Marriott is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary of award-winning theatre this season. They are pulling out all the stops to present top-tier productions. The Magical School Bus: Lost In The Solar System is the kick-off for the Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences. This musical adaptation of Joanna Cole’s fourth book in her phenomenally beloved thirteen-book series will certainly captivate both the young and young at heart. The cast of adult actors becomes the stereotypical middle schoolers before our eyes. Abby C. Smith, as Ms. Frizzle, the science teacher, makes a superb entrance. Will Koski, as Arnold, plays his part skillfully. Emily Ann Brooks, as Janet, the know-it-all, was terrific. Garrett Lutz, as Ralphie, had perfect comic timing and great pratfalls. Tommy Rivera-Vega as Carlos and Rachael Armstrong as Wanda had one of our favorite scenes looking for aliens. The whole cast enthralled the audience and our group. Our Princess Sofia’s favorite people on stage were Wanda and Janet. She told us that she loved the singing and dancing. Her favorite scene is when Emily Ann Brooks (Janet) saves Ms. Frizzle from space. We loved the dance-off between Will Koski and Emily Ann Brooks. This a delightful show. After the show, the actors introduce support staff and have everyone in the audience graciously and loudly thank them. The Q&A following the finale allows the children to ask astute questions of the actors.
The books began a franchise that included a television series and video games. I identify with Joanna Cole. When people tell her how much fun it must be to be a children’s book author, she reiterates that writing is hard work. It is much more fun to read. It takes her 6 months to a year to write a book. Cole started the first book, The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks, after some serious procrastination. She cleaned out closets and did things she never did before. I get this. Finally, she forced herself to begin writing by imagining a class on a field trip with a teacher who was an unusual character. She knew she wanted to combine humor and science together.
She created eccentric Ms. Frizzle, who wore strange dresses, shoes, and hair. She was modeled after a science teacher she remembered from her Junior school days. This teacher was passionate and enthusiastic about her subject, and her students had to rush to catch up with her concepts. The first book was published in 1986. She aimed to entertain and educate young people on the wonders of science exploration. Right away, the first book became popular with children and was soon widely accepted in the educational realm. She was given the green light to author another book. Bruce Deegan, a talented, imaginative, and versatile illustrator, was brought in to make visual sense of her complicated text.
Scholastic, by the sixth book, The Magic School Bus In the Time of Dinosaurs (1994), premiered the television series. I was impressed that Cole stressed that television producers must follow two crucial caveats. One was that the children could make wisecracks and sardonic remarks, but they were not allowed to make jokes that put each other down–no bullying. Realizing it is hard to make a joke that is not a put-down. She was firm and very intense about this. The second caveat was that each show must have one overriding concept and not just a sack of facts. Each show must answer a critical concept and idea about science exploration. Scholastic graciously accepted these terms.
The animated educational series was broadcast from 1994 to 1997. Lily Tomlin voiced Ms. Frizzle, and Little Richard performed the theme song. The episodes featured many famous guest stars, such as Dolly Parton, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Swoosie Kurtz, Carol Channing, Wyonna Judd, Tony Randall, Ed Asner, Cindy Williams, and others.
Marriott’s musical adaptation of The Magic School Bus: Lost In The Solar System runs from February 21 through March 29, 2025. This one-hour musical journey is directed and choreographed by Associate Artistic Director Kate Johannigman. Elizabeth Romero is the Associate Director and choreographer, Katie Dreher is the Stage Manager, and Ellie Kahn is the Music Director.
Marriott Theatre suggests you buckle up for an Out of This World Adventure. When Ms. Frizzle’s class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, Ms. Frizzle saves the day by blasting into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip! But when old and new rivalries threaten to tear the students apart, our young heroes must learn to pull together or risk losing themselves forever in the solar system.
Hop on the Magic School Bus for a ride in this new musical adaptation based on the original book series published by Scholastic. Music and Lyrics by Matthew Lee Robinson Book by Marshall Pailet. Commissioned initially and Produced by TheaterWorksUSA (Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Director; Michael Harrington, Executive Director).
THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS: LOST IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM plays most Wednesdays through
Sundays at 10 am with select 12:30 pm performances, with a special spring break schedule.
An ASL-interpreted performance will take place on March 22nd at 10 a.m. For more information and tickets, call 847.634.0200 for the exact schedule, as show times and dates may vary. Tickets are $16.75 (plus tax and handling fees). Call for substantial group discounts on over 20 tickets. Free parking is available at all performances.
Photos Courtesy of: Justin Barbin Photography and Heron Agency
Splash Magazines
Fun show and great characters.