Hold onto your socks!! Because the MET Fun Company knows how to rock!! And they are ready to rock your socks right off with their adorably nostalgic production of Arthur and Friends Make a Musical. Based on the Arthur book series by Marc Brown, this quaint little kids show, which is wholly appropriate for both the youngins and those of us that grew up in the 90’s watching Arthur on PBS, is packed full of wonderful childhood memories and filled with modern musical theatre references. With book & lyrics by John Maclay and music & lyrics by Brett Ryback, this one-hour adventure is a perfect way to celebrate spring! Directed by Zack Callis, you’d better get ready to enjoy a morning (or early afternoon) of fun and musical fantasy!
It’s a colorful school-room style set, compliments of Scenic Designer and Co-Tech Director Olivia Pietanza (co-td’ing with Cody James.) You get those subtle yet recognizable nods to Arthur and Friends as they appeared in both their book and TV iterations from Costume Designer Alyssa Tyler, though the true ‘costume of the show’ is that disco-flare-affair featured on Mr. Ratburn in the final number. Keep an eye out for that killer Key-tar and the handheld ‘corn’ props, thanks to Properties Person Sam White. And add in some really nifty sound and lighting effects, by way of Lighting Designer and Sound Programmer Ashley Grove, and you have all the components you need for one banging musical. It’s really a simple but perfect equation for a good hour’s stage traffic.
Director Zack Callis has the audience, kids and adults alike, engaged wholly with the show before it even officially starts as the characters come out and inform Arthur of all the things he was supposed to be informing the audience of— like that it’s a musical, where the emergency exits are, etc. And it’s just a really cute way to make sure everyone is ready for the experience. The show moves quickly and smoothly (shout-out to Stage Manager Rebecca Carroll) and you can tell there are actual people (and not hats! #IYKYK) making decisions about who moves where and when. The 90’s verve is strong with this production!
You’ve got a lot of splashy energy coming from the teacher figure, Mr. Ratburn (Bryant Gutknecht) especially when he starts singing his song, “Put Your Heart Into It” early on. It takes a special level of performative skill to play ‘the adult’ in a show where all the adults are playing children and Gutkencht has it. Of course so too do Cade MacFee (who doubles up not only as Brain, one of Arthur’s friends, but as Dad) and Mae Philippe-Auguste (playing both Muffy and Mom.) When MacFee and Philippe-Auguste play the parents and sing that heartfelt “Undeniable” song about how Arthur is special and important no matter how boring he’s afraid he might be, it just warms your heart. The way this pair of performers flips between nurturing adult energy, in their respective roles of Mom and Dad, to more rambunctious kid energy, in their respective roles as Brain and Muffy, is really impressive. MacFee, as Brain, gives us a lot of huge vocabulary words and does so with vigorous enthusiasm, while Philippe-Auguste’s Muffy is fashion-obsessed and her passion is intense!
At this performance the role of Buster was played by Alissa Suser and you got loads of youthfully invigorating energies from her. Danielle Carter is a sublime DW/Ulyssess (the pants-detective from one of the stories) and her ability to channel the essence of DW is uncanny and really humorous. Mallorie Stern as Francine gets to nail the best number in the show “Agent 355” (which has spectacular lighting) and is essentially the homage to Hamilton and Operation Mincemeat (though I think this musical pre-dates Mincemeat) that all us early-early millennials didn’t know we needed. Stern has fabulously animated facial expressions and such zealous gusto that this number is, as the kids said back in the 90’s— DA BOMB!
And for Arthur (Richie Dobson) you get this really sweet, albeit nervous and totally introverted, portrayal that is just full of heart. Dobson brings this really earnest portrayal to the stage, a little nerdy, a little uncertain, a lot of insecure, and he navigates his way through the story growing as a character and it’s a really wholesome and beautiful experience.
Perfect for families, definitely good for the kids, and amazing for all of us “kids of the 90’s” you won’t want to miss Arthur and Friends Make a Musical playing through May 10th at MET’s Fun Company.
Running Time: Approximately 60 minutes with no intermission
Arthur and Friends Make a Musical plays through May 10th 2026 as a MET Fun Company production on the Fun Company Stage at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre in the Historic FSK Hotel building— 31 W. Patrick street in downtown historic Frederick, MD. For tickets call the box office at (301) 694-4744 or purchase them online.
