If you have kids between the ages of 6 and 10, chances are you’re pretty familiar with Dav Pilkey’s popular comic book series, “Dog Man.” Both of my children are fans of the book’s half-policeman, half-dog crime-fighting hero. In fact, my 9-year-old daughter has read all the books (the latest installment in the series comes out August 13th!) while my 5-year-old enjoys drawing the lovable man-canine. So, you can imagine their delight when I told them they would get to see the character brought to life on stage thanks to the new theatrical adaptation: Dog Man: The Musical.
To say they were ecstatic would be an understatement.
My two kids posing after enjoying “Dog Man: The Musical” at Lucille Lortell Theatre on July 4th, 2019.
The hilarious 90-minute production takes young viewers on a fun, adventurous ride as Dog Man (who’s a result of an experiment gone wrong) tries to save the city from an evil robotic fish named Flippy and an intimidating trio of villainous buildings. The lively, energetic and incredibly talented cast is simply captivating. The entertaining ensemble includes L.R. Davidson as Li’l Petey, Jamie Laverdiere as Petey, Brian Owen as Dog Man, Dan Rosales as Harold, Crystal Sha’nae as Flippy, and Forest Vandyke as George. This gifted group didn’t miss a beat and brought endless enthusiasm to their characters.
Plus, the live performance takes scenes straight from the pages of the best-selling books, adding an element of familiarity that young audiences can appreciate.
Photo by Jeremy Daniel
Days leading up to the show, my daughter re-read some excerpts from the books to my son so they could both get reacquainted with the plots and themes. When she saw them re-enacted on stage, she gave me a huge smile and said, “See, mommy, some parts are just like the book!”
Not only was the storytelling great, the music was phenomenal. The catchy songs were a major hit with my kids. They especially loved the “Evil ABC’s” rendition performed, by Petey the Cat, Dog Man’s main nemesis and his adorable offspring L’il Petey. During our walk home they were still humming the amusing show tunes.
From beginning to end, the comedy, singing, and impeccable set design made for a memorable experience that my kids won’t soon forget.
“Dog Man: The Musical” is currently showing at Lucille Lortell Theatre and runs through August 11, 2019. Be sure to visit TheaterWorks USA for tickets and more information.
Have your kids read any of the Dog Man books?
What a great show for kids!