Dogs work, enjoy lunch, play baseball, sail in boats and race in cars. It brings back childhood memories while reading P.D. Eastman's classic book, "Go Dog Go."
Kira Rutter, founder and director of Itsy Bitsy Broadway and MUSE Theatre Company, believes Steven Dietz's, Michael Koerner's and Allison Gregory's adapted musical will make for the perfect contemporary play for young audiences alongside her 3- to 5-year-old preschool production of "Jitterbugs" Friday and Saturday.
"This is the first time we have done (a production) exactly like this. We have done shows meant for young audiences, but this one is specific for preschoolers and entertaining for older children as well. That is mostly because we are familiar with the book and read it when we were younger," she said.
Led by an adult and upper teen cast and directed by Leeanna Penn, "Go Dog Go" follows MC Dog, played by Jon-Michael Rutter. In the interactive hilarious production, MC Dog starts as an audience member who gets incorporated into the play and turns into a dog. His gang of dog friends includes Green Dog and Spotted Dog, played by brothers Maxwell and Jackson Black, and Blue Dog, played by Itsy Bitsy Broadway Music Time director Julie Zollinger.
"They go to work, they go out on boats at night in the water, have bedtime, play baseball, dream of a carnival, race around in cars and have a dog party. The play also has lots of fun songs that teach kids about colors and sounds. There is a script, but you're meant to just play with the audience, react to the audience and interact with them. There is a part where the dogs are playing ball and hit a beach ball into the audience and the audience is meant to get it back on stage," said Rutter, who is reprising her role as Hattie the Poodle she played in a college production of "Go Dog Go" and is known for asking MC Dog, "Do you like my hat?" "A requirement for being in it was a lack of inhibitions, willing to be dogs and just be plain silly. They all have been working really hard on that."
With "Go Dog Go" being her third production with MUSE and Itsy Bitsy Broadway, 16-year-old Eileen Shaffer found her love of acting and her expertise in another field has helped her portray the prankster Yellow Dog in "Go Dog Go." For about two years, she has clowned for her business, Silly Sally INK, performing at birthday parties and corporate events, and also doing specialty balloon twisting and face painting.
"My musical background and the training I have received in clowning has helped with my expressions, body movement and body language. My main clown character, Silly Sally, would love Yellow Dog because they would get along tremendously," Shaffer said. "Clowning and working with little kids is something I really enjoy, partially because I'm an only child and not being around young children on a daily basis. I also have a special place in my heart for working with young children. I'm a big kid myself and utilize that fact, identify with them better and see on their level, getting to know how they think and react to different things both in my performance and just talking with them."
Shaffer and the whole "Go Dog Go" cast have not only prepared for their production but also worked with the 3- to 5-year olds acting in "Jitterbugs." Rutter said the cast of eight preschoolers is a group of bugs that have planned a picnic, but then it starts to rain.
"They are trying to get out of the rain and it follows them wherever they're going, but then the sun comes out again and they are able to have their picnic. It is a simple story but they get to go through a bunch of well-known songs like 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' and 'The Ants Go Marching,'" she said. "We learn charades, what we do when we are backstage, how to use a microphone, creative play. It is really cute and a really good starting point for them to learn the rules of stage. This class is our starter that then leads to more professional plays with every class. It allows them to more easily catch on to our concepts because they know what was expected of them from the play before."
The educational theater company will start with "Jitterbugs," allowing the children to then watch "Go Dog Go" with the rest of the audience following a short intermission. Rutter and Shaffer believe the community will appreciate the production designed for young children, but enjoyable for all ages.
"It is a rare experience to have a child's storybook characters come to life," Shaffer said. "Children always want to dive right into the book and meet them. This will be the closest that any child will get to accomplishing that dream."
"Jitterbugs" and "Go Dog Go" will take the Itsy Bitsy Broadway stage at 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday at its location inside Capital Mall across from Jo-Ann Fabrics.
The dogs from "Go Dog Go" will also make an appearance and read Dr. Seuss books during the United Way of Central Missouri and Jefferson City Public Schools' Dr. Seuss Birthday Bash from 9:30-11 a.m. March 2 at Capital Mall, 3600 Country Club Drive.
Play tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children. For more information, call 573-469-2392 or visit musetheatrecompany.com.