From the children’s book written by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, Nate the Great is a junior detective that’s on a mission to find his friend Annie’s missing painting. He makes his world premiere as a musical on October 12 at the Todd Wehr Theater presented by First Stage. If you love pancakes, comedy and a little problem solving, this is the musical for you!

The fact that I haven’t seen a musical in years is what got me excited about going to see “Nate the Great.” The venue was very cozy; it didn’t matter what seats you were in, you could see everything clearly. The staff is there to answer any questions you may have, and they are very accommodating.

The cast was beyond amazing; it was very well put together. If your family loves comedy, I’d suggest bringing them to see “Nate the Great.” The suggested age is 4-10 years old, but even adults will get a good laugh. There was a scene I liked when Annie’s painting came up missing they broke into a number about how much art matters, which really stood out to me because I believe art does matter and should be encouraged more. If your child(ren) loves pancakes, they can relate to Nate’s obsession with pancakes- it was the highlight of the show for me. His detective work is only great when he eats his pancakes. There are even purple pancakes! At the end of the show, the cast takes time to answer questions from the audience. From this part of the show I learned that the set was designed by Joanna Iwanicka of Chicago. The directors, cast and everyone that took part in making “Nate the Great” did a phenomenal job. I truly enjoyed myself.

“A waffle is a pancake that is lying.” – Nate the Great

“Nate the Great” runs Saturdays and Sundays from October 12 through November 11 at the Todd Wehr Theater. For tickets, call 414-267-2961 or visit First Stage on the web here.