Love That Dog Tickets

Love That Dog is a novel in verse written by Sharon Creech, which follows the story of a young boy named Jack as he discovers a love for poetry through a school assignment. The novel is deeply emotional and profound, exploring themes of grief, loss, and the power of expression through writing.

While Love That Dog was not originally written as a theatrical piece, it has since been adapted into a stage play by the Children's Theater Company in Minneapolis. The adaptation was designed to stay true to the spirit of the original novel, while also incorporating the unique challenges and opportunities that come with staging a piece of theater.

One of the key elements that makes Love That Dog such a natural fit for the theater is the fact that it is written entirely in verse. This means that the language used throughout the novel is inherently poetic and musical, lending itself well to dramatic performance. Because of this, the play version of Love That Dog relies heavily on spoken word poetry as a means of conveying Jack's thoughts and emotions to the audience. The actors use precise rhythms and precise pacing to capture the essence of the words on the page, creating a powerful and visceral experience for viewers.

Another important aspect of Love That Dog , and one that translates particularly well to the stage, is its emphasis on the power of voice. Throughout the novel, Jack writes poetry as a means of processing his grief over the loss of his dog, and in doing so, he discovers a confidence and sense of self-expression that he had previously lacked. By adapting Love That Dog for the theater, directors and performers are able to explore these same ideas in a deeply physical way, using movement and vocalization to show how the act of speaking your truth can be transformative.

The stage adaptation of Love That Dog also makes use of visual storytelling, bringing Jack's poetry to life through innovative set design and choreography. For example, there are moments when the set transforms into a giant chalkboard, allowing Jack to literally write his poems across the walls of the theater. Similarly, the choreography used throughout the play is often abstract and expressive, helping to convey the emotions and themes of the story in a more subtle but no less powerful way.

Overall, Love That Dog is a wonderful example of how literature can inspire and inform theatrical performance. By taking the beautiful words of Sharon Creech and translating them into a visual and physical experience, the stage adaptation of Love That Dog adds new layers of meaning and resonance to an already powerful story. Whether you're a fan of the novel or just a lover of theater, Love That Dog is definitely worth checking out for its unique and inspiring take on the power of poetry and expression.