Meet Leonardo! — The Monster Who’s About to Steal Your Heart (and Your Imagination)
By Nick Vargas, Executive Director, Wheelock Family Theatre
We’re kicking off Wheelock Family Theatre’s 45th season with a bang — and a monster. Not a scary one… a wonderful one! Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster is making its Boston premiere on our stage, and I can promise you: you’ve never seen anything like it.
Whether you’re a die-hard theatre lover or just curious about what live theatre can be, Leonardo! is your invitation to dive into something playful, surprising, and jaw-droppingly creative – and it’s perfect for the entire family. See show times & buy tickets here.
What Makes Leonardo! So Different (and So Fun)
A movie, a play, and a puppet show rolled into one. Manual Cinema — an Emmy Award–winning creative collective — mashes up film, shadow puppets, live music, and old-school stagecraft to create pure theatre magic. (Watch the trailer — it’s wild!)
Your favorite picture book, blown up to life-size. Inspired by Mo Willems’ Leonardo, the Terrible Monster and Sam, the Most Scared-y-Cat Kid in the Whole World, the stage becomes a giant storybook full of oversized pages, hundreds of paper puppets, and the most charmingly furry monsters you’ll ever meet.
Two shows at once. Want to watch the big-screen projection? Or peek behind the curtain and see the live puppeteers and performers creating the story in real time? Both ways are magical — and there’s no wrong way to experience it.
Big visuals, tiny details, endless wonder. From intimate close-ups to sweeping storybook scenes, this production mirrors the rhythm, color, and texture of Willems’ books, exploding into a theatrical event that’ll leave you laughing, grinning, and full of “how did they do that?!”
Why You’ll Love It
Wheelock Family Theatre has always been about more than putting on a show. We create moments — when families see their favorite stories spring to life, when kids realize books can leap off the page, and when people from every background feel welcome and inspired.
With its inventive style, heartwarming story, and joyful creativity, Leonardo! is the perfect season-opener. It’s the show that will make theatre fans fall in love all over again — and show newcomers why live performance is pure magic.
Come join us. Kids, bring your adults. Adults, bring your inner child. Get ready to see how a “terrible” little monster can make a truly wonderful night at the theatre.
Don’t miss out! This short, two-week run will go by in a flash, don’t miss the opportunity to experience the groundbreaking artistry of Manual Cinema right here in Boston.
Book your tickets now to Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster.
When, where, and how to see it
- Dates: October 9–19, 2025 details & tickets
- Run time & age: 50 minutes with no intermission; recommended for ages 3 and up
- Accessibility: ASL interpretation & audio description are available on Saturday, October 18 at 2pm. Every performance offers open captioning!
Why Leonardo! A Wonderful Show about A Terrible Monster is unlike anything you’ve seen at Wheelock
Wheelock Family Theatre is opening our 45th season with something truly extraordinary: Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster by Manual Cinema.
Unlike anything previously shown at Wheelock, this production reimagines how stories are told on stage. It blends puppetry, live performance, and cinematic projection to create a viewing experience that is as inventive as it is entertaining.
What makes Leonardo! special?
A unique blend of art forms: Produced by the Emmy Award-winning collective Manual Cinema, Leonardo! combines film, shadow puppet theatre, live music, and storytelling in ways that push the boundaries of traditional stagecraft. See Trailor Here
From page to stage: Inspired by Mo Willems’ books Leonardo, the Terrible Monster and Sam, the Most Scared-y-Cat Kid in the Whole World, the show recreates the bold style of Willems’ illustrations. Oversized book pages, two-dimensional props, hundreds of paper puppets, and furry monster creations bring the world of Leonardo to life in a tactile, playful way (manualcinema.com).
Two shows in one: The reason this show is unlike anything you’ve seen on the Wheelock stage is because audiences can choose to watch the big screen projection, or focus on the live puppeteers and performers as they build the story in real time. Both perspectives offer a different kind of magic, making this a truly one-of-a-kind viewing experience. And according to Manual Cinema, ‘there is not wrong way to watch it.’
With Leonardo!, the artistry behind the scenes becomes part of the show itself, and the process of making theatre becomes just as magical as the story being told.
Inventive use of scale: From intimate close-ups to sweeping visuals, the production mirrors the rhythm, color, and texture of Willems’ books. What begins as a picture book on the page grows into a vibrant theatrical event (manualcinema.com). Families leave not only laughing and smiling, but also filled with wonder at the creativity they have witnessed.
Why it matters
Theatre at Wheelock has always been about more than performance. It is about encounter, the moment when families see their favorite stories brought to life, children realize the books they love can leap beyond the page, and all different people can see themselves on stage. With its inventive style, heartwarming story, and playful creativity, this is a must-see event for families and theatre lovers alike.
