There was kid chaos during the “Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical” at all times, but it was good chaos. Before the production there were plenty of kid-friendly activities to keep your elementary school-aged kids occupied and during opening night (Sunday, 24 November 2024), the kids were quiet during the one-hour musical only to release their joy afterward.

If you’re looking for a positive way to introduce your kids to theater and to spark conversations about comic books and creativity, this presentation has a lot to offer.  “Cat Kid Comic Club” is a five-book series by Dar Pilkey, the author and illustrator of the Dog Man and Captain Underpants series.

Having just adopted 21 tadpoles, their new father Flippy  (David Vandyke) needs to give them something to channel their energy and Cat Kid (Janna Line) proposes a club where the tadpoles–Kip (Jimmy Henderson), Melvin (Jeremy Fuentes, Naomi (Diamond Destiny), Starla and Poppy (Savannah Trotter) with others represented by Acheson Walsh Studio’s puppet design–all learn how to make a comic book in four days. Yet anyone who has siblings or is parenting knows that keeping 21 kids focused isn’t easy. The kids are creative, but before they can unleash their imaginations, they’ll have to rein in their teasing and bickering. Flippy also needs to let his kids capture their kid aesthetics in storytelling.

The books and lyrics by Kevin Del Aquila set to music by Brad Alexander delivers a fun-tastic time under the direction and choreography of Marlo Hunter.

Watching the all too recognizable sibling and frenemy type teasing and the hilarious story ideas, the dressed up kids in the audience were quiet. There was no crying, no bickering, no kicking of chairs. This was absolutely a winner from a kid’s point of view. For parent? It was an evening for dress-up and play. I saw what appeared to be a father-and-daughter playing tic-tack-toe, kids playing foosball, parents watching kids coloring or creating with Playdough.

“Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical” is a part of CTG:FWD. Created by Artistic Director Snehal Desai, CTG:FWD is a series of special events and programming at the Mark Taper Forum, the Kirk Douglas Theatre, and throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

“Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical” continues until 5 January 2025 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre (9820 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232). Tickets start at $34.50. Sensory Sensitive performances on December 17 at 11 a.m. For tickets and more information about the performance schedule, visit Center Theatre Group.