January 8-March 9, 2025
Best enjoyed by Younger audiences!
Every child is different and may or may not be ready for certain elements of each production—Read more about this show’s age recommendation below!
Click here to read more
Monsters have one job and it’s to be SCARY! “Booga booga booga!” But as hard as he tries, Leonardo can’t scare even a mouse. When the other monsters laugh and make fun of him, Leonardo goes in search of the most scaredy-cat kid in the whole world to try and scare the tuna salad out of him! Nationally acclaimed theatre company Manual Cinema breathes innovative life into this beloved story (and its doubly charming sequel), using hundreds of puppets to magically create a movie before your very eyes. Will Leonardo finally become the scary monster he dreams of being? Or will he discover something even better to be?
Created by Manual Cinema
Inspired by the books Leonardo, The Terrible Monster and Sam, The Most Scaredy-Cat Kid in the Whole World by Mo Willems
Commissioned by The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with additional commissioning support from Utah Presents
Directed by Sarah Fornace
Adaptation by Sarah Fornace and Drew Dir
Music and Lyrics by Ben Kauffman and Kyle Vegter
Storyboards and 2D Puppet Design by Drew Dir
Hand and Rod Puppet Design by Lizi Breit
Devised by Drew Dir, Sarah Forance, and Julia Miller with Leah Casey, Lily Emerson, and Lindsey Noel Whiting
Preshow Adventures
Before all Thursday 7pm and Sunday 5pm performances (excluding previews)
Arrive early to join in on exciting pre-show activities led by CTC Teaching Artists! These activities, inspired by the themes of the upcoming performance, will begin one hour before showtime and are a great way to enhance your experience.
Autograph Night
Following all Friday 7pm performances (excluding previews)
Stay after the show to meet some of the performers you saw, and get your show program autographed!
Photos and Video
Audience Guide
At CTC, our mission is to create extraordinary theatre experiences that educate, challenge, and inspire young people and their communities. This Audience Guide is just one of the ways in which we aim to enhance your experience and further your engagement with the shows on stage. It includes a summary, context, fun facts, and activities plus details that can help you decide what’s right for your kids.
Cast and Creative Team
CREATIVE TEAM
“We are so thrilled to bring Leonardo! A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster to the Twin Cities. The show adapts two books by everyone’s favorite bedtime book author Mo Willems, and it tells an important story about empathy and choosing unexpected friendships. Minneapolis has such a wonderful arts scene and some of the best puppetry in the country! We always love performing here, because the audiences are smart and savvy and seem to love puppet shows! We use paper puppets, fuzzy Muppet-style puppets, live music, and video cameras to bring Mo’s books to life in front of the audience’s eyes. In every Manual Cinema show, we always show the process of making the performance, and I hope that we inspire the future generation to make their own art and tell their own stories! Also, as a parent, I am always excited to bring this show to other parents. There are jokes for all ages, and the songs are jams—I do not mind singing them 100 times.”
–Sarah Fornace, Leonardo! A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster Playwright and Director
2024-2025 Season
Now-January 5, 2025
Best for all ages!
UnitedHealth Group Stage
In this CTC holiday favorite, filled with music and Seussian rhymes, everyone’s favorite grouchy, green Grinch plots the greatest heist imaginable—stealing the very thing the joyful Whos love the most!
January 8-March 9, 2025
Best for younger audiences!
Cargill Stage
Nationally acclaimed theatre company Manual Cinema breathes innovative life into this beloved story by Mo Willems, using hundreds of puppets to magically create a movie right before your very eyes!
February 4-March 9, 2025
Best for all ages!
UnitedHealth Group Stage
Don’t miss this world-premiere musical, featuring dynamic new songs ranging from hip hop and pop to country as Milo learns that real life can sometimes be even more incredible than an imaginary one!
April 15-June 15, 2025
Best for all ages!
UnitedHealth Group Stage
Don’t miss the Children’s Theatre Company production of the hit Broadway musical! Sing along with Elsa, Anna, and Olaf, a snowman who melts your heart. You won’t want to let it go!
Plan Your Visit
Children’s Theatre Company is proud to offer information, tips, advice and handy guides so that our patrons’ theatre experiences are as rich, pleasant and convenient as possible. Whether you have been coming to CTC for generations or are a first time audience member, you’ll find everything you need to plan a memorable outing with us.
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