightful ball of energy. Each performer also brings a powerhouse set of vocals to the score.

Even in this dynamic cast of excellent local performers, there is still one standout. Michael Perrie, Jr is obviously destined for great things. His presence and ease on stage are at a distinctly professional level. He absolutely steals the show with his comedic, over-the-top and yet subtle, real portrayal of Schroeder and vocals, best highlighted in “Beethoven Day,” that are nothing short of perfection.

The only small critique with this show is some problems with the sound system that would cause microphones to briefly stop working throughout the show. This, however, is a minor problem that does not diminish the overall caliber of the production.

Overall, this is not just quality Children’s Theatre; it is quality theatre. Audiences of all ages will delight at this production, so do not be ashamed to show up without a youngster.

Photo Gallery

Photos provided by Pumpkin Theatre

Cast of Characters

• Charlie Brown: Dean Davis
• Linus: Drew Gaver
• Lucy: Stacey Needle
• Schroeder: Michael Perrie, Jr
• Sally: Tammy Crisp
• Snoopy: Gary Dieter

Design Team & Crew

• Director/Choreographer*: Jimi Kinstle
• Stage Manager: Heather C. Jackson/Emily Dowdell
• Musical Director: Mark Hanson Williams
• Costume Design: Heather C. Jackson
• Lighting Design: Adrienne Gieszl
• Properties Design: Ally Cribbs
• Set Design: Ryan Michael Haase
• Stage Crew: Seth Glasser, Christian Wilson
• Sound Operator: Kwame Alston
• *Choreography of “Suppertime”: Gary Dieter

Disclaimer: Pumpkin Theatre provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

Luckily, Pumpkin Theatre’s current production is neither terrible, horrible, no good, nor very bad. In fact, it is pleasantly fun and enjoyable. It lacks a little polish that may have made it standout for an adult audience, but it is entirely delightful for its target audience of young children. The performances range from solid to outstanding, and the only real critiques are more technical in nature.

To begin with the outstanding, you need look no farther than Isaac Lunt in the lead role of Alexander. He plays the role large enough to keep the attention of the young audience, while also showing a nuanced believability that will impress any audience. He is able to spend almost the entire hour whining and pouting without becoming annoying.

Delightful performances come from all of the female ensemble members. Tammy Crisp easily embodies a child with her mannerisms and cadence. Amanda Rife has great comedic delivery and wows with her impressive gymnastic stunt. Joi Gaskins gets an opportunity to show off her very pretty voice, and Holly Gibbs in appropriately over-the-top in her scene-stealing turn as the teacher. Charlie Long does a nice job of creating varied and interesting character bits, and Derek Cooper has high energy throughout the production.

The biggest problem with the production is the lack of microphones. Although all performers can easily be heard while speaking, the problem comes in with the musical numbers. Most of the soloists are drowned out by the band. The sound error definitely allows the energy and the audience attention to drop during those solo moments.

The costumes are simple but well-designed, as is the lighting. The set, on the other hand, feels sloppy and the vision is unclear. The large piano used as a set piece seems to lack reason, apart from the scene where it is used as a piano. The haphazard use of blankets and sheets as the backdrops seems to be without a real purpose. However, it is unlikely that the young audience members gave a second thought to the set design.

As far as serving the purpose of being an enjoyable and appropriate production for children, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day definitely fits the bill.

Cast

• Alexander: Isaac Lunt
• Ensemble: Derek Cooper, Tammy Crisp, Holly Gibbs, Joi Haskins, Charlie Long, & Amanda Rife

Design Team & Crew

• Director: Ryan Michael Haase
• Stage Manager: Allyson Haley
• Musical Director: Ryan Michael Haase
• Costume Design: Heather C. Jackson
• Lighting Design: Adrienne Giesxl
• Properties Deisgn: Ryan Michael Haase
• Set Design: Ryan Michael Haase
• Scenic Artist: Jayne Harris
• Stage Crew: Ashlyn Walderman
• Carpenter: Steven Bainbridge
• House Manager: Kathryn Falcone

The Band

• Guitar: Brian Loeper
• Cello: Steve Bainbridge
• Flute: Tracy Shindledecker
• Piano with the Band: Ryan Michael Haase

Disclaimer: Pumpkin Theatre provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

Pumpkin Theatre’s Rapunzel is a musical retelling of the classic fairytale. A couple (Greg Guyton & Holly Gibbs) eventual succumbs to their envy of a neighbor’s garden and steals from it only to learn that the neighbor is a witch (Michele Jenkins Guyton). In return, the witch demands their first-born child. This results in poor Rapunzel (Elisa Dugan) living in a tower until she is discovered by a handsome prince (Michael Perrie, Jr.). The script is written with a young audience, approximately ages 3 – 6, in mind. Pumpkin Theatre’s production is solid and does a continued good job of speaking to that target audience.

In the title role of Rapunzel, Elisa Dugan does a great job and really brings some extra spunk to the character. As her prince, Michael Perrie, Jr. is absolutely delightful with his likeable stage presence and comedic delivery. He really steals the show. Michele Jenkins Guyton works a little too hard to steal the show back and is, at times, over the top in her portrayal. Greg Guyton, Stacey Needle, and Holly Gibbs round out the cast well and do a nice job in their supporting roles.

It is the technical elements in this production that really shine. The set is simple but magical and really transports you into the fairytale. The costumes possess that same magic and are intricate in every detail.

The end result is a pleasant afternoon for parents, which is certain to be magical for the youngest of audiences.

Cast of Characters

• Rapunzel: Elisa Dugan
• Prince Brian: Michael Perrie, Jr.
• Simon/The Cobbler: Greg Guyton
• Greta the Witch: Michele Jenkins Guyton
• Storyteller 2/Innkeeper/Guard/Mop Woman: Stacey Needle
• Storyteller 1/Cobbler’s Wife/Wigmaker/Queen: Holly Gibbs

Design Team & Crew

• Director: James Hunnicutt
• Stage Manager: Allyson Haley
• Musical Director: Jeff Baker
• Costume Design: Will E. Crowther
• Costume Assistant: Sally Kahn
• Lighting Design: Todd Mion
• Properties Design: Ally Cribbs
• Set Design: Ryan Michael Haase
• Scenic Artist: Sarah Hickey
• Stage Crew: Seth Glasser, Ashlyn Walderman
• Carpenter: Steven Bainbridge
• House Manager: Beth Weber

Disclaimer: Pumpkin Theatre provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.