The Pigeon Requests Your Presence at Seattle Children’s Theatre’s Newest Production

The first Seattle Children’s Theatre production I attended was “Go Dog Go!” more than a decade ago. My son and I had seats right up front with the rest of his 2’s co-op preschool class; it was a class field trip. He sat wide-eyed, giggling away throughout the entire show, and when it was over, SCT had earned two new super fans. 

I’ve taken my three kids to more productions at SCT than I can count over the years. And we’ve never been disappointed. After seeing the world premiere of “The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza!” with my 7-year-old, I am happy to report, the winning streak continues. 

Heartwarming holiday antics

From the minute The Pigeon peeks his head around the corner to test the waters, it’s evident this play is going to hit all the right notes. And it should — Mo Willems wrote the script (with Adam Tobin). Noah Duffy, the man behind the puppet, expertly captures The Pigeon’s mix of sassy and stubborn, with just the right amount of silliness peppered in, to lift the beloved character off the page and onto the stage. Kids in the audience lapped it up and played along with all of his inside jokes. When The Pigeon asked if he could drive the bus, they could hardly believe his moxie. Of course he couldn’t drive the bus! And that was all it took to transport all of us into the world of “The Pigeon’s Big Time Holiday Extravaganza!”

The play follows everyone’s favorite Mo Willems’ characters — The Pigeon, Elephant and Piggie, and the Squirrels — on three distinct journeys that come together in the end with a dance party. In the search to find the best present, The Pigeon heads to the North Pole where he finds a big red sleigh, but nothing else of note, well — almost nothing else. 

Meanwhile, Piggy and Elephant have bought each other gifts. But what if they’re not good enough? What if they don’t like what they got each other? What if it’s not the right thing? In typical Piggie and Elephant fashion, they go back and forth, forth and back, until they finally figure out … well, you’ll have to see the play to find out if it all works out between these two besties.

And the Squirrels are all about throwing a fantastic holiday party with all the decorations. And when they say all, they mean all. But like many of us when we take on too much, they finally figure out that scaling back may make their holiday party even better in the end.

The play is easy to follow, so kids won’t have too many questions as they watch from their seats. Lively musical numbers (including the “Super Catchy Holiday Song” that lives up to its name), sight gags and a quirky professor who likes to share wisdom with the audience (when there is any) keep the play moving at the perfect pace for its young audience. 

As for surprises, scary or emotionally charged scenes, the play aligns nicely with Willems’ books, so if your kids can handle those, they’ll probably be okay here too. But you can also review the Sensory Guide, which lays out potential glitches for sensory-sensitive kids (and others), to be sure. 

When all is said and done, the play’s message — that the holidays are all about presence, not presents — is a good reminder to slow down and enjoy time with our kids among the hustle and bustle of the season. And if I’m being honest, it also works well if you want to sidestep a merch purch: Being present together at the play is your present, sweetheart.

Linger in the lobby 

One of the best things about seeing a production at a children’s theater is that it’s a children’s theater. Seems obvious, right? But the fact that they “get kids” always tips the scales for me when it comes to ponying up for theater tickets in Seattle. 

As usual, the SCT team has set up an engaging array of activities for kids to enjoy in the lobby before, after or during the show (there is a short intermission). Photo op props and Christmas trees decorated with your favorite Mo Willems’ characters are strategically placed around the main floor and upper lobby, and the cushy play alcove near the oversized chair is always a kid hangout hotspot. 

Look for the coloring stations on both the main floor and upper lobby or play pigeon-themed tic-tac-toe on the oversized lobby windows as you wait. Sensory-seeking kids (like mine) can take turns touching all the things on the sensory table (on the second floor) or plucking out the notes to the “Super Catchy Holiday Song” on the floor piano near the stairs. 

My daughter spent most of the intermission on a hunt for the hidden pigeons, hanging at kid eye-height, around the lobbies so she could complete the scavenger hunt. But only after she had written a heartfelt letter to The Pigeon (in which she promised to throw him a hot dog party) and tucked it into the lobby mailbox. The takeaway? For some kids, the lobby may be just as appealing as the show. 

Tips for parents 

Arrive early. Arriving 20–30 minutes before curtain gives kids time to use the potty and explore the activities in the lobby. Doors open an hour early, and seating starts 30 minutes before the show. Hint: Parking at Seattle Center can be a battle during the holidays, so pad your time accordingly. 

Walk through theater etiquette. Another great thing about attending children’s theater is that no one will give you the side eye if your kid loudly “whispers” obvious questions in the middle of an emotionally rousing monologue, or if your little one starts to cry because, well, hangry happens. Still, it’s a good idea to run through behavior expectations before the curtain rises. 

Use the quiet room if you need to. If your kid can’t turn off the chatty or is having trouble sitting still, you can always escape to the quiet room. Audio is fed into the room so you can still enjoy the show while your little one melts down or jumps around or simply asks a lot of questions. 

Age recommendations: While the show is recommended for kids ages 5 and older, we saw little kids and younger sibs tagging along when we attended. If your kid loves The Pigeon, Piggie and Elephant, or really anything Mo Willems, they’ll get a kick out of this production. 

There’s merch: Don’t say I didn’t warn you, but your kids will certainly find all the adorable Mo Willems’ products their little hearts can dream of in the middle of the lobby (they’re hard to miss), so plan accordingly. 

Restrictions: Outside food is not allowed, nor is photography or video in the theater. Concessions are sold during intermission. 

Special performances

There are a few dates to add to your calendar if you’re looking for sensory-friendly performances or additional activities that make the show extra special. 

• Sunday, Dec. 28 at 1 p.m.: This Access production includes a sensory-sensitive performance, ASL interpretation and audio description.
• Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.: ASL interpreted performance
• Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m.: Sensory-friendly performance
• Sunday, Dec. 7 at 4:30 p.m.: Behind-the-scenes on-stage tour
• Sunday, Dec. 14 at 1 and 4:30 p.m.: Bring books your kids have grown out of or are ready to pass along to the Read to Succeed book swap, taking place before each show in the lobby. Trade them for new favorites from the Reading Partners’ library.