There’s no universal fear like childhood monsters, whether it’s the Boogeyman under our beds or the shadows on the wall. But are all monsters bad? As the hit animated movie “Monsters, Inc.” showed, sometimes they can be lonely or misunderstood. Now, “Wanda’s Monster The Musical,” a brand-new children’s musical to hit NYC, tells the story of a creature who simply needed a friend.
Wanda’s Monster The Musical is an original adaptation of the beloved children’s book, written by Eileen Spinelli. Produced by Making Books Sing, a non-profit organization that works to increase literacy among young children through entertainment, Wanda’s Monster The Musical follows the story of a young girl and her relationship with the monster in her closet. Set in NYC, it features songs by kid-favorite Laurie Berkner that were especially created for the show.
“Making it contemporary was so much fun,” said Barbara Krieger, the artistic director of Making Books Sing who wrote the play. “I decided that it was a New York story, and Wanda lived on Union Square with her rocker Granny.”
Convinced that there’s something scary living in her room, Wanda asks her family for help. Her parents, however, don’t believe Wanda and tell her there’s nothing in her closet but clothes, hats, and shoes. Even her older brother thinks she’s crazy. The only person who believes Wanda is her “kooky” Granny, who owns a nightclub in The Village and performs there regularly with her rock band.
Very appropriately, this upbeat adaptation will feature Laurie’s hit single “Monster Boogie.”
“I’m interested to see which [of the new songs] the kids respond to,” said Laurie Berkner. “I never know which ones the’ll like, and I’m always surprised by the ones they pick.”
There’s definitely no shortage of personality and spunk in this musical performance. With just four characters, Wanda’s Monster The Musical packs a musical and moral punch that children will resonate with. Laurie’s new songs will have all ages tapping their toes and boogieing to the beat.
Kids $15, adults $20, April 21–May 12. Start times vary between 10:30am and 5pm; 646-250-1178, 311 West 43rd Street, makingbooksing.org
