100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda, CA 94563
Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems and Mr. Warburton
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Megan Alrutz, Dramaturg
Based on the books by Mo Willems
Published by Music Theatre International.
Upcoming Productions
Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, North Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA
2 E Main St, Smithtown, NY 11787
Main Street Theater, Main street, Houston, TX
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, West Dale Street, Colorado Springs, CO
Synopsis
It’s not easy being The Pigeon– you never get to do ANYTHING! But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird CAN do something. Using an innovative mix of actors, puppets, songs, and feathers, Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! The Musical! is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping.
History
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! was commissioned and premiered by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on November 23rd, 2019 under the direction of Jerry Whiddon, with music direction by William Yanesh, and began touring the country in 2020. The premiere won the 2020 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Production – Theatre for Young Audiences.
“The giggles and guffaws zoom along at top speed, even as the bus breaks down in this genuinely riotous adaptation … a tasty hour-long concoction of silliness.” – Jane Horowitz, Broadway World
Musical Numbers
I NEVER GET TO DO ANYTHING - Pigeon
BUS DRIVER - Bus Driver and Pigeon
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN - Pigeon
CAN I DRIVE THE BUS? - Pigeon, Bus Driver, and Passengers
PANIC AT THE BUS STOP - Bus Driver and Passengers
I'M BROKEN - Pigeon and Bus Driver
KEEP FLAPPIN' - All
DO MY THING - Pigeon
CAN I FLY THE PLANE? - All
Listen to the original cast album on Apple Music or Spotify.
“’Delightfully, rip-roaringly, giggle-inducingly kid-friendly.” – Leslie Weisman, DC Metro Theatre Arts
Production Elements
Cast of 6
Actor 1: THE PIGEON – A snappy, sassy, and demanding bird who never gets what he wants, but that doesn’t mean he’ll ever stop trying. (Tenor)
Actor 2: THE BUS DRIVER – A professional who loves her work and, eventually, The Pigeon. Prides herself on ALWAYS being on time. (Alto/Mezzo belt)
Actor 3: HOT DOG VENDOR/PASSENGER:BUSINESS MAN/AIRPLANE ENGINE (Baritone)
Actor 4: DUCKLING/BUS ENGINE/BUS PUPPET/BUS DRIVER’S MOM/PUPPY/ (Alto)
Actor 5: CITY WORKER/PASSENGER: TEENAGER (Tenor)
Actor 6: PASSENGER: LITTLE OLD LADY (Mezzo Soprano)
Music: Rhythm and Blues, Funk, Disco, Swing, and Jazz score for Piano, Electric Guitar, Trumpet, Saxophone, Trombone, Electric Bass, and Drums. Accompaniment tracks available.
Musical Difficulty: Intermediate
Technical Requirements: Minimal
Suggested Audience: Young Audiences/Families
Authors
MO WILLEMS (Book and Lyrics) works in children’s books, animation, television, theater, and bubble gum card painting, garnering him 3 Caldecott Honors, 2 Geisel Medals, 6 Emmy Awards, 4 Geisel Honors, a Helen Hayes nomination, and multiple bubble gum cards.
He is best know for his characters Knuffle Bunny, The Pigeon, and Elephant and Piggie. He is worst known for his characters in Sheep in the Big City and The Off-Beats. More information about Mo’s past, present, and future can be gleaned at www.mowillems.com
TOM WARBURTON, aka MR WARBURTON (Co-Bookwriter) is an animator, producer, writer, designer and longtime friend and collaborator of Mr. Willems. Currently Disney Jr’s Muppet Babies executive producer, he is also known for creating the animated television series Codename: Kids Next Door, and the animated short Kenny and the Chimp. His first picture book 1000 Times No was released in 2009.
DR. MEGAN “AWESOME” ALRUTZ (Dramaturg) heads the Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities at the University of Texas at Austin. She works nationally as a scholar, dramaturg, director and teaching artist in the areas of applied theatre and theatre with and for youth. Before coming to The University of Texas at Austin in 2009, she led the M.F.A. in Theatre for Young Audiences at the University of Central Florida. Her creative and scholarly work focuses on ethical representation and youth agency in applied theatre, theatre with and for youth and digital storytelling. Dr. Alrutz has a Ph.D. in Theatre from Arizona State University and a B.A. in Theatre from Rutgers University.
She was recently awarded the Harold Oaks Award in Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA/USA 2016), the Branson Ward Endowed Excellence Award (UT Austin 2016), the Foxworth Fellowship (UT Austin 2012), Grace Hill Milam Centennial Fellowship in Fine Arts (UT Austin 2011), Excellence in Graduate Teaching (UCF 2008) and the Service Learning Faculty Excellence Award (UCF 2007). She was also awarded the prestigious Winifred Ward Fellowship in 2003. Dr. Alrutz is a two-term board member of TYA/USA, and an active member of AATE, PSi and ATHE.
Dr. Alrutz currently co-directs the Performing Justice Project (PJP), an applied performance program that invited young people to devise new work about identity-based inequities and stories from their lives. She also co-directs Patchwork Stories, an on-going community-engaged performance project in partnership with the University of Exeter.
DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA (music) – see her bio page
Purchase
Listen to the original cast album on Apple Music or Spotify.
Request perusal materials from Music Theatre International.
