Books Alive! | Performances

The Books Alive! writing team has been creating original musicals for over ten years by working with the authors of beloved children’s books to adapt their stories into fully staged, original 45-minute musicals. The author’s very words, ideas, and intentions are worked into every script, and the sets, props, and costumes are in keeping with the story’s illustrations wherever possible so that all of the elements work together to engage the young reader’s imagination and bring the story from the page to the stage.

As part of the Books Alive! experience, one month before the performance, each location receives a copy of the book the musical is adapted from. The ideal is to have the book read and shared with the students to ensure their familiarity with the story in its written form. Then, on performance days, the audience takes their seats, and the fun begins!

Professional designers are hired to create the set, props, and costumes, and professional actors are cast to ensure the highest quality performance. Finally, after two months of development, the tour hits the road. The tour team arrives an hour before the performance to set the stage and get into character. With all of these elements in place, a Books Alive! touring performance is entertainment with a cause – to promote literacy, stimulate creativity and offer valuable lessons – much of which happens without the audience even realizing.

​

Artist: Kristin Miller (Theatre Director)

Learn more by going to books-alive.org