Thank You, Mr. Falker
Music by Sarah Taylor Ellis
Book and lyrics by Andrew Bentz
A family musical written for the Morgan-Wixson Theatre's award-winning Y.E.S. program (Youth Education/Entertainment Series). Patricia Polacco's treasured children's book Thank You, Mr. Falker is based on the author's own childhood reading disability and the teacher who helped her triumph. In this musical adaptation, young Trisha is eager to read, to taste the "sweetness of knowledge" that her grandfather has always revered. But at school, she struggles with a learning disability, where words and letters on the page are all mixed up in her brain. Trisha falls behind and endures classmates' taunts until a new teacher, Mr. Falker, helps her to blossom.
The world premiere was part of the 2011 LA Festival of New American Musicals and supported by grants from the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission. Over 750 children attended school matinees; for many of our young audience members, Thank You, Mr. Falker was their first live theatre experience.
Development and Production History:
Photos: Fabian Lewkowicz Photography
Press: "Student-produced musical 'Thank You, Mr. Falker' makes debut"
Review: Santa Monica Patch
Book and lyrics by Andrew Bentz
A family musical written for the Morgan-Wixson Theatre's award-winning Y.E.S. program (Youth Education/Entertainment Series). Patricia Polacco's treasured children's book Thank You, Mr. Falker is based on the author's own childhood reading disability and the teacher who helped her triumph. In this musical adaptation, young Trisha is eager to read, to taste the "sweetness of knowledge" that her grandfather has always revered. But at school, she struggles with a learning disability, where words and letters on the page are all mixed up in her brain. Trisha falls behind and endures classmates' taunts until a new teacher, Mr. Falker, helps her to blossom.
The world premiere was part of the 2011 LA Festival of New American Musicals and supported by grants from the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission. Over 750 children attended school matinees; for many of our young audience members, Thank You, Mr. Falker was their first live theatre experience.
Development and Production History:
- Production at Charlottesville Catholic School: November 2011
- Production at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica: May 14 - 29, 2011
- Workshop at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica: August 2010
Photos: Fabian Lewkowicz Photography
Press: "Student-produced musical 'Thank You, Mr. Falker' makes debut"
Review: Santa Monica Patch