Boston Children's Theatre Brings A Classic With Rhyme And Reason To Life

Boston Children's Theatre is no stranger to bringing favorite children's books to life on stage. In the past few years, Boston Children's Theatre has produced live adaptations of Curious George and the Golden Meatball, Miss Nelson Is Missing, Fancy Nancy, The Velveteen Rabbit, and most recently the New England Premiere of Goosebumps the Musical. This tradition continues with BCT's next production Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat.

The Cat in the Hat will be celebrating its 61st anniversary on March 12th. Dr. Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel, created the book in response to a debate in the United States about literacy in early childhood and the ineffectiveness of traditional primers such as Dick and Jane. Seuss wanted literacy to be more entertaining and decided to make his book based on words that rhymed. Almost sixty-one years later, The Cat in the Hat remains one of the most-beloved children's books of all time.

"We have a strong theme this season," Executive Director Toby Schine chuckled, "All of our shows are based on children's books from Goosebumps to The Cat in the Hat. Literacy and live theatre is the perfect marriage-they both foster kids' imaginations and creativity. What could be better than that?"

What could be better than that? Perhaps scoring the rights to The National Theatre of Great Britain's 2009 production of The Cat in the Hat. "We've talked about doing The Cat in the Hat for years," director Burgess Clark shared, "but I'm glad we waited. The National Theatre of Great Britain's production depicts the wonder, magic, and imagination better than any other production I've seen." Clark takes his job seriously. "Just like our recent production of A Charlie Brown Christmas, it's important that we get it right. I want audiences to feel that the book has been opened right on stage and has come to life right before their eyes. It's important to get all the pieces of the puzzle from casting to costumes to the set, just right."

Boston Children's Theatre's production will be performed at the Roberts Theatre at the Calderwood Pavilion on Tremont Street in Boston. Performances start on February 10, 2018 and continue through February 25, 2018. For tickets or more information, visit www.bostonchildrenstheatre.org.

Next up at BCT another literary classic-George Orwell's 1984.