The 9 Most Produced Titles of 2023-2024
1. Disney’s Finding Nemo: The Musical, Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Book Adapted by Lindsay Anderson: 10 productions, including full, TYA, Kids, and JR versions.
Based off of the 2003 Disney movie of the same title, Finding Nemo: The Musical features music from Frozen’s Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez and an adapted book by Lindsey Anderson. The story follows father and son pair Marlin and Nemo living in the Great Barrier Reef. When Nemo is captured, however, Marlin must push past his anxieties and travel through the ocean to save his son. With help from iconic characters like Dory, Crush, and the Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo each overcome a variety of obstacles on their respective journeys to reunite with each other.
Disney and Pixar's Finding Nemo - Theatre for Young Audiences Version at Nashville Children’s Theatre
2. Spongebob the Musical, Book by Kyle Jarrow, Musical Conceived by Tina Landau, based on series by Stephen Hillenburg: 6 productions
The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition at The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography.
3. The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, Book by Joe Tracz, Music and Lyrics by Rob Rokicki, adapted from the book by Rick Riordan:
5 productions, including full and TYA versions.
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical at First Stage. Photo by Paul Ruffolo.
4. Alice in Wonderland, various adaptations based on story by Lewis Carroll: 5 productions
5. The Velveteen Rabbit, various adaptations based on book by Margery Williams: 5 productions
6. A Year With Frog & Toad, Music by Robert Reale, Book and Lyrics by Williw Reale, based on books by Arnold Lobel: 5 productions
7. A Christmas Carol, various adaptations based on the book by Charles Dickens: 5 productions
8. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, various adaptations based on the book by Barbara Robinson: 5 productions
9. Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In A Play!”, Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems, based of the book by Mo Willems: 5 productions
James Carrington and Rachael Zientek (on platform) and cast in First Stage's ‘Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In a Play!”’
The 10 Most Produced Artists of 2023 – 2024
- Mo Willems: 15 productions
- Deborah Wicks La Puma: 12 productions
- Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez: 10 productions
- Paige Hernandez: 10 productions
- Joseph Robinette: 8 productions
- Timothy Allen McDonald: 7 productions
- William Shakespeare: 7 productions
- Joe Tracz: 7 productions
- Rob Rokicki: 7 productions
- Kevin Del Aguila: 7 productions
The Most Produced Artist: Mo Willems
Up from 10 productions during the 2022 – 2023 season, award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Mo Willems is our most produced artist of the season for the second year in a row with 15 productions across TYA/USA. Titles include: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience, Elephant and Piggie: We Are In A Play!.
Noteworthy Trends
Roald Dahl
The popular children’s book author has found several of his stories adapted into the theatre canon, and during the 2023-2024 season, 15 productions of four different Dahl stories. These include: James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and The BFG.
Classic Stories
For the second year in a row, there is a large emphasis on producing these classic stories that have stuck across generations. Various adaptations of these well known stories were produced across TYA theatres this season, including:
- The Wizard of Oz
- Red Riding Hood
- Alice in Wonderland
- The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
- Peter Pan
- Robin Hood
- Charlotte’s Web
- A Christmas Carol
- Pinocchio
- Snow White
- Cinderella
- Beauty and the Beast
- Peter & The Wolf
