Salt Lake Acting Company (SLAC) opened its wings to the public for “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” on Dec. 6.
This show is part of the company’s annual children’s show which is always well received by audiences ranging from ages 2 to 102. Written by Mo Willems and Tom Warburton with music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” is sure to warm your heart. The story is told by actors Joseph Paul Branca (Pigeon), Wendy Joseph (Bus Driver) and ensemble members Alexa Shaheen, Bryce Romleski, Laurel Morgan and Marc Nielson.
Directed by Penelope Caywood, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” is part of SLAC’s initiative: theatre for young audiences (TYA). Every show produced under this umbrella is specifically aimed at children and young audiences to introduce stage theatre to them.
“It’s kind of cool because there are not really any other examples of fully professional children’s productions in Utah,” Branca said. “This is one of very seldom opportunities that children have to see a fully professional production that is aimed at them.”
A Pigeon’s Journey
This show, which runs about an hour, takes place in the park Pigeon inhabits. The audience experiences all the ups and downs of Pigeon’s journey as he searches to find his thing. As the bus driver is introduced and enters the stage, Pigeon is shown all the wonders of driving a bus, and soon after, he wants to become the bus driver. This then leads to a rollercoaster of ballads, panic and new friendships.
“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” is an incredibly immersive experience for all ages, especially kids. The actors emphasized the importance of letting your kids be kids and explore this new experience fully.
“[Children’s theatre] is this really elevated form of theater because it doesn’t speak down to children at all. It speaks to them at their level and children are smarter than people give them credit for in a lot of scenarios,” Branca said. “These kids are ahead of us in this show. They know what’s coming and they know what’s going to happen next.”
Joseph agreed.
“The energy that the kids bring to it makes the performance so much better,” she said. “It’s so much more fun for us when the kids are that engaged in it. So, letting the children be children and behave as children should, which is being youthful and being excited and just, you know, gripped by this kind of performance, it makes it so much better for the actors.”
New Experiences
Part of the initiative is to also share the experience of these stories with Title I schools that don’t get the opportunity to see theatre. Throughout the month of December, SLAC opens to these schools during the daytime to share the space with these students. The actors explained that seeing this show was the first time many had seen art performed this way.
The closing of the show invites the audience for a talkback with the actors. This allows the kids to ask questions about the process and become the center of attention. It’s such a joy to hear these small voices be so engaged by these stories and what these actors do.
“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” is running now until Dec. 30. In light of the season, SLAC is partnering with Utah Food Bank, Salt Lake City Public Library, The King’s English Bookshop and the Visual Art Institute.
“It can be a whole holiday season occasion for the whole family, which is really cool, and you won’t be ruining Christmas by spending the money on the tickets,” Branca said.
Students can find out more about the show and get tickets online at saltlakeactingcompany.org.
