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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show Brings the Zoo to NYC

A Macaroni Kid Review

By Angeline Sheridan February 11, 2016
Fans of Eric Carle's stories will enjoy Jonathan Rockefeller's production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show now playing at the 47th Street Theatre in New York City through March 27, 2016. My family and I were invited to the premiere this past weekend, and we loved it.


The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show starts with a charming rendition of The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse. The audience delighted in the life-sized puppets of colorful animals such as the orange elephant, green lion, red crocodile and polka dotted donkey.



After we meet our land animals, we dive under the sea with Mister Seahorse who meets a cast of unusual sea creatures while he waits for his eggs to hatch. 



The Very Lonely Firefly was one of my son's favorite stories when he was younger. It was fun to see the firefly come to life and learn about different sources of light at the same time. 



My 4 year old daughter patiently waited for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the show's last story, and she was throughly rewarded. We instantly fell in love with the insatiable caterpillar, and the cast did an incredible job with faithfully adapting the story to the stage. We all know what happens in the end, but the show still managed to draw out squeals of delight and oooohs and aaaahs from the audience when the caterpillar reveals its transformation.




Having read Eric Carle's stories a million times, it was a real treat to see the stories on stage. The 75 puppets featured in The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show are visually stunning, and the cast did a remarkable job breathing life into the puppets. The 47th Street Theater provided an intimate setting for the audience to be fully enchanted by The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. This is a must-see for first-time, young theatergoers!

Macaroni Tips
  • Get up close and personal with the puppets by purchasing orchestra seats. 
  • Strollers are not allowed inside the theater. 
  • There is no intermission so plan bathroom breaks accordingly.
  • Stay a few minutes after the show to take pictures of the puppets.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show plays Saturdays and Sundays at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street in New York City) through March 27, 2016. Tickets are $49.50-$65.50 (Premium Seats) and can be purchased by visiting ticketcentral.com or by calling 212-279-4200. For more information visit HungryCaterpillarShow.com.

All photos except where noted are by Carol Rosegg for The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show.


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Disclosure: Macaroni Kid Northeast Bergen was provided complimentary tickets for the purpose of this review. All opinions are solely that of the author.