Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! at Marriott Theatre

Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended

"...My kids love Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, the popular children's book by Mo Willems. It's a simple, comic story about a pigeon that wants to be a bus driver, but whose dreams are thwarted by reality. An incredibly expressive and somewhat sympathetic character, the pigeon features in other Willems titles, such as The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! Willems himself has adapted these pigeon books into a funny and charming musical for small children. With a run-time of less than an hour at the Marriott Theater, and a typical start time of 10am, parents can still get their kids home in time for lunch and a midday nap. And that is a win!"

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...This adaptation of Mo Willems' award winning book, tells us the story of how hard t is to be a pigeon 'cause you never get to do anything, and most people do not like you. They just want you to "fly away". In this story, Pigeon ( Matty Bettencourt is amazing) is represented by a hand puppet on our performers hand. After a short time, we forget he is a puppet and begin to feel that the pigeon is very real."

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...Marriott Theatre's Summertime sizzler is aimed at younger audiences, but I guarantee you that both older kids and adults will find this pleasurable production just as much fun. It's a snazzy-jazzy That-Joint-is-Jumpin' kind of show. It runs on high octane fuel, powered by a six-member cast of gifted and talented triple-threats. The Jamba Juice that keeps this delicious show energized is infused by Lorenzo Rush Jr's lively and lusty Direction, with an extra lift supplied by Matthew Weidenbener's superb Choreography. Mo Willem's delightful picture book, transferred from page to stage by the author himself, is seasoned with a high-flying musical score by Deborah Wicks LaPuma. And audiences will leave with a message of confidence that we're all special in different ways, and that everyone's got their own thing."

Chicago Culture Authority - Highly Recommended

"...Pigeon is a delightful stand-in for the many toddlers in the audience. They understand what it is to see something as awesome and wonderful as a brand-new bus. They relate to the burning desire to do things they are told they are too small to do. And they for sure recognize a good tantrum when they see one. Pigeon gets their plight in a way that parents never can. Which is why so many tots showed up to the opening Saturday morning with Pigeon stuffies in tow."

Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended

"...Marriott Lincolnshire's Theater for Young Audiences is a marvelous vehicle to introduce both youngsters and the young at heart to the engaging power of a live performance. My adult friends and I thoroughly enjoy the charming staging of magical, marvelous children's literature and picture books. Sophia, our four-and-a-half-year-old princess, loved the storyline and was enchanted by both the pigeon, duckling, and puppy puppets. She thought the puppy was real. On Opening Day, a jam-packed theatre audience laughed, giggled, and applauded the musical."