Get Curious With ‘Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends’ at Seattle Children’s Theatre

“Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends” is just the thing if your kids have any interest in science. And if they don’t, this delightful Seattle Children’s Theatre show might jump-start their love of STEM learning.

More than just entertainment, Seattle Children’s Theatre is bringing a performance that encourages us all to choose character building over giving up; to follow our dreams and use ingenuity to get there; and ultimately, to believe in ourselves and what we are capable of.

Andrea Beaty’s books brought to life onstage

I was curious to see the books “Rosie Revere, Engineer,” “Iggy Peck, Architect” and “Ada Twist, Scientist” come to life onstage. On a chilly Friday night, the hum in the building was heartwarming. It was obvious that others were just as eager to see this blending of STEM and the arts — clearly a play designed for families who wish for their children to have a well-rounded education, with a sense of curiosity and a desire to learn.

Running through Feb. 22, “Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends” is a 60-minute production bursting with ideas and creativity. Naturally, the play features three inquisitive out-of-the-box thinkers: Rosie Revere, who is ready to design something workable; Iggy Peck, who has a passion for creating buildings; and Ada Twist, whose curiosity leads her to ask the “why,” “how” and “can we?” questions that are the marks of a true scientist. Ada, Iggy and Rosie are joined by Ms. Greer and Great Great Aunt Rose on this quest.

Ada Twist and friends learn through mistakes

The play opens on the first day of second grade and everything is new for the characters, including Ms. Greer, who feels out of synch. The story follows the children as they explore a STEM subject of their choosing — from building a working volcano (Ada) to creating a castle architectural model (Iggy) to developing a cheese-powered flying hat (Rosie). The audience, young and old(er), will love how the creations each surprise and sometimes delight Ms. Greer.

When a field trip goes awry and Ada and her friends find themselves stuck on an island without a bridge, the story really takes off. You’ll have to see the play to find out how and who creates the solution to rescue them all from the island. But in the course of their exploration for a solution, Great Great Aunt Rose encourages her young learners that "answers are everywhere" and "failure is a cause for celebration" as they explore ideas. And find a solution.

Coming to a solution becomes a transformative experience for the crew. Ms. Greer, who starts the play feeling overwhelmed by the vivacious children and their love of learning, later comes to appreciate and thank them for their ingenuity to save them from the island. Rosie, Iggy, and Ada gain confidence to believe in themselves and what they can do together. (Personally, I especially enjoyed the performance of Iggy by Carson Merrick, whose well-trained voice and acting were both strong and confident.)

The set backdrop features a grid pattern (think graph paper) and bits of images from Beaty’s books. Later on in the play, the bridge becomes a central feature. The props got big props (pun intended) from the audience, too, especially Iggy’s pancake tower. It surprised and delighted the young audience — and maybe it made them hungry, too.

Building confidence in young kids

The educational themes worked into this play are many: resilience, creative problem-solving, friendship and teamwork, along with a spotlight on the STEM elements that you would expect. The themes are beautifully enhanced by music, dance and live storytelling.

Elementary-age kids were working in the lobby as volunteers, answering questions, handing out booster seats and distributing programs to theatergoers. It was clear that Seattle Children’s Theatre is more than just drama performances; it’s a place for young people to learn life skills and gain job experience. Each character in “Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends” is told, “We need the thing you do,” and Seattle Children’s Theatre is demonstrating it in real time. What a beautiful message for children to hear; one we all need.

Tips for parents

• Arrive early. The lobby doors open one hour before showtime, so arriving at least 30 minutes early will give you time to explore the activities in the lobby. Seating starts 30 minutes before the show. There were coloring pages and play areas to entertain early visitors.
• Visit the restroom first. The play is 60 minutes long with no intermission. A quick stop at the restroom when you arrive is a good idea.
• Talk about theater etiquette. Going to live theater is often a new experience for kids. Although no one will give you the side eye if your kid “whispers” loudly or is wiggly, it’s a good idea to run through behavior expectations ahead of time. An audience member guide in the program details how you — and those around you — can best enjoy the show.
• Take advantage of the quiet room if you need to. Audio is fed into the room so you can still enjoy the show and have some space to allow for movement and chitchat.
• Shop books and merch. If you haven’t read any or all of Andrea Beaty’s books, you can find an assortment of her works at the merch station in the lobby. More options may catch your child’s eye, so plan accordingly.
• Know the restrictions. Outside food, photography and video are not allowed in the theater. Drinks with lids are permitted.