Brand-New Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater Show Debuts at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

When I visit the zoo with my young daughter, I expect to see animals in their enclosures: tigers lounging in tall grass, birds perched on branches and monkeys swinging high in the trees. I don’t expect to see animals performing on a stage, but admittedly, I hadn’t yet been to a Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater show at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

My family and I were delighted to catch the zoo’s brand-new “Zoo’s Got Mail” show on a recent weekend visit. The outdoor theater show stars Rocket the terrier and a surprising cast of wild animal guests.

An interactive and educational show

If you’ve been to a Wild Wonders show in the past couple of years, you’ve likely seen Rocket the rescue dog starring as a wizard caring for mythical creatures. This year, the storyline for Wild Wonders is completely new. Rocket is the zoo’s mail carrier — or, mail terrier — delivering letters with questions and comments from zoo visitors eager to learn more about animals. More than a dozen animals make up the rotating cast of the show (which changes daily!).

We settled into our seats 10 minutes early — there is plenty of seating in the outdoor theater, but it is first come, first served, and I wanted to make sure my daughter could get a close look at the stage. We were then treated to a preshow from Taisha, one of the zoo’s science communicators. As visitors took their seats, she built excitement for the questions that the zoo gets every day from people all around the world. Then she shared details on sunflower stars, bull kelp and polar bears in an engaging and interactive way. She asked the audience questions such as, “Who here loves polar bears?” and “Who likes to read a book to find answers?” (My daughter’s hand shot up in the air for both of those questions, with an enthusiastic “I do!” I loved seeing her so interested.)

Then, it was time to check the mail!

The show’s animal guests

While we waited for the mail to arrive, Tilli the aardvark walked across the stage with staff biologist Natalie. On their stroll, Tillli used her great sense of smell to look for bugs. Natalie held up a clear jar for Tilli to investigate with her long tongue so we could see just how she eats. Tilli then had time to explore the stage before being ushered off to the side. It was time for Rocket’s debut.

Rocket is aptly named — we watched as he shot across the stage with a mailbag strapped to his side. He happily sat in front of Natalie and Laura, another staff biologist, where he traded a pack of letters from the mailbag for a treat. With his tail wagging, he exited the stage.

The first letter, addressed to zookeepers, shared enthusiasm for watching the animals at the zoo eat. Natalie and Laura asked for a volunteer from the audience (I was surprised to see my daughter’s hand shoot up in the air again for this, and slightly relieved when she wasn’t picked — I just didn’t want to have to go up, too.) A young girl joined the biologists on stage to pick a rubber toy from a basket for the next animal guest. She selected a bright green frog toy, which they strategically placed on a rock.

Out came Twiggy, the red-legged seriema. She’s the fastest animal in the zoo, and she sped across the stage straight to the toy frog. She picked it up with her beak and slammed it into the ground repeatedly, a behavior she would do with its prey in the wild to crush all its bones.

The zoo biologists use positive reinforcement to encourage the animals’ natural behaviors and provide enrichment. Indeed, as Twiggy was slamming the frog toy on the ground, I noticed Laura dropping treats for her on stage. The zoo emphasizes that training is collaborative and participation from the animals is voluntary.

Zoo’s got more mail

The mail for the zoo doesn’t just come tucked in Rocket’s mailbag. There’s also an onstage mailbox and a laptop for emails. After Twiggy exited the stage, an email came in asking about the big cats at the zoo and how they play.

Enter: Banyan, a clouded leopard. He made his way down to the stage floor, balancing on a tree branch as staff shared details of his behaviors and skills.

We also saw Ruby the turkey vulture fly overhead, skipping her cue to land on a platform and choosing instead to stay on the stage (prompting Natalie to quip, “I thought you were a turkey vulture, not a stage hog.”)

And there was Gonzo, a southern tamandua, who showed off his prehensile tail and super-long tongue. With a full cast of animals that changes with each show, my daughter and I are eager to return (and hopeful we’ll catch Scooter the armadillo or Nigel the porcupine).

At the end of the show, everyone in the audience was invited to make a cash donation and meet Rocket. A handful of kids (my daughter included) lined up, and delighted in meeting and gently petting the star of the show.

Tips for families

• The show is about 30 minutes long, with a couple of opportunities for kids to volunteer and participate. The staff packs a ton of information into the show in a fun and engaging way.
• Seating is first come, first served and seats start to fill up in the 10 minutes before the show. Get there a little early if you want to snag seats closer to the stage.
• If you come during your family’s snack time, don’t sit in the first three rows. The animals are curious about food, and everyone in those front rows is asked to put away any food (or move to the fourth row or farther back).
• The show is included with zoo admission, but you’ll want to bring a cash donation if your kids would like to meet Rocket (or take home a souvenir). The suggested donation was $1 to meet Rocket and $5 to also get an iron-on patch with Rocket’s smiling face on it.
• The bleachers are covered, so you don’t have to worry about getting wet on a rainy day or sitting in the sun.

More to do at the zoo

There are plenty of incredible exhibits at the zoo and aquarium that you won’t want to miss. It’s the perfect size to explore in a day — we stayed for a few hours and managed to stop by every exhibit.

The outdoor theater is right next to the Pacific Seas Aquarium, where we spotted jellyfish, anemones and a giant Pacific octopus.

On the other side of the theater is the Nature Play Garden, where you can catch the seasonal “Bugs Alive!” show, starting May 24. My daughter loved the huge bamboo chimes in the garden, the oversized nest and the familiar plants.

We also walked through the new Mission Safari Adventure Maze, took a play break and fed goats in the Kids’ Zone, and (of course) made a stop in the gift shop on our way out. It was a fantastic day at the zoo, and we already are planning our next trip.

Editor’s note: This article was published on May 21, 2025, replacing an earlier version written by Natasha Dillinger, who covered the “Extraordinary Creatures and How to Care for Them” show at Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater.