My Friend The Dragon

My Friend The Dragon premieres at The Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, April 3, 2027, with two performances that day: one at 10:30 AM and another at 1:00 PM. The show is a world premiere from the Imaginary Theatre Company, the touring arm of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis that focuses on theatre for young people and their families, drawing on literature, folk tales, fairy tales and new adaptations of classic works. This is ITC's first commissioning of new work since 2019.

The musical reimagines Kenneth Grahame's short story The Reluctant Dragon. When a scaly tail is spotted outside his village, Sam, a young booklover, uses his knowledge of fairy tales and his compassion for the misunderstood to make a fire-breathing friend. Together with the knight St. George, they show the village that everyone deserves kindness, courage and a chance to tell their own story. The book and lyrics are by Lize Lewy, with music by Bryn McLaughlin.

Lewy is a multi-hyphenate theatre artist who previously performed in ITC's The Ugly Duckling and won the 2025 St. Louis Theatre Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor in Emma. McLaughlin is a musician, actor and writer from Mt. Vernon. The Loretto-Hilton Center is on the campus of Webster University in St. Louis.