WOODY GUTHRIE’S SONGS TO GROW ON
Commissioned by New York City Children’s Theater
Original script by Frank Ruiz
Directed by Susanna Brock
Songs by Woody Guthrie
Five Boroughs Tour
September 26-November 8, 2026
MY FIRST NUTCRACKER
Adapted by Barbara Zinn Krieger
Directed and Choreographed by Kristen Brooks Sandler
December 5-22, 2026 at Theatre Row
INTERSTELLAR CINDERELLA: THE NEXT ADVENTURE
Music & Lyrics by Laurie Berkner
Book by Barbara Zinn Krieger
Directed by Sammy Lopez
Choreography by Kristen Brooks Sandler
Inspired by the characters from Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood
March 27, 2027–April 11, 2027 at Theatre Row
New York, NY — August 20, 2026 — New York City Children’s Theater (NYCCT) is thrilled to announce its 2026–2027 Main Stage Season, featuring an extraordinary lineup of three imaginative productions that mark both the debut of its exciting new brand identity and the celebration of its 30th Anniversary Season. This milestone season honors three decades of inspiring young people through theater while ushering in a bold visual brand and creative chapter that reflects the imagination, inclusivity, and joy at the heart of NYCCT.
Coinciding with the organization’s 30th anniversary, NYCCT’s refreshed brand identity reflects its evolution and its vision for their next chapter. The new look embraces warmth, playfulness, and artistic rigor—honoring NYCCT’s legacy while positioning the company for continued growth in storytelling, community engagement, and trauma‑informed arts education.
“Our 30th Anniversary Season is both a celebration and a promise,” says Barbara Zinn Krieger, Founder and Artistic Director of New York City Children’s Theater. “We are honoring the extraordinary legacy that brought us here, while boldly stepping into the future with a new brand that reflects our core values—joy, curiosity, inclusivity, and artistic excellence. This season’s productions were carefully selected to embody the limitless creativity and heart that define NYCCT. We cannot wait to share this new chapter with the children and families of New York City.”
ABOUT THE PRODUCTIONS
New York City Children’s Theater (NYCCT) continues its commitment to creating transformative early‑childhood arts experiences for New York City’s youngest learners. WOODY GUTHRIE’S SONGS TO GROW ON, an original Theater for the Very Young production was inspired by an unpublished manuscript by Woody Guthrie and his 1956 children’s album Songs to Grow On for Mother and Child. Written by Frank Ruiz and directed by Susanna Brock, the piece follows four‑year‑old Cathy Ann Guthrie on a cross‑country journey with her family that encourages curiosity, empathy, and exploration. Featuring classic Guthrie songs and interactive moments of play, the production invites children ages 2–5 and their families to travel from California to “the New York Island” through music, movement, and imagination. Used by permission by Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc.
All NYCCT touring performances are free; however, some venues require general admission to enter. It is recommended to confirm the final schedule with the partner organizations. Some venues may adjust admission policies or offer members-only programs.
- Saturday, September 26, 10:30AM – Village Trip Festival
- Sunday, September 27, 3:00PM – Bronx Music Hall
- Saturday, October 10, 2026, 1:00PM – Brooklyn Public Library (Central Branch)
- Saturday, October 17, 2026, 11:00AM – Queens Library (Central Branch)
- Sunday, October 18, 2:30PM – Queens Museum
- Saturday, October 24, 2:30PM – Staten Island Children’s Museum
- Saturday, November 7, 10:30AM – Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Celebrating the magic of the holidays, NYCCT’s beloved holiday tradition MY FIRST NUTCRACKER returns with a newly reimagined staging. With Tchaikovsky’s iconic music and beautiful ballet‑based interactivity, this joyful production invites young children to experience the wonder of live theater in a welcoming, family‑friendly setting. It weaves a fantastical tapestry of Nutcracker magic that sparks children’s imagination while rekindling nostalgia for parents. Written by Barbara Zinn Krieger and directed and choreographed by Kristen Brooks Sandler, the production runs December 5–22 at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street).
As in the classic tale, Clara‑Marie receives a Nutcracker from her beloved godfather. When the Nutcracker transforms into a Prince, audiences join them on a journey to the Land of the Sweets. Under sparkling skies—complete with dancing flowers and a pesky Mouse King—this 50‑minute interactive retelling is specially designed for young theatergoers, offering a fun, imaginative, and engaging holiday adventure.
In Spring 2027, NYCCT unveils the thrilling sequel to its beloved musical Interstellar Cinderella, inviting young theatergoers on an all‑new cosmic quest with INTERSTELLAR CINDERELLA: THE NEXT ADVENTURE. Seven years have passed; the year is 3024, and Cinderella—now Chief Engineer and Inventor for the Alliance of Planets—is facing her biggest challenge yet.
A world premiere musical, story by Barbara Zinn Krieger with music and lyrics by the iconic Laurie Berkner, directed by Sammy Lopez and with choreography by Kristen Brooks Sandler, this sequel to the popular Interstellar Cinderella follows Cinderella and Prince Astral as they confront an environmental crisis threatening the Alliance of Planets. When the Prince’s mission goes awry, young audience members join the Fairy God‑Bot to help rescue him and restore harmony to the galaxy. Blending puppetry, musical theater, choreography, and mixed media, the production introduces children to themes of scientific discovery, community, and problem‑solving. The show opens on March 27 and runs through April 11, 2027 at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street).
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
Frank Ruiz (Playwright Woody Guthrie’s Songs to Grow On) is a Nicaraguan American educator, composer, and playwright. He is a 2024 TYA/USA Emerging Leader Fellow, which led to his project “Woody Guthrie’s Songs To Grow On” being commissioned for New York City Children’s Theater’s 30th anniversary season. Also serving as Manager of Education Programs, he has presented on their work for The Arts In Education Roundtable, The Broadway League, Lincoln Center Education, and many others. In 2024, he also received an LMCC Creative Learning grant for his protest songwriting workshop, “I’m Gonna Say It Now.”
Susanna Brock (Director for Woody Guthrie’s Songs to Grow On) is a Swedish, New York-based theater maker, performer, director, arts administrator and educator who creates multi-sensory and interactive theater with and for young audiences. She has worked in Stockholm, Paris, Kampala, Nairobi, and New York where she has facilitated and performed in school and community-based programs. She is part of the shared leadership group at Spellbound Theatre and has been a teaching artist and lecturer with places like ArtsConnection, The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Brooklyn College and NYU.
Barbara Zinn Krieger (Playwright) founded New York City Children’s Theater during her 22‑year tenure as Executive Director and Founder of New York’s Tony Award–winning Vineyard Theatre. Guided by her belief that theater should be accessible to young people of all backgrounds, she launched NYCCT with a mission to adapt children’s literature into theatrical works that foster empathy, imagination, and social awareness.
Over more than five decades, Barbara’s career has helped shape the landscape of New York City theater. She has written numerous children’s operas, musicals, and adaptations for the stage, and her work continues to influence generations of young audiences and artists. She is also the librettist for Clara: The Life and Loves of Clara Schumann, with music by Victoria Bond, which premiered in April 2019 in Baden‑Baden, Germany.
Barbara’s contributions have been recognized with some of the field’s highest honors, including the Opera America Distinguished Service Award, induction into the Off‑Broadway Hall of Fame in 2020 as a Legend of Off‑Broadway, and the Harold Oaks Award for Sustained Excellence in TYA in 2026. She holds a BFA in Theatre from Columbia University School of the Arts and an MA in Speech and Theater from Columbia University Teachers College.
In recognition of her extraordinary impact on New York City’s cultural life, Mayor Eric Adams proclaimed September 10, 2025, as Barbara Zinn Krieger Day. In his tribute, he noted that “New York is shaped and fortified by all those who are committed to lifting others and making a positive difference,” celebrating Barbara as an “award‑winning, multi‑talented playwright and producer who shines brightly as one of these remarkable New Yorkers.”
Kristen Brooks Sandler (Director/Choreographer) is an award-winning creative director and director / choreographer. Recognized for her transformative impact in both the digital and live arts realms, Kristen’s ethos remains the same across both – create accessible spaces for engagement, marry authenticity with innovation, and make art profitable. Kristen’s creations have been seen internationally on stage and screen. Her award-winning films have been featured in over 30 countries, and she has worked with Nickelodeon, International Film Channel, Hallmark, and more. Her live creations have included shows for The New York Public Library, New York Botanical Gardens, Juilliard, BAM, Signature Theater, Fredericia Theatre (Denmark), Théâtre de l’Opprimé (Paris), Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bathtub Gin and Las Casas Foundation. Kristen is also the founding artistic director of Thistle Dance, a creative company that uses movement as its primary language to conjure wonderfully strange creations that challenge our codified perception of history and lore. Thistle’s work elevates characters over caricatures and explores the myriads of circumstances that lead to a moment of choice. In short, Thistle tells stories you know but have never heard before. Before leading her own rehearsal rooms, Kristen worked as a performer alongside such creators as Andy Blankenbuehler, Savion Glover, Karma Camp & Connor Gallagher.
Recognized as “the queen of kids’ music” by People magazine, Laurie Berkner (Songwriter for Interstellar Cinderella: The Next Adventure) is a singer, songwriter, performer, author, and founder of Two Tomatoes Records, LLC. With more than 1.7 billion total streams, an average of more than 22 million monthly streams, more than 595 million YouTube channel views, and millions of CDs and DVDs sold, Laurie’s songs have become beloved classics for children worldwide.
As a leader and innovator in children’s music and entertainment for the past quarter of a century, Laurie has released 18 bestselling, award-winning albums, was the first recording artist ever to perform in music videos on Noggin and Nick, Jr., appeared regularly on those channels’ Jack’s Big Music Show, and helped develop the short form animated musical preschool series Sing It, Laurie! on Universal Kids (formerly Sprout TV). Laurie also created two Laurie Berkner’s Song and Story Kitchen series with Audible Studios, who released them as 10-chapter audio books through the Audible Originals brand.
Laurie has authored several picture books based on her songs, the most recent of which were published by Simon & Schuster and Cali’s Books. She has written the music and lyrics for three Off-Broadway children’s musicals produced by New York City Children’s Theater and now presented regionally: Wanda’s Monster, The Amazing Adventures of Harvey and the Princess, and Interstellar Cinderella. She is prominently featured in the children’s music documentary Happy and You Know It, which is available to stream on HBO Max.
Sammy Lopez (Director for Interstellar Cinderella: The Next Adventure) is a Tony Award-winning theatre producer dedicated to uplifting historically excluded voices through the arts. He serves as the Producing Director at New York City Children’s Theater, where he directs and develops new work, creating innovative theatre experiences for young audiences and families. His projects include the upcoming Interstellar Cinderella: The Next Adventure (Spring 2027), Fish in a Tree (Off-Broadway), Same Same But Different (Virtual Production), and the original play ¡Corre, Abuelita, Corre!, inspired by his Abuelita and presented as a five-borough New York City tour. Sammy is a co-founder and producer of P3 Productions, which recently produced the award-winning Mexodus Off-Broadway, Call Me Izzy starring Jean Smart, How to Dance in Ohio, and Job on Broadway. During the 2026-2027 Broadway season, P3 is producing the new musical Wanted and Inter Alia. Through Third Wish Productions, he currently has Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical on tour and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile premiering at Alliance Theatre in 2027. He also serves as a mentor for Theatre Producers of Color (TPOC) and as an educator with The Business of Broadway. A proud graduate of Syracuse University, Sammy serves on the boards of New 42, TYA/USA, The Broadway League, and the Autistic Theatremakers Alliance. www.sammy-lopez.com
ABOUT NEW YORK CITY CHILDREN’S THEATRE (NYCCT):
New York City Children’s Theater (NYCCT) began in 1996 as Making Books Sing, a family theater and education program of the Tony Award–winning Vineyard Theatre. Guided by Founder and Artistic Director Barbara Zinn Krieger’s vision to offer accessible theatrical experiences to young people of all backgrounds, NYCCT became an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in 2001.
Since its inception, NYCCT’s locally and nationally recognized professional productions and arts‑in‑education programs have served more than 485,000 children and adults across all five boroughs and surrounding communities in the tri-state area. NYCCT engages grade school students with a full spectrum of theater activities built around children’s books, and is one of the few theaters dedicated to developing high‑quality original work for young audiences—having created and premiered more than 40 original productions.
Each year,its education programs reach over 10,000 students in public schools and homeless shelters, and has provided more than 125,000 subsidized tickets to ensure arts accessibility for underserved communities. NYCCT believes in the transformative power of the arts to spark creativity and foster social and emotional growth in young people.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets start at $12.50. For performance information, please visit www.nycchildrenstheater.org.
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