by Meg Carroll
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: The Musical — based on the children’s book by Mo Willems, the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling children’s Pigeon picture book series — is a hilarious and inspiring tale about a pigeon finding his purpose in life. The young Pigeon doesn’t get to do ANYTHING! But when an emergency situation threatens to delay the bus, Pigeon is determined to find a way to help. Willems’ penchant for humor coupled with Deborah Wicks La Puma’s catchy song writing means this musical is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping.
Mo Willems is an author, playwright, and artist. He is most known for his children's books, four of which he has since converted into musicals. Some of his most popular book series are the Pigeon series and the Knuffle Bunny series, and there have been musicals produced from both. Currently, he is the most produced playwright for Theater for Young Audiences in America. However, his career really began on PBS’ Sesame Street, where he won six Emmy Awards for his writing.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: The Musical is performed with a combination of live actors and puppets. Jerry Stevenson, artistic director for Columbia Children’s Theater, said that one of the most important decisions that he had to make for this production was choosing which characters would be live people and which would be puppets. Director Chad Henderson commends actor and puppeteer Paul Lindley, who plays Pigeon, on his ability to transfer tangible energy into that little felt bird.
And that energy is often hilarious! To this, Henderson credits Mo Willems’ natural comedic genius. The play garners giggles from children and adults alike as it is “packed” with humor. When Stevenson approached Henderson about directing Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: The Musical, he was happy to come on board because he saw it as “an opportunity to have fun!” Henderson says that his return to CCT as a director of a Mo Willems play felt like “going over to a good friends’ house that you hadn’t visited in a while.”
Similarly, Stevenson found his calling as an artistic director when he realized that he just liked to make children laugh. He performed in many children’s theaters around the country before deciding to run his own, Columbia Children’s Theater. For this musical, Stevenson had the most fun designing puppets with puppet designer Donna Harvey.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: The Musical is sure to delight audiences young and old. It is a part of CCT’s Mainstage series, where professional actors perform for young audiences. However, there are also a few talented teenage members from CCT’s YouTheater.
Henderson says that it is incredibly valuable for young actors to work alongside professional ones, and he only has glowing remarks about the CCT community: the environment “truly creates a sense of belonging.” This is a non-profit organization openly making a difference in the Midlands.
The musical has offers performances this Saturday, September 17th, and Sunday, September 18th at the Richland Library Auditorium in Sandhills. Tickets can be purchased here, from the Columbia Children’s Theater website, by clicking the “Buy Tickets” button.