If you’re like me and you have a child in your life between the ages of seven and twelve, chances are you’re well-versed in the kid-favorite book series Dog Man. My son is a huge fan of these goofy graphic novels by author and illustrator Dav Pilkey, the same creative mind behind the Captain Underpants franchise. So we were excited to learn that the family entertainment group Theatre Works USA was producing a live-action musical about Pilkey’s popular police pup.
Dog Man books have the perfect balance of positivity and age-appropriate irreverence that turns kids on to the imaginative possibilities of reading. Since the first installment of the series was released in 2016, the books about a part-dog/part-human cop have become international bestsellers. Besides the silly storylines, the lovable characters also embody messages of creativity and perseverance, with Pilkey even alluding to his own ADHD as a positive example of someone who overcame challenges to achieve great success.
Dog Man the Musical recently made its first off-Broadway return since 2019, at New World Stages in the trendy Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. We were lucky enough to be among the first to attend the show, and it’s a must-see for theatre lovers of all ages! The storyline follows the first three books in the Dog Man series, with a live-action George and Harold planning to produce a play based on their beloved comic books. Themes of imagination, teamwork, friendship, and good decision-making are woven throughout this silly but positive production.
The show is directed and choreographed by Jen Wineman and written by Kevin Del Aguila and Brad Alexander, who collaborated on the Emmy-winning series Peg + Cat and Clifford The Big Red Dog on PBS. And can we talk about the cast?? There was truly Broadway-level talent on that off-Broadway stage! Brian Owen, who plays Dog Man, masterfully made us laugh through physical comedy without any lines except barking. Jamie LaVerdiere made a hilarious villain as Petey, Crystal Sha’nee belted out the tunes as Flippy the Fish, and L.R. Davidson stole the show as Li’l Petey, in my opinion. Marcus Phillips was excellent as George and we even got to meet Dan Rosales, who played Harold, after the show thanks to the venue’s spacious layout.
If you’re imagining a show based on a kid’s book is an hour-and-a-half of juvenile jokes and preschool nursery rhymes, think again. I was so pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable the entire production was for both kids and adults. It was filled with things which kept my son smiling, as well as so many moments of adult-humor that, while not inappropriate, went over kids’ heads and had us adults laughing out loud. It brought a smile to my face to see my son laugh and look around to see other families laughing along with us. Based on the success of shows like Bluey, media makers have come to learn that the most successful children’s productions are those that appeal to parents, too.
If you’re new to New World Stages, it’s a perfect place for kids to get acclimated to theatre. It’s a lovely, modern venue with spacious foyers and five small auditoriums. It’s kept quite clean, and there’s more room for kids to roam during intermission than in a traditional Broadway theatre. As a larger venue with frequent family-friendly shows, they even have changing tables in the orchestra bathrooms and a coat check where you can stow your stroller for a small fee (good luck finding that in a swanky, classic theatre!) There’s also a candy (and alcohol) counter, and productions often set up pop-up shops with themed merchandise. We were able to purchase a fun Dog Man tee shirt, keychain, and plushie during our show’s intermission.
New World Stages is also located in a great part of town. It’s nestled in Hell’s Kitchen’s World Wide Plaza complex, a beautiful post-modern strip of residences and businesses that encircle Urban Plaza, a delightful courtyard that offers a nice escape from the city chaos.
The area has some great options for pre- or post-theatre dining, with menus that are sure to satisfy adults and kids alike. There’s the kid-and-dog-friendly Barking Dog cafe, just steps away from New World Stages.
If you really want to stick to the Dog Man theme — the Blue Dog is another quaint cafe down the block.
We had a delicious brunch at the Barking Dog before the show, which serves slightly elevated, classic American food — and bonus: takes Apple Pay!
If you’re local to New York or planning a visit with your family soon, make Dog Man the Musical a must-do on your list! The show only runs until April 30, so get your tickets online at TWUSA.org. Seeing a truly entertaining production in a great neighborhood made it a delightful day out for us, and I highly recommend this fantastic show to other Dog Man-loving families, too.
What Lara Wrote 