Grrrr-ific!
‘Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood’
“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live: King for a Day!” stage production, based on the popular PBS Kids series “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” will fill the stage of the Tivoli Theatre on Sunday.
The stage production is an adaptation of the legendary “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” the popular 30-minute children’s show that debuted on public television in 1968 featuring Fred Rogers. The stage production is produced by The Fred Rogers Co.
Actor Terrence Bennett, who plays multiple characters in the stage production, says the show focuses on positive life lessons including themes of kindness, the importance of helping others, how to be a friend and diversity. It’s geared toward preschoolers, he says.
Bennett plays the characters of Owl King Friday, Music Man Stan and Baker Aker.
The 31-year-old Washington, D.C., resident says he auditioned for the production after seeing how much his 1- and 3-yearold nephews — and their mom — loved the show.
“Children and their parents enjoy it,” he says, explaining the interaction between characters and the audience.
“The show includes a lot of audience participation,” he says. “We have moments when some of the characters actually go out into the audience and interact with the children. There’s also a portion when the audience votes on which of our instruments is the loudest. That part of the show is very enthusiastic and loud.”
Bennett says parents routinely tell cast members that they grew up watching “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
“You can tell the adults really get into the show, especially when we start singing,” he says. “It becomes a full-on singalong. Some of the characters in the show were in ‘Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood’ and when Daniel Tiger (always wearing a red sweater) comes out and starts singing, you can feel the energy from the crowd. Some of the songs are the same that were in the original television show. Everyone gets excited when the trolley comes out, too.”
For most kids, and even some parents, it’s their first live theater experience, Bennett says.
“The show teaches positive lessons about life, and when these kids look onstage and see our multiracial performers, they can identify with us. It’s a great thing to see.”