The Cat in the Hat

SEASON EXTRA
Adapted by Katie Mitchell
Based on the book by Dr. Seuss

2019-2020 Theater for Youth Season Extra

“The sun did not shine.  It was too wet to play.  So we sat in the house.  All that cold, cold, wet day.”  So begins the wildly popular Dr. Seuss classic that generations of children have read.  But never fear, the Cat in the Hat appears, along with Thing One and Thing Two (bringing mayhem and fun!), to take Sally, her brother, and the fish on a madcap adventure!

The show is 49 minutes long with no intermission.

Miss Nelson Is Missing

Book, Music & Lyrics by JOAN CUSHING
Based on the book “Miss Nelson is Missing” and
“Miss Nelson is Back” by HARRY ALLARD
Illustrated by JAMES MARSHALL

The Oldest Boy

Regional Premiere
By Sarah Ruhl

An American mother and a Tibetan father have a three-year-old son believed to be the reincarnation of a Buddhist lama, a spiritual master. When a Tibetan lama and a monk come to their home unexpectedly, asking to take their child away for a life of spiritual training in India, the parents must make a life-altering choice that will test their strength, their marriage, and their hearts. The Oldest Boy is a richly emotional journey filled with music, dance, puppetry, ritual, and laughter — it’s Sarah Ruhl at her imaginative best.

“Gently emotional and touchingly intelligent, Main Street Theater’s production of The Oldest Boy: A Play in Three Ceremonies is a gripping, thought-provoking play.” Read the entire Houston Press Review

“This is easily one of Main Street Theater’s strongest offerings this year, and it is a show that is well-thought through and exquisitely paced…THE OLDEST BOY is about as perfect as you can manage to get in live theater, and it offers a lot to consider…Main Street Theater seems designed specifically for this kind of meditation, and THE OLDEST BOY is representative of the company at its utmost best.” Read the entire BroadwayWorld Houston review

“I just had a marvelous evening with The Oldest Boy and his deeply affecting parents….My appreciation runs deep. I have studied and lived with Tibetans, especially Tibetan scholars and meditation masters, on and off for nearly 50 years. The conversation between traditional Tibetan and contemporary American perspectives is part of my life and central to The Oldest Boy….The Oldest Boy is a moving and entertaining reflection on, among other things, the expansiveness of human possibility. It’s quite a marvel for both mind and heart. Don’t miss it!” Read the entire reflection by Dr. Anne C. Klein, founder of Dawn Mountain Tibetan Buddhist Temple, Community Center and Research Institute.

James and the Giant Peach

Based on the book by Roald Dahl
Dramatized by Richard R. George

After his parents’ tragic death by rhinoceros, James is sent to live with his horrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge. The contents of a magic bag transform an old peach tree into a portal to an amazing adventure with a host of fantastical creatures on a giant peach!

Recommended for 1st Grade and older.

For over 43 years, Main Street Theater has had a reputation for bringing thoughtful, entertaining, and fun adaptations of children’s books to life. Recently a social media post was made about our usage of cross-gender casting. This is a technique we have used for years (which has produced great humor!) to allow us to produce works with smaller casts. In addition, there was a question of the use of pronouns for the insects. True to Dahl’s book, the Glowworm explains that it is not a male but rather a female because male Glowworms do not light up.

We hope that you will reach out to our box office or school booking line if you need clarification on content. We are always happy to help!

Public Box Office: 713-524-6706

School Bookings Office: 713-524-9196

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!

Based on the book Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
Published by Hyperion Books for Children
Script by Mo Willems and Mr. Warburton
Lyrics by Mo Willems
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Dramaturgy by Megan Alrutz

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

Book by Joe Tracz
Music & Lyrics by Rob Rokicki
Adapted from the book, THE LIGHTNING THIEF, by Rick Riordan