English professor鈥檚 picture book adapted for musical
鈥淢ilo Imagines the World鈥� will travel throughout the U.S. after the premiere at Chicago Children鈥檚 Theatre.
The title character in 色情视频 English Professor Matt de la Pe帽a鈥檚 book 鈥淢ilo Imagines the World鈥� jumped off the page and onto the stage at the Chicago Children鈥檚 Theatre on October 12 at the world premiere of the new musical.
After three years of scriptwriting, composing, workshopping, and rehearsals, the musical presents a look at the imagination and life of Milo in de la Pe帽a鈥檚 2021 children鈥檚 book.
鈥淚t takes a lot of work for a playwright to adapt a picture book,鈥� said Jacqueline Russell, founding artistic director of the Chicago Children鈥檚 Theatre.
鈥淭his one is especially exciting, because this story is about a boy who goes to visit an incarcerated parent, so I want to see how they handle the social justice issues,鈥� de la Pe帽a said. He wasn鈥檛 sure how this story would be received since it touches on themes like identity, stereotypes, and diversity, however the book became a New York Times bestseller. It appears on the list, and has received accolades as a 鈥淏est Book of the Year鈥� from Parents鈥� magazine, Publishers Weekly, booksellers, and New York and Chicago public libraries.
De la Pe帽a (MFA 鈥�01) enjoys the publishing process that begins with what he calls a 鈥渢iny story鈥� written alone in a room that goes on to an illustrator, is published, and continues its transformational journey out into the world.
鈥淚t is the power of story 鈥� to see how many people pick it up and run with it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t could be readers, teachers, and in this case a playwright.鈥� And, to add to the award list, playwright Terry Guest was awarded for this production.
What makes this 鈥渆specially sweet鈥� is that this is a picture book that has been challenged in Florida over its references to incarceration and an illustration of two women getting married.
鈥淪o here鈥檚 a book in some communities that you can鈥檛 access and yet in other communities it is being turned into a musical,鈥� de la Pe帽a said. 鈥淪ome celebrate diverse stories and others try to restrict them.鈥�
Interestingly the story is based on fact. When illustrator Christian Robinson and de la Pe帽a were on a book tour in 2018 for their book 鈥淐armela Full of Wishes,鈥� the idea for the new book was sparked.
Robinson told de la Pe帽a, 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 ready to share how I grew up.鈥� The story is inspired by Robinson鈥檚 life experience as a child who grew up with an incarcerated mother.
De la Pe帽a has written about the criminal justice system in novels, but he wondered how he could possibly translate this subject into a picture book. He had to decide how loud to make the subject. He chose not to ever mention it in the text of the book, rather it was purely driven by images.
Chicago Children鈥檚 Theatre has now adapted a total of three of de la Pe帽a鈥檚 books for the stage, including 鈥淟ast Stop on Market Street鈥� and 鈥淐armela Full of Wishes.鈥�
Russell said she is drawn to de la Pe帽a鈥檚 work because she finds his writing to be fresh and just right for kids growing up today.
鈥淭he stories are full of heart with characters that we immediately care about,鈥� Russell said. 鈥淎nd there is always a surprise at the end that leaves children having questions about other people鈥檚 lives and sometimes difficult circumstances, but with gentle curiosity and compassion.
鈥淢att is a brilliant creator, and he is also as down-to-earth and as real as they come,鈥� Russell said. 鈥�He can turn a small picture book into a profound pondering on what life is like for children today. He also cares deeply about his audience and he never talks down to them or sugarcoats things.鈥�
Russell added, 鈥淢att鈥檚 books are making children deeper thinkers and better people.鈥�
