Childhood on Stage: Junie B. Jones

While Disney continues to spin its famous movies into lavish spectacles uptown, TheatreWorks USA continues to create smart, engaging and exciting new musicals out of classic children's books down in the Village. Their latest venture is an adaptation of Barbara Park's popular Junie B. Jones series, which follow the everyday adventures of an extraordinarily ordinary kindergartener as she grows into a first grader. The musical, which opened on Saturday at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, is the perfect way to turn kids into savvy, discriminating theatregoers.

With book and lyrics by Marcy Heisler and music by Zina Goldrich, Junie B. Jones has the same sweet wit and warmth as their hit song "Taylor the Latte Boy." In a mere hour, the musical follows the titular heroine's trials and triumphs in the first grade: losing old friends, making new ones, taking on new responsibilities, making mistakes, and with the support of family and friends, coming out on top. While the books and show may be primarily aimed at children, the themes and values are universal, and the vignettes are told with enough wit and style to charm even the most jaded parent. The score is sweet and effective, and perhaps most importantly, every child at last Friday's performance seemed perfectly happy to sit still and listen to every song. Heisler and Goldrich clearly know their audience, and keep them interested and involved.

As the indomitable Junie B. (never omit the middle initial!), Jennifer Cody finally gets to step out of the ensemble and into the spotlight she has long deserved. With her signature fierce humor and plenty of gusto, she makes Junie B. into a recognizable and believable child; stubborn and flawed, but always aspiring to do—and be—the best she can. Cody has enough energy to power the Lortel's lighting board just by belting out a number, and it is wonderful to see her run with such an enjoyable role. The rest of the ensemble plays everybody else in Junie B.'s life, from her classmates to her parents and teachers. Watching them switch genders and costumes with equal speed, one can easily forget that there are only six people on the stage. When playing children, Sarah Saltzberg seems to echo Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, but gets to prove her grown-up acting chops when playing Junie B.'s patient mother. As most of the adult men (and one of the adult women), John Scherer is winsome and funny, playing the proverbial straight man quite well. Blake Ginther is endearingly awkward and boyish when playing Junie B.'s new friend Herb, and Shannon Antalan is sweetly charming as both Junie B.'s former friend Lucille and a spunky classmate named José. Randy Aaron is painfully funny as the tragically unhip Sheldon, making the character as sympathetic as he is humorous. Devanand Janki's choreography fits the characters and show well, emphasizing the boundless energy of childhood. Likewise, Peter Flynn's snappy direction never lets the show drag, and moves with the speed of youth.

With Junie B. Jones, TheatreWorks USA continues to prove why it is such a vital presence for New York's theatre scene. By providing intelligent, well-written and affordable quality theatre that entire families (not only children) can enjoy, they guarantee a future for Broadway and every other theatre in the city.