Eric Carle is a master writer and illustrator; his visually dazzling books appeal to very young kids but are also fun for older kids to read. Jonathan Rockefeller’s critically-acclaimed show, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, is now playing in Union Square and features beloved irresistible classics that appeal to kids of all ages. Show Review: Jonathan Rockefeller’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
The show is based on four books by Eric Carle: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The Very Lonely Firefly and Brown Bear, Brown Bear (which was written by Bill Martin Jr. and illustrated by Eric Carle and is celebrating its 50th anniversary!)
In the show, the books come to life with 75 colorful puppets. This creates another dimension of the stories; rather than have the kids look at the pictures listen to you reading the books, they can watch them happen before their eyes.
Toddlers will absolutely delight in seeing the puppets and school-aged children will appreciate seeing their beloved classic books through a new medium. My kids especially loved the puppets and the noises that they were “making”. The beautiful music is the perfect accompaniment to the show and the performers are full of positive energy and perform with contagious smiles on their faces.
The show’s creator, Jonathan Rockefeller, wrote a book inspired by Eric Carle when he was four-years-old. About seven years ago he was unpacking some boxes and came across the book, which he now published. It’s available for purchase ($10) exclusively at the Hungry Caterpillar pop-up store at the show. The book is really cute with adorable drawings and a cheeky message. Hard to believe it was written by a four-year-old but when you see Rockefeller’s inventiveness throughout the show you can understand this creativity was nurtured long ago.
The show is 55 minutes long with no intermission. It is designed to be autism-friendly. The theater is small so you can see really well even from the back.
Tip: I recommend getting the four books before the show, either from a store or the library, if you don’t already own them.
When: Through February 4th, 2018
Where: DR2 Theatre
103 East 15th St. (near Union Square Park)
Price: $49.50 per person; $69.50 (premium seats); $89.50 (VIP experience)
To purchase tickets click here or call (800) 982-2787. You can also purchase directly from the box office (hours: Tue-Sat 1-6).
Photos by Russ Rowland
I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show.
Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for seventeen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 8 and 5) and loves finding great products for her family.
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