M C A N I N C H A R T S C E N T E R S C H O O L S TA G E S E R I E S
BASED ON THE
BOOKS BY
JAMES DEAN AND
K I M B E R LY D E A N
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SHOW
Pete – a rock and roll cat – and his animal friends are living a life of freedom.
They wander into a yard and Pete is caught by the cat-catcher. His punishment is
to spend a week as a housecat with a family.
Pete meets the Biddles and becomes roommates with Jimmy Biddle – a second
grader who is nervous about the idea of Pete. Jimmy has lots of rules that Pete is
to follow. But Pete likes to play it cool and isn’t a rule-follower.
Jimmy brings Pete to school. Jimmy is flustered in art class. He copies another
student’s painting because he can’t think of his own idea for a picture. He gets in
trouble and has to create an original picture in order to pass second grade.
To help Jimmy, Pete takes him in the VW bus to find inspiration for his picture.
They travel to the beach, moon and Paris when Jimmy learns to let loose and jam
with magic sunglasses. He paints the perfect picture.
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
Jimmy: is a careful, formally attired
second grade boy. He likes rules and
gets easily overwhelmed
Cast picture!
Pete: is a fun loving cat who loves to
jam on his guitar.
• Can you find them in the picture?
• Who are you most like?
• After the show, what other words
can be used to describe these
characters? Can you identify the
rest of the cast?
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Eric Litwin (original author)
Eric Litwin is a song singing, guitar strumming, # 1 New York Times Best Selling author who brings early literacy and
music together. He is the original author of the Pete the Cat series (the first four books) as well as the author of The Nuts
and Groovy Joe. Eric's books have sold over 8.5 million copies, been translated into 13 languages, and won 18
literacy awards including a Theodor Geisel Seuss Honor Award.
James Dean (illustrator & author) & Kim Dean
James Dean’s art has sold in more than ninety galleries and shops across the United States. He has devoted his
paintings to Pete the Cat for ten years and has turned his natural love for cats into his life’s work. James published
his first adult book, The Misadventures of Pete the Cat, a history of his art work, in 2006. He illustrated his first selfpublished children’s book, Pete the Cat I Love my White Shoes, written by Eric Litwin, in 2008, and the follow-up
book, Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes, in 2011. James lives in Savannah, Georgia with his wife,
Kimberly.
In 2004, Kimberly & James Dean sat down at their kitchen table to work on a children’s book together. Their dream has
finally become a reality with the release of this new Pete the Cat book, Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses. Both left
corporate jobs in the late nineties (James was an electrical engineer, Kimberly worked in the press office of the governor
of Georgia) to pursue their five cats and Emma the pug.
MEET THE INSPIRATION
• Illustrator and author James Dean finds
and adopts a cat at an animal shelter
• James names him Pete. He was tiny and
would rest in Deans hand as he painted
landscapes
• Dean was inspired to draw Pete one day
when the kitty was sitting still. He worried
that a picture of a black cat would be
spooky – so he chose blue!
• Look around you – what animal do you
see that you could use for inspiration?
What different color could you use?
The real Pete the Cat.
Courtesy of Dean.
Taken from online article:
http://www.atlantamagazi
ne.com/great-reads/forpetes-sake/
BRINGING STORIES TO LIFE
WHO DOES IT TAKE?
Composer: writes the music
Director: guides the whole team
Choreographer: plans all the dance movements
Music Director: directs the musical part of the performance
Set Designer: decides how the stage will look
Lighting Designer: plans how to use lights to help tell the story
Costume Designer: plans what the performers wear
Stage Manager: runs the show from behind the stage
Put together your own production! Divide up the roles and make your own show!
CAT RESEARCH
Facts about cats
1. Cats can sleep up to 16 hours a day.
2. Cats can make more than 100 different sounds (dogs make about 10).
3. 1963 France send the first cat into space. She survived the trip.
4. Cats are North America’s most popular pet. Over 30% of households own a cat.
5. A cat can jump up to five times its own height.
6. Cats ten to favor one paw over another – just like humans.
7. Can’t don’t sweat all over their bodies like humans. Instead they sweat only
through their paws.
Explore your library and the internet for more information. Draw pictures of cats
doing different things – sleeping, playing, eating.
Information taken from https://www.factretriever.com/cat-facts
PLAYING DRESS UP
Actors pretend to be different characters.
To become their various animal characters
they have to change how they
• Talk
• Dance
• Sing
• Move
How can you transform to a cat?
If you were the show’s costume designer and had to use
ordinary clothes for Pete what would you choose? Draw a
picture. Use your imagination!
POST ACTIVITY: CHARACTER MAP
Use the character map to write words that describe Jimmy. Then
write a paragraph about Jimmy using those words.
Jimmy
POST ACTIVITY: CHARACTER MAP
Use the character map to write words that describe Pete.
Then write a paragraph about Pete using those words.
POST SHOW – ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES
Pete loves using his imagination and helps Jimmy realize he can be
creative too as they travel to the beach, the moon and Paris! What
would you and a friend/teacher/parent do with endless possibilities?
If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could travel anywhere in the
world, we would go to: _____________________
If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could meet anyone in the
world, we would meet: ___________________
If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could build anything in the
world, we would build: ________________________
If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could cook anything in the
world, we would create:____________________
POST SHOW – RECREATE THE SCENE
Have your students re-enact scenes from the play
• Pete and his friends jamming on his instruments
• Riding a VW bus to different places in the world
• Trying magic sunglasses for the first time
• Playing an “air” instruments – guitar, drums, piano
Step 1: Discuss a specific scenes
Step 2: List the characters in each scene
Step 3: Where did the scene take place
Step 4: List what happened in order during the scene
Step 5: Recreate it!
POST SHOW DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How was the play different from Pete the Cat books?
2. How was the play the same as Pete the Cat books?
3. Why did Jimmy copy the painting? Why do you think it was hard for
Jimmy to come up with a painting of his own? What happens if you
copy someone’s work at school?
4. What makes a good friend? Do you think Pete helped Jimmy? What
is something you have done to help a friend?
5. What is something that you have taught a friend? What is
something a friend has taught you? What is your favorite activity to
do with friends?
ONLINE RESOURCE
Pete the Cat website has a variety of resources for your use!
Visit: http://www.petethecatbooks.com to find:
• Songs & Videos
• Printable Activities
• Listing of all books
• Illustrations of Pete the Cat’s Friend
POST SHOW – REVIEW THE SHOW
A reviewer’s job is to see a play and write about what they liked and
what they didn’t like. It is your turn to write or draw a review and
share your ideas about your experience.
Write or Draw
• What was your favorite part and why?
• If you could change one thing to make the play better – what
would it be?
Sign your name and share with your teachers/friends/parents.
Feel free to share your reviews with us!
Mail or email: McAninch Arts Center, Attn: Janey Sarther, 425 Fawell
Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL or [email protected]
SPECIAL THANKS
SchoolStage Series is supported by a
grant from the Illinois Arts Council.
RESOURCES
Theatreworks Study Guide “Pete the Cat”