Colorful puppets & props bring Mo Willems' beloved book to life on stage as unscary monster Leonardo meets Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the world; will he finally get to scare the tuna salad out of someone, or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship?
Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster is part of the 2024 EQT Children’s Theater Festival from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, taking place in downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District May 17-19, 2024.
Leonardo is a terrible monster. He tries so hard to be scary, but he just… isn’t. Then Leonardo finds Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the world. Will Leonardo finally get to scare the tuna salad out of someone? Or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship? The plot thickens when this pair meets Kerry and Frankenthaler, an even scaredier-cat and her monster friend. Kerry and Sam need to make a big decision: will they just be scaredy cats or can they become friends?
Leonardo! uses hundreds of illustrated paper puppets, book pages, two-dimensional props, furry monster puppets, and songs to bring Mo Willems’ books to life. Manual Cinema wanted to re-create the experience of holding one of Mo’s book pages, which are big, bold, colorful, and full of visual rhythm, with a playful use of scale. Like all Manual Cinema productions, you’re invited to watch the big screen like a traditional movie, or to watch the artists below as they create the story in real time. (There is no wrong way to watch the show!)
For ages 3 and up. There are some loud sounds, flashing lights, and furry monster puppets in this show!
