If You Give a Mouse a Cookie & Other Story Books

Will Rogers Auditorium
10:00 & 12:00
March 10 & 11, 2011

Eight delightful stories come to life in Theatreworks USA’s musical revue If You Give a Mouse a Cookie & Other Story Books. Performed by a multi-racial cast, the stories represent various issues, themes and ideas relevant to a broad and diverse audience of children. Books featured in the show include:

“AMAZING GRACE” follows young Grace as she attempts to break stereotypes in an effort to play the title character in her school's production of Peter Pan. Based on Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, adapted by Kirsten Childs (author of The Bubbly Black Girl and Kleban Award winner).

"BORREGUITA AND THE COYOTE" is the classic Mexican tale of a little lamb, or borreguita, who uses her wits to escape a hungry coyote. Based on Borreguita and the Coyote by Verna Aardema, adapted by Robert J. Lopez and Jeffrey Marx (songwriters of the Best Musical Tony Awardwinner Avenue Q).

In “IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE,” a boy shares his snack with a hungry, demanding mouse, and learns a hilarious lesson about cause-and-effect. Based on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff, adapted by Jeremy Desmon and Patrick Dwyer.

In "IMOGENE'S ANTLERS," young Imogene is delighted to wake up with "cool" antlers, but soon discovers that her parents and school principals do not share her enthusiasm. Based on Imogene's Antlers by David Small, adapted by Robert J. Lopez and Jeffrey Marx (songwriters of the Best Musical Tony Award-winner Avenue Q).

“MARTHA SPEAKS” is the adventurous tale of a family dog who literally becomes outspoken after dining on alphabet soup. Based on Martha Speaks, by Susan Meddaugh, adapted by Arthur Perlman and Jeffrey Lunden (Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla and Jonathan Larson Foundation Award-winners).

Based on a Nigerian tall tale, “MASTER MAN” concerns a man whose muscles are as big as his ego, who earns his comeuppance when he claims to be the strongest man in the world. Based on Master Man by Aaron Shepard, adapted by Jordan Allen-Dutton & Erik Weiner (Bomb-itty of Errors) and James-Allen Ford.

“MATH CURSE” playfully addresses the phobia some kids have when tackling seemingly difficult math problems. Based on Math Curse by Jon Scieszka, adapted by Mindi Dickstein (lyricist of Broadway’s Little Women) and Daniel Messé. Dickstein and Messé also wrote the revue’s opening number, “Pick a Book.”

"OWEN" just can't bear to part with his beloved blanket, Fuzzy – a problem, since he is about to start kindergarten. Owen’s understanding mother provides a clever solution. Based on Owen by Kevin Henkes, adapted by Faye Greenberg and David Evans. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie & Other Story Books is a revised version of Reading Rainbow, a previous Theatreworks USA musical revue. This revised production features the original revue’s direction and choreography of David Armstrong (artistic director of Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, the largest regional theatre in the northwest), plus additions by Kevin Del Aguila (librettist of Off-Broadway’s Altar Boyz). For both the original and revised productions, the scenery was designed by Rob Odoriso, with costumes by Martha Bromelmeier. This 60-minute musical is recommended for ages 4 and up.

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