Cyclopedic Ensemble to present ‘Pete the Cat’

KANSAS CITY, MO—Members of the Cyclopedic Ensemble will present the hilarious musical for all ages “Pete the Cat” June 13-15 and 27-30 at The Arts Asylum in Kansas City, MO. Book and Lyrics by Sarah Hammond. Music by Will Aronson. Based on the Pete the Cat series of books by Kimberly Dean and James Dean

For Pete the Cat, life is an adventure no matter where you wind up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth.

But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. Join Jimmy and Pete on an adventure of friendship, all the way to Paris and back in a VW Bus!

“Thoroughly wholesome... a high-energy, irrepressibly cheerful whirl.” – The New York Times

“‘Believe in yourself’ is a common message in family theater, but this cat and his magic VW bus make delightfully unorthodox vehicles for it. The show also gets plenty of punch from Will Aronson’s pop-rock score, which may remind children’s music aficionados of Justin Roberts at his peppiest.” – The New York Times

“The 45-minute musical, recommended for ages 5-8, is nonstop action, with lively singing and dancing throughout, and plenty of funny jokes and scenes guaranteed to make kids laugh.” – Mommy Poppins

“Pete is encouraging, unflappable and a natural ego booster. Will Aronson’s breezy, upbeat score and Sarah Hammond’s lively book and lyrics capture his charms. This delightful show boasts a sixties’ can-do vibe that endears Pete to the audience... Pete’s rule: Never refuse a hug. This musical deserves a big one.” – Huffington Post

When Cyclopedic Ensemble was first created, the entire mission was to build upon Eric Yazell’s accomplished work, in bringing Children’s Theatre to as many new audiences as possible. At State Fair Community College (SFCC) he was able to direct, and present children’s shows every year that brought thousands of elementary school students joy. Because SFCC was located in a rural region of Missouri, this was often the first time many children had ever seen a live, quality theatrical production.

After retiring from teaching, Eric decided to create a group that would continue the tradition he had built for many years. Several of his former students and his wife created “Cyclopedic Ensemble”, a non-profit organization.

Cyclopedic Ensemble’s first production was in July, 2022. As part of the KC Fringe Fest, we produced The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fair(ly) (stoopid) Tales on City Stage in Kansas City’s Union Station. Our production, directed by Eric Yazell, won KC Fringe Best of City Stage”. Our second production was Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience at the 2023 KC Fringe Fest. In 2024, we expanded to three productions including "Dragons Love Tacos," "Romantic Fools," and the Kansas City premiere "Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors."

Cool Cats : Don’t miss Cyclopedic for Young Audiences production of “Pete the Cat” June 13-22

Groovy People: Cyclopedic After Hours at KC Fringe Festival production of “The Others” July 18-27.

Zombies: Just in time for fall, Cyclopedic After Hours will produce, “Night of the Living Dead Live”

We’ll be at the wonderful Arts Asylum (824 E Meyer Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64131) for our entire season

Any and all donations are awesome and appreciated. We’ll need the support of donors again to make our ENTIRE 2025 season successful. All donors will be listed in the program. We'll provide the tax donation letter to you promptly; we are a 501c3 (non-profit)!

You can support Cyclopedic Ensemble by donating through Paypal or GiveButter.

Groovy Season Giving Levels

"Flower Power Friend" $25-$49

"Right On Patron" $50-$99

"Dynamite Donor" $100-$249

"Boogie Wonderland Backer" $250-$499

"Super Soul Sponsor" $500-$4999

"Outa Sight Angel" $5000+

If your company matches donations to non-profits, don’t donate now. Instead, email cyclopedicensemble@gmail.com to get started with a matching donation.

Cyclopedic Ensemble is an all-volunteer led organization.We're fundraising primarily to ensure we can pay our actors and technicians. We also need to pay expenses like venue fees, production rights, promotional materials, costumes, etc.

PETE THE CAT 2025!

Help us produce this hilarious musical for groovy cats of all ages!

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