How to Use This Guide
CHARLESTON STAGE Education Guide
Pete the Cat
The Musical
Book & Lyrics by
Sarah Hammond • Music by Will Aronson
Based on the books by Kimberly & James Dean
Originally produced by TheatreWorksUSA
This guide is designed for PreK-3 educators (with extensions for grades 4-5) preparing to bring students to a Charleston Stage performance of Pete the Cat: The Musical. Inside, you will find a synopsis, content notes, classroom-ready pre-show and post-show activities, craft ideas, alignment to South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards, and information about the arts-integrated workshops Charleston Stage offers as a companion to the production.
Most activities can be completed in 15-30 minutes and can be adapted for any PreK-5 classroom. Pages 5-6 list the SC standards each activity supports.
About the Play
Synopsis
When Pete the Cat gets caught rocking out way past his bedtime, the Cat-Catcher sends him to live with the Biddle family to learn some manners. The Biddles' youngest, Jimmy Biddle, is the most organized second grader on planet earth, and the very last thing he wants is some groovy cat moving in and turning his life upside down. With the end of second grade approaching and a terrifying art test on the way, Jimmy doesn't have time for any of Pete's nonsense. But when Jimmy draws a complete blank in art class and freezes up, Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they hop into the family VW Bus and set off on a wild adventure, all the way to Paris and back to chase down a little inspiration. Along the way, both Jimmy and Pete learn something brand-new about what it means to be cool, to be brave, and to be yourself.
About This Adaptation
Pete the Cat: The Musical was originally produced by TheatreWorksUSA, with book and lyrics by Sarah Hammond and music by Will Aronson. It premiered Off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and has since become one of the most-toured TYA musicals in the United States. The show is fast, funny, and full of original songs students will be singing for weeks afterward. It is licensed through Music Theatre International.
Recommended Audience
Grades PreK-3 (with appeal through grade 5) Runtime: approximately 60 minutes, no intermission The musical is performed with a small professional cast playing multiple roles. Expect direct audience engagement, lots of singing, and a few groovy moments where Pete may even invite the audience to clap along.
Content Notes for Teachers
CONTENT WARNINGS
Pete the Cat: The Musical is a high-energy, age-appropriate musical comedy designed for young audiences. The content notes below help teachers prepare students who may be especially sensitive.
• Mild peril: Pete is briefly chased and caught by the Cat-Catcher at the start of the show The Cat-Catcher is a comic character (think exaggerated villain), never genuinely threatening
• Test anxiety: Jimmy is anxious about the upcoming art test Some students who relate strongly to school stress may want to talk through Jimmy's feelings with a trusted adult afterward
• Loud cheerful sound cues: amplified rock and pop musical numbers, audience-clap-along moments
• Mild silly mischief: Pete rocks out at bedtime, breaks a few small house rules at the Biddles', and is generally an enthusiastic disrupter. (Teachers may use this as an opening to talk about why rules exist!)
PRODUCTION EFFECTS
This production does not use:
• Fog, haze, or smoke effects
• Strobe or rapid-flashing lighting
• Pyrotechnics, flame, or gunshots
Lighting and sound are designed for young audiences, with bright, cartoon-style staging and a rock-and-pop musical underscore
Main Topics & Themes
Pete the Cat: The Musical invites students into a wide range of classroom conversations:
Social-Emotional Learning
• Friendship across differences. Jimmy is organized; Pete is groovy. How can two very different people become best friends? What can each one teach the other?
• Being yourself. Pete's signature outlook, 'It's all good!', models resilience and self-acceptance. What does it look like to be yourself, even when other people don't get it?
• Handling worry. Jimmy carries a lot of stress. How do we know when we feel worried, and what helps?
• Creativity & inspiration. Where do good ideas come from? What do you do when you draw a blank?
• Welcoming new people. Pete arrives as a stranger in the Biddles' house. How do we welcome someone new into our class or family?
ELA & Literacy
• Character development. How do Pete and Jimmy each change over the course of the story?
• Compare & contrast. Pete vs Jimmy: list-makers vs groove-followers
• Theme. What is the central message? Can you say it in one sentence?
• Connection to source. How is the musical the same as the Pete the Cat picture books? How is it different?
Music, Theatre & Arts Integration
• Musical theatre basics. Why do characters in a musical sing? What does a song tell us that dialogue alone can't?
• Ensemble. A small cast plays a whole town. How does that work?
• Color & emotion. Pete's famous white shoes change color throughout the books. What does each color make you feel?
SC College- and Career-Ready
Standards Alignment
The activities, crafts, and discussions in this guide align with the following South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards. Codes follow the current SC CCR ELA Standards and the 2026 SC CCR Visual and Performing Arts Proficiency Standards. Teachers are encouraged to adapt to their specific grade-level indicators.
English Language Arts
ELA.PreK-3.RL PreK-3
ELA.K-3.RL K-3
Reading Literature: Read closely and analyze literary texts to determine meaning, including identifying characters, settings, key events, and central messages or themes.
Describe characters in a story and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events
ELA.K-3.RL K-3
ELA.K-3.W K-3
ELA.K-3.SL K-3
ELA.4-5.RL 4-5
/ Indicator
Identify the main message or moral of a story and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text
Writing: Write narratives in which students recount a sequence of events, include details, and provide a sense of closure
Speaking & Listening: Participate in collaborative conversations and follow agreed-upon rules for discussions
Determine a theme of a story; describe how characters respond to challenges; compare and contrast characters.
Music, Theatre & Visual Arts
T.CR / T.P PreK-5
T.R / T.CN PreK-5
M.R PreK-5
VA.CR PreK-5
Theatre: Use voice, body, and imagination to portray characters; create and refine artistic work through structured play.
Respond to and connect theatre work to personal experience and other content areas.
Music: Listen to and respond to music; describe the mood or feeling created by a song
Visual Arts: Use a variety of materials and techniques to create artwork that expresses ideas and feelings Social-Emotional & Health Education
SC SEL PreK-5
SC SEL PreK-5
SC SEL PreK-5
SC SEL
Self-awareness: Identify and name a wide range of emotions; recognize when we feel worried, excited, or proud
Self-management: Practice strategies for managing strong feelings (deep breath, asking for help, taking a break)
Social awareness: Show empathy and curiosity about people who are different from us.
Relationship skills: Welcome new people; form positive friendships; cooperate.
These activities prepare students for the live theatre experience and for the themes of Pete the Cat: The Musical.
Activity 1: Read the Books
Read aloud one or more of the Pete the Cat books by Kimberly and James Dean: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, Rocking in My School Shoes, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, or Pete the Cat: Rock On, Mom and Dad! What do students notice about Pete? What does he say when something doesn't go his way?
ELA K-3 RL • Read alouds, shared reading
Activity 2: 'It's All Good!' Chant
Teach the class Pete's signature line: 'It's all good!' Practice saying it together three different ways, calm, surprised, and groovy Then play a quick scenario game 'Your pencil breaks ' (Class: It's all good!) 'It starts raining at recess ' (It's all good!) 'You can't find your library book ' (It's all good!) Discuss: when is this attitude helpful? When does a problem need more than a chant?
ELA.K-3.SL • SC SEL: Self-management
Activity 3: "Theatre Manners" Charter
Brainstorm together: What are the rules for being a good audience? Quiet when actors speak. Eyes on the stage. Clap when something is great. Laugh out loud at jokes. Write rules on chart paper and have students sign the charter. Bring it back the morning of the show.
ELA K-3 SL • T R
Activity 4: Two Characters, Two Worlds
Show students two photos: one of a meticulously organized desk and one of a 'groovy' rock band stage Ask: which one belongs to Jimmy? Which one belongs to Pete? Discuss: can two such different people be friends? What might they like about each other?
ELA.K-3.RL • ELA.K-3.SL • Character analysis
Activity 5: Color & Feeling
Show students the colors from Pete's white shoes book, red strawberries, blue blueberries, brown mud, water As each color appears, ask: what feeling does this color give you? Red? Blue? Yellow? Save the chart and revisit it after the show does Pete's musical also use color and feeling?
VA.CR • M.R • ELA.K-3.SL
Activity 6: Ready, Set, Sing!
Pete the Cat is a musical, so the actors will sing many of their lines. Practice the difference between speaking and singing the sentence 'I had a really good day at school today.' Try it both ways. Discuss: how is singing it different? What feelings come out when we sing?
M R • T P • ELA K-3 SL
After the Show: Post-Show Activities
These activities help students reflect, synthesize, and extend the experience back into the classroom
Activity 1: Sing-Along Circle
Sit in a circle Ask: what was the song from the show that you remember? Try to sing the chorus together (Bonus: pull up the original Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes read-aloud video and sing the book's signature song together ) Discuss: why does music stick in your head?
M.R • ELA.K-3.SL
Activity 2: Jimmy's List / Pete's Doodle
Give each student a piece of paper folded down the middle. On one side, label it 'Jimmy.' On the other side, label it 'Pete.' On Jimmy's side, students write a careful, organized list of three things they need to do today. On Pete's side, they draw a free-form doodle of whatever feels good. Discuss: which felt easier? Which felt more fun? Could you use both in your own life?
ELA K-3 W • VA CR • Character contrast
Activity 3: My Color Today
Pete's shoes change color throughout the books Have each student pick the color that matches how they feel right now (no wrong answers!) Draw a picture of themselves in shoes of that color Around the picture, write or dictate one sentence about why
VA.CR • SC SEL • ELA.K-3.W
Activity 4: When I Draw a Blank
Jimmy freezes in art class. Have students brainstorm: what can you do when you draw a blank? Collect ideas on chart paper (take a deep breath, ask a friend, doodle anything, take a break, go for a walk, listen to a song). Hang the chart in the room as a 'Blank-Breaker' reference for future use.
SC SEL • ELA K-3 SL • Self-management strategies
Activity 5: Welcoming Pete
When Pete first arrives at the Biddles' house, he is a stranger Discuss as a class: how would YOU welcome someone new to our classroom? What is one thing you would say? One thing you would show them? Practice in pairs.
SC SEL • ELA.K-3.SL • Relationship skills
Activity 6: Three Actors, Many Roles
Discuss with students: how many actors were on stage? How many characters did you see? In groups of three, retell one short scene from the show, the moment Pete arrives at the Biddles', the art class scene, the road trip, or the ending Switch roles after each take
T.P • T.CR • Ensemble
Activity 7: Inspiration Hunt
Pete and Jimmy go all the way to Paris looking for inspiration Send students on an 'inspiration hunt' around the classroom or playground: find five things that could spark a story or a song. Share findings. Bonus: have each student make up a tiny rhyme about one of their finds.
ELA.K-3.W • T.CR • Creativity
Craft Ideas
Hands-on crafts are a great way to extend the experience of Pete the Cat: The Musical and to bring the story home. These crafts are designed for classroom or after-school use with materials you likely already have.
CRAFT 1: Pete's Magical White Shoes
Ages: PreK-2 | Time: 20-25 minutes
Materials:
White paper shoe templates (one per student, two shoes each), washable markers or watercolors in red / blue / brown / yellow, glue or staples, paper crowns or headbands (optional)
How to make it:
Print or trace a simple shoe outline twice per student Color the shoes white to start As the teacher reads or retells Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, students color in the appropriate berry/mud/water color when Pete steps in something End with two perfectly multi-colored shoes that tell the whole story
What it teaches: Story sequencing, color recognition, fine-motor practice. Pairs with the 'My Color Today' activity above
CRAFT 2: Paper-Bag Pete Puppet
Ages: PreK-2 | Time: 30 minutes
Materials:
Brown paper lunch bags, blue construction paper, yellow construction paper for eyes, googly eyes (optional), white paper for whiskers and teeth, glue sticks, markers
How to make it:
Cut a cat-face from blue construction paper to fit the flap of the bag (Pete's mouth opens and closes when you slip your hand in!) Add yellow eyes, white whiskers, and a pink nose Add a body, paws, and a curling tail to the front of the bag Optional: draw Pete's yellow guitar across his chest
Encourage students to perform a 1-minute scene from the show with their puppet
What it teaches: Character study, fine-motor skills, storytelling, performance Beautiful follow-up to a read-aloud or post-show discussion.
CRAFT 3: Groovy VW Bus Diorama
Ages: K-3 | Time: 45 minutes
Materials:
Cardboard tissue boxes or shoeboxes, construction paper, markers, scissors, glue, washi tape, small toy figures or paper Pete & Jimmy cutouts.
How to make it:
Decorate a tissue or shoebox to look like the Biddles' VW Bus two windows, four wheels, a peace sign on the side. Inside, students set up a tiny scene: Pete and Jimmy on the road. Add a landscape backdrop drawn on construction paper. Park the bus on each student's desk.
What it teaches: Setting visualization, spatial reasoning, story extension, creativity
CRAFT 4: Pete's Cool Cat Sunglasses
Ages: PreK-2 | Time: 15 minutes
Materials:
Sunglass templates (printable) OR pre-cut paper sunglasses, blue and yellow markers, gem stickers, pipe cleaners, scissors, tape
How to make it:
Color the sunglasses Pete-style (blue with yellow accents) Add gem stickers for sparkle Use pipe cleaners as arms that go over the ears Wear them during the 'It's All Good!' chant or during sing-alongs
What it teaches: Identity-building, dress-up play, character connection Easy and fast great for a pre-show morning.
CRAFT 5: "It's All Good!" Banner
Ages: K-3 | Time: 30 minutes
Materials:
Triangular flags or paper pennants (one per student), markers, glitter glue, string or yarn, hole punch
How to make it:
Each student decorates one pennant with one letter of the phrase 'IT'S ALL GOOD', or with their own version of an encouraging classroom motto String all the pennants together and hang the banner across the classroom. Whenever something gets hard during the school day, glance at the banner.
What it teaches: Spelling, classroom community, growth mindset Becomes a permanent SEL prompt in the classroom.
CRAFT 6: Jimmy's Masterpiece (Mixed-Media Painting)
Ages: 1-4 | Time: 45 minutes (can extend over multiple days)
Materials:
White construction paper or canvas board (1 per student), tempera or watercolor paint, oil pastels, markers, magazine clippings, glue, smocks.
How to make it:
Jimmy panics on his art test because he can't think of an idea. In this craft, students PROVE they always have ideas. Give them total freedom to create a 'masterpiece' on any topic. Encourage mixing media: paint a background, add oil-pastel shapes, glue in a magazine cutout, doodle in marker. The point is to fight the blank page with bold choices. Display in a classroom 'gallery.'
What it teaches: Creative confidence, visual arts technique, growth mindset. Powerful follow-up to the 'When I Draw a Blank' activity
CRAFT 7: Story Stones (Inspiration Pebbles)
Ages: K-3 | Time: 30 minutes + drying time
Materials:
Smooth river stones (1-3 per student), acrylic or tempera paint, fine-tip markers, clear top-coat (optional).
How to make it:
Each student paints a small image on each stone: a guitar, a shoe, a star, a heart, a cat, a bus, a flower. When the stones are dry, students keep them in a small bag. Anytime someone 'draws a blank' (like Jimmy), they can pull out a stone and let the picture spark a story
What it teaches: Visual storytelling, vocabulary, creative writing prompts. Great year-round classroom tool inspired by the show
Charleston Stage Arts-Integrated Workshops
To deepen the experience of Pete the Cat: The Musical, Charleston Stage offers a suite of in-classroom arts-integrated workshops led by trained teaching artists Workshops can be booked individually or as a series All workshops align with SC College- and Career-Ready Standards in ELA, Theatre, Music, Visual Arts, and Social-Emotional Learning, and can be customized to the grade level and time available at your school
Workshops are typically delivered on-site at your school in your classroom or media center. A teaching artist arrives with all materials and leads students through hands-on theatre-based learning. To inquire, contact the Charleston Stage Education Department.
About
the Creators
Kimberly & James Dean — Authors of the Original Books
James Dean is an American author and illustrator best known for the Pete the Cat picture book series. He began drawing Pete in 1999 after adopting a small black cat by that name and noticing how relentlessly cheerful he was. His wife Kimberly Dean co-authors many of the recent Pete books. The series has sold tens of millions of copies worldwide, has been translated into more than a dozen languages, and is one of the bestselling picture-book series of the 21st century.
Sarah Hammond — Book & Lyrics
Sarah Hammond is a New York-based bookwriter and lyricist for musical theatre Her work with TheatreWorksUSA includes Pete the Cat: The Musical and a number of other family musicals. She is a longtime member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop and her work has been developed at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Goodspeed Musicals, and Theatre Row in New York.
TheatreWorksUSA
Will Aronson — Music
Will Aronson is a composer and music director for theatre His credits include the cult Off-Broadway hit Maybe Happy Ending (now produced internationally), Brandwell, and a roster of TYA musicals including Pete the Cat: The Musical. He is known for warm, melodic writing that puts character first, which makes his songs perfectly suited for young audiences.
TheatreWorksUSA is one of the largest professional theatres for young audiences in the United States. Founded in 1961, it has produced more than 140 plays and musicals, reaching an estimated 100 million young people. Many of the TYA titles produced regionally across the country including Pete the Cat: The Musical originated as TheatreWorksUSA commissions or productions before entering licensing.
From All of Us at Charleston Stage
Thank you for bringing your students to Charleston Stage. Pete the Cat: The Musical is exactly the kind of show that introduces young children to live theatre at its very best, funny, joyful, packed with hummable songs, and quietly full of heart. We hope your students leave humming, doodling, and ready to face their own blank pages with a little of Pete's groove.