Eric Carle’s treasured stories have long been a mainstay in family libraries, and these cherished tales have charmed generations of children. At Imagination Stage, Carle’s tales are being illustrated onstage in The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (created by Jonathan Rockefeller), which brings four of the author’s most famous books to life. In addition to the eponymous story, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show also includes renderings of Brown Bear, Brown Bear; The Very Lonely Firefly; and 10 Little Rubber Ducks. Featuring 75 wondrous puppets, bouncy original music, and a trio of talented puppeteers and storytellers, this whimsical production is an ideal family outing that is a phenomenal kickoff for the organization’s 2025/26 season.
The storytelling puppeteer trio of Carl L. Williams, Mollie Greenberg, and Cristina Sanchez gave vibrant performances. They flawlessly executed the movement styles of each character, from the lumbering brown bear to the flitty illuminated firefly. Williams, Greenberg, and Sanchez narrated the text with contagious enthusiasm as they perfectly matched their tone to each animal while conveying emotions from boundless joy to impending danger. This ensemble was friendly and engaging when interacting with the hundreds of captivated children in the audience, effortlessly holding their attention from beginning to end.
Nikki Mirza’s magnificent direction vividly personified Carle’s works, and her immersive staging creatively brought the story into the crowd. This presentation was warmly received by the audience, who energetically reacted when puppets passed alongside their seats as they moved through the aisles. Rockefeller Productions excelled in creating the play’s 75 exquisitely intricate puppets, which portrayed Carle’s characters with extraordinary attention to detail. These ingenious creations were essential in allowing the characters to leap off the pages of the books, effectively personifying them onstage. These genius artists also manufactured props from everyday items that colorfully detailed the settings, as she utilized flowing blue cloth to imitate ocean waves and cardboard boxes to form the structure for various modes of transportation.
Puppet Coach Matthew Pauli skillfully trained the cast in operating the puppets, and his expertise was reflected in the performers’ smooth and flowing styles when working with complex apparatuses of varying size and structure. Much to the delight of the crowd, Helen García-Alton’s dazzling lighting design displayed kaleidoscopic polka dots, a smiling moon, and glimmering fireworks. The audience responded with rousing applause to her sparkling disco ball sequence as the caterpillar transformed into a gorgeous butterfly in this magical scene. Ian Vespermann’s well-balanced sound design allowed the dialogue and music to fill the room in blended harmony, with these elements never overpowering one another. His sound effects contributed to a unique multi-sensory experience, and his audio crisply depicted the caterpillar’s zealous crunch as well as the whale’s moaning bellow.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show is a theatrical masterpiece that brilliantly combines artistic mediums to create an unforgettable literary journey. Returning to Imagination Stage by popular demand after a triumphant run in 2023, this production is well worth the two-year wait for area audiences to enjoy it once again. Those who make the journey to this charming Bethesda venue will be thrilled to see these legendary works come alive. For the youngest attendees, the stories are a brilliant educational tool for learning about sounds, colors, animals, and a myriad of senses. This show is sure to warm the hearts of children (regardless of their being familiar with Carle’s work), as well as adults who are likely to carry fond memories of reading these beloved books to their children or even grandchildren. Audiences will be “still hungry” long after the final bow concludes.
Running Time: 45 minutes, no intermission.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show plays weekday and weekend matinees through October 12, 2025, at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave, Bethesda, MD. Tickets (starting at $15, with dynamic pricing for more popular dates) can be purchased online, in person at Imagination Stage’s box office, or by calling the box office at 301-280-1660.
Best for ages 2 to 6.
COVID Safety: Masks are optional.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
Based on Eric Carle’s books
Created by Jonathan Rockefeller
Directed by Nikki Mirza
