Musical puppet show bringing four Eric Carle books to life for young audiences, with Sensory Friendly and Neuro-Inclusive performances.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show opens at Nashville Children's Theatre on November 14, 2026, and runs through January 3, 2027. It's a musical puppet show that brings four of Eric Carle's books to life, and it's recommended for kids ages 3 to 8.
The production was created by Jonathan Rockefeller and directed by Jonah Jackson. The stage is filled with a menagerie of 75 large puppets, all built in Carle's signature illustrative style—the same bright, textured look you recognize from the books. The show invites young audiences to walk through the pages of those four stories, told with vibrant colors, familiar characters, and narration that carries the weight of the storytelling, with minimal dialogue between the characters themselves.
One thing that sets this run apart is how the theatre handles accessibility. Every performance is Sensory Friendly, and the company also offers Neuro-Inclusive and ASL-interpreted performances. For families who want a bit more after the curtain closes, there are Discovery Day post-show Q&As, a chill corner for kids who need a break, and visual schedules to help them follow along. It's part of Nashville Children's Theatre's long history of breaking barriers and setting a standard for theatre for younger audiences.
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The show runs from November 14, 2026, through January 3, 2027, at Nashville Children's Theatre, 25 Middleton St, Nashville, TN 37210. With the run stretching well into the new year, you've got plenty of dates to choose from.
