Eight-year-old Iris and her family set out from their home in the Bronx to the Enchanted State Park. All decide that bringing the dog on the car trip is a bad idea, but Iris sneaks him along anyway. This adventure takes the family through a series of musical mishaps. Will the dog be discovered? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: they are certain to have a “Great Day After All” and so will the audience.
Musical Theater • Best for ages 4 to adult • 65 minutes
Written by Sonia Manzano
Music by Stephen Lawrence
Lyrics by Billy Aronson
Based on the book by Sonia Manzano
Artistic Credits
Director: Randi Collins Hard
Musical Director: Jerry Brabec
Choreographer: Sue Gillespie Booton
Scenic Design: Robbie Jones
Lighting Design: Carson Gross
Costume Design: Callyann Casteel
Properties Master: Ronald L. Wells, Jr.
Production Stage Manager: Amber Hensley
Cast
Iris: Hope Clarke
El Exigente: Konrad Case
Shorty: Samantha Shatley
Papi: Ryle Smith
Mami: Wendy Eaton
Carmen: Ann Stergiou
Juan: Walter Shatley
Don Joe: Brian-Mark Conover
Production Credits
Production Manager: Jennifer Collins Hard
Technical Director: Michael Scroggs
Lighting & Audio Supervisor: Kyle L. Toth
Master Carpenter: Dominic Torres
Scenic Charge Artist: Teena Sauvola
Fly Rail Operator: Aaron Mann
Run Crew: Macklin Emas
Costume Shop Foreman: Callyann Casteel
Costume Construction: Callyann Casteel, Sherri Geerdes, Jill Maenner
Make-Up Design: Erin Bragg
From the Director
This charming theatrical event for the whole family is a musical gift from Sonia Manzano (of Sesame Street) and an adaptation of her beloved book, No Dogs Allowed! We can all relate to those sometimes difficult but always heartwarming trips with family and friends. Throw in a hugely overstuffed car with a tendency to break down and a very large and adorable dog, and mayhem will certainly rule the trip. Enjoy!
Directing No Dogs Allowed! has been a wonderful experience for me! It is my first time in Omaha and I have been discovering so many interesting places. I am especially drawn to the storytelling hut in the children’’s sculpture garden not far from here, the many eclectic restaurants all over town and this gorgeous theater. How fortunate the children of Omaha are to have such a resource in which to discover the theater! Working at The Rose has been a pleasure because of the supremely talented staff, exceptionally creative designers and a top -notch production team. I am especially thrilled with the wonderfully dedicated and talented cast who never stop giving it everything they’ve got! Bravo! to you all.
Show Director Randi Collins Hard
“Kids Will Love ‘No Dogs Allowed’,” Omaha World-Herald review
Going to The Rose Guide
It’s almost time for our next production, No Dogs Allowed, a musical based on the book of the same name by Sonia Manzano who plays “Maria” on Sesame Street! We have assembled some special information to help you and your family get ready for the performance. Before you go, you might want to take a few moments to review this guide so everyone will know what to expect from the performance!
The Story You Will See
This is a story about a girl named Iris and a weekend road trip she and her family take to Enchanted State Park. Iris wants the big family dog, El Exigente, to join the family for their picnic at the park. But with so many family members—and all their road trip necessities—along for the ride, Iris’ family tells her she cannot take her beloved pet. Iris decides to secretly bring him along anyway and soon things get quite complicated! When they finally arrive at the park and find out there are “No Dogs Allowed,” Iris realizes she has a real problem. What will become of Iris and El Exigente? Come see this fun family musical and find out!
The Characters You Will Meet
• Iris – a young girl who loves her dog more than anything
• El Exigente (Spanish for “fussy”) – the beloved family dog
• Shorty – Iris’ exasperated older sister, who always knows when things are going to go wrong
• Papi – Iris and Shorty‘s father, a clever man who loves fixing things that are broken
• Mami – Iris and Shorty’s mother, a woman who is always busy doing domestic things for her family
• Carmen – Mami’s beautiful younger sister who is madly in love with her husband, Juan
• Juan – Carmen’s loving husband
• Don Joe – the neighborhood grocer who thinks all problems can be solved with a delicious sandwich
Things To “Know Before You Go”
• Iris’ family is originally from Puerto Rico. They speak both Spanish and English at her house, and sometimes use words from both languages as they are talking together as a family. Listen closely and you might learn some new Spanish words and phrases during the show!
• Iris has a big dog named El Exigente who has caused some crazy problems on past family road trips. During one scene, the family vividly recalls a time when El Exigente had an accident in the backseat of the car. It’s not too graphic, but it is a little yucky.
• Iris’ sister, Shorty, can be rather sarcastic. She could be descripted as having a “bad attitude” at times. However, she is rather intelligent and knows her family has a lot of “characters” in it. She often rolls her eyes at their antics.
Topics for Dinnertime Discussion
One of the best ways to enjoy a play is to talk about the story and the characters with others who saw the show. Below are some topics you may want to discuss.
Before the Show
• This play is about a family road trip. The family members have strong personalities and sometimes don’t get along. Think of a time your family went on vacation or planned an activity together. Did you sometimes argue? What are some things you could have done to make the situation better? What was your favorite part of the trip/activity?
• The family in the play has a lot of amusing traditions for their road trips, like always bringing their friend who owns the deli and packing far more than they need. When you go on road trips and vacations, who comes along? Does your family follow any traditions on your road trips?
• In the play, Iris disobeys her parents and brings the dog on their family road trip. Has there ever been a time when you disobeyed your parents? How did you feel afterwards? What could Iris do instead of hiding the dog if she really felt strongly he should come along?
After the Show
• Iris’ family is all about making the best out of less-than- perfect situations. Papi tells his story about making his way to New York from Puerto Rico; when the car breaks down, all members of the family find things to work on; they find their way when they get lost; and at the park, they have a great time even though there are no dogs allowed. When have you made a great time out of a bad situation? What did you do to have fun even when things were looking down?
• Shorty often has a tough time because no one will listen to her. Have you ever felt like you had something important to say but no one would listen? How did that make you feel? How do you think Shorty could have nicely told her family what she thought?
• Why do think Iris lies to her family about El Exigente? Do you think her punishment was fair (no play dates and no TV for two days, plus cleaning her room)? What would you have done if you were her parents?
• At first, Iris’ parents are upset that she brought El Exigente along on their trip. But, by the end, each family member has shared a special activity with El Exigente. Do you think the family would have had as much fun if El Exigente had not come along? What lesson do you think the family learned?
Awesome Post-Show Activities
• Plan a fun “Road Trip” for your family – Research the state parks and fun attractions in your area. You can find information on the internet, at the library, or at the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Then have a meeting with your family to plan a fun weekend road trip. Make sure everyone gets to do at least one activity that is exciting.
• Invent a New Deli Sandwich – Don Joe is a friend of Iris’ family who makes great sandwiches at his deli. Try inventing your own unique sandwich. Can you make a sandwich with food from all the food groups? Have a contest to see who can make the healthiest or the tastiest sandwich!
• Make Your Own El Exigente Game – At the park, each familymember shares in a fun activity with El Exigente. What is an activity you could do with El Exigente? Make up a dance, show, or game the whole family can join in on!
From Story to Stage
• Sonia Manzano stars as “Maria” on the long-running children’s television show Sesame Street. She wrote the book, No Dogs Allowed and then turned the story into a play. Manzano has won fifteen Emmy awards for her scripts for Sesame Street. She also wrote for the Little Bill children’s series on Nickelodeon.
• The songs for the show were written by two musicians. Stephen Lawrence wrote the music. Stephen Lawrence has composed over 250 songs and scores for Sesame Street. He also composed the scores for several films and wrote the music for “You Take My Breath Away” and a number of songs in the record “Free To Be… You And Me.” He has won many awards for his music, including three Gold Records and three shared Emmy awards.
• Billy Aronson wrote the lyrics (or words to the songs). Mr. Aronson has also had several honors, including a Magic Theatre commission and a BATCC nomination for Best Original Script. He writes lyrics as well as stories for plays. He wrote the original concept and additional lyrics for Rent and the book for Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type, which The Rose Theater will be performing March 30-April 15, 2012.
While at The Rose
• Stay for the Post-Show Q&A – Our actors follow each performance with a 5-10 minute Q&A session conducted from the stage. The Q&A offers a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the scenery, costumes, special effects, and more!
• Meet The Cast & Get an Autograph – Some actors will be available after the show to sign their autographs. Meet them on the mezzanine outside the entrance to the balcony level seats.
• Take Home a Souvenir – The Rose Guild presents a souvenir stand at each performance that offers a variety of fun and inexpensive show-related mementos.
• Grab a Class Brochure – If you like what you saw on stage and think you would like to be a part of it, then sign up for a spring or summer class at The Rose Theater. The Rose offers a wide variety of classes for every interest and experience level.
