Savannah Children's Theatre, Historic Savannah Theatre bring 'Pete the Cat' to the stage

Pete the Cat might just be the coolest feline around.

If you have school-aged children, or grandchildren, odds are they know Pete the Cat. He's currently one of the hottest children's storybook characters, with a deep library of his adventures circulating in print.

Now, Pete the Cat is coming to Savannah.

Beginning Sept. 17, the Savannah Children's Theatre is bringing “Pete the Cat the Musical!” and his gang of friends to the stage in collaboration with The Historic Savannah Theatre, in downtown.

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In a way, it's a sort of homecoming for the beloved national character who got his start right here in the Lowcountry.

"Not only is Pete the Cat a groovy, loveable fuzzball, but his "parents," creators James and Kimberly Dean, are residents of Tybee Island!" shared Jenn Doubleday, Associate Director at the Savannah Children's Theatre.

The theater will also host a book-signing event with “Pete the Cat” author, Kimberly Dean, following the opening performance on Sept. 17.

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"We absolutely had to pay our respects to these local artists who are creating such incredible books for young readers," Doubleday added.

The new musical is a brand-new story that readers won't find in any Pete the Cat books.

The show takes Pete on an adventure from an art class to an art museum, and from underwater to outer space. Along the way, there are mesmerizing special effects, intricate costumes, toe-tapping songs, and of course, lots of silly dad jokes, Doubleday shared.

It's a story that theater leaders will resonate with audiences of all ages.

"Pete lives courageously, encouraging everyone he meets to try new things and to keep moving forward even when things don't go our way," Doubleday added. "The books and the show are great fun for grownups and kids."

The Savannah Children's Theatre said they are excited to collaborate with The Historic Savannah Theatre to use their spacious and historic downtown space to put on the new production.

The two theaters have enjoyed a working relationship since 2004. The two companies trade set pieces and costumes, and support each other's work in the community, making it a perfect match to host the new Pete the Cat musical, Doubleday added.

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"Pete's rock'n'roll vibes are perfectly matched with Savannah Theatre's setup for their long-running review ‘Savannah Live’," she said. "It's going to look and sound absolutely incredible in that space!"

As a nonprofit community theatre, the Savannah Children's Theatre's mission is to inspire, educate, and entertain, leaders shared.

Their new, 19th season, will bring many beloved classics to the stage in the coming year including “Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” alongside newer shows like “Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus,” and “The SpongeBob Musical.”

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With their opening production, the Savannah Children's Theatre hopes “Pete the Cat the Musical!” will inspire audiences with a fun and positive kickoff to the new production season.

"We hope that families are inspired to go home and play Pete the Cat together, maybe by acting out their favorite parts of the show, making their own costumes, or singing every time they see a VW bus," Doubleday added.

"We want families to make live theatre their family tradition. Whether you're in shows together or you're watching shows together, everyone in the family can enjoy being a patron of the performing arts," she said. For tickets and more information visit: www.savannahchildrenstheatre.org

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah GA events: Pete the Cat the musical at Savannah Theatre