Premium Show
The Pigeon Gets A Big Time Holiday Extravaganza!
Based on Books and Characters by Mo Willems
Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems and Adam Tobin
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Dramaturgy by Megan Alrutz
Produced by special arrangement with Hidden Pigeon, LLC. Originally commissioned and developed by Children’s Theater of Madison, Dallas Children’s Theatre, First Stage, Main Street Theater, Seattle Children’s Theatre, The Coterie, and The Rose Theater.
When Mo Willems’ characters get together for the holidays, it’s bound to be the biggest extravaganza ever! The Unlimited Squirrels deck the halls and Elephant and Piggie come ready to celebrate! But will The Pigeon join in the festivities, or will he run all the way to the North Pole in the search of the greatest gift ever? Catchy tunes, silly stories, goofy gifts, audience antics: it’s all in this brand-new musical party that sleighs!
If you loved stories like Elephant and Piggie, Don’t let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Knuffle Bunny, and Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed you won’t want to miss this one!
After the show, warm up with hot chocolate! ☕
The first 50 kids at each performance get a voucher for a free hot chocolate after the show – served by our friends at Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck parked right outside. No voucher? Anyone can purchase from their full menu, too!
Pizza + Pigeon = Perfect Holiday Combo
Make your The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza outing even more delicious! The Rose has partnered with Zio’s Pizzeria at 11th & Howard (1109 Howard St.) to offer families 15% off their dine-in meal when they show their ticket – paper or digital – any time during the show’s run, Dec. 5–21, 2025.
Offer valid for dine-in only at the 11th & Howard location. One discount per ticketed family. Perfect for a pre- or post-show pizza party!
Show Resources
- Plot Tags: Musical Fun, Interactive, Bright & Bouncy, High Energy
- Cast & Credits
Accessibility
Shows with ASL Services
Shows with Sensory-Friendly Services
Shows with Audio Descriptive Services
Pay What You Can Availability
Cast
Malik Deshon Fortner
He/Him/His
Pigeon
Malik Deshon Fortner
He/Him/His
Hello everyone, my name is Malik Fortner. I will be playing the role of Gill and Sheldons Parent for this production of Finding Nemo. Originally from Muskegon, Mi I moved to Omaha in 2010 to go to Boys Town where I found my love of acting. It was a winter production of Gift of Magi where I got cast as the Shopkeeper. I remember a moment where I danced on the stage and the crowd lit up with cheer and it was electrifying. At that moment I knew it was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Finding Nemo was always a movie I was able ro relate to growing up as an overly curious kid and having to have my Mom reel me back in from time to time. So to have a chance to bring this to life on stage is a dream come true. This will be my sixth production with The Rose Theatre previously being in Penguin Problems, Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus, The Lightning Thief, and Coraline, and Romeo and Juliet. I am so excited to explore this Big Blue World with you. I hope you enjoy it!
Aaron QT Butler
He/Him/His
Gerald
Aaron QT Butler
He/Him/His
A recent graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I am excited to have Milo as my 25th production I've worked on in my career. Currently, I’m working on two film projects while also studying to obtain my real estate license. My passion lies in spreading positivity and bringing smiles to everyone I encounter. Previous Credits:
- Elf - A Christmas Story: The Musical - The Rose Theater
- Joe - Spunk - Union
- Montrellous - Clyde's - OCP
- Duncan - Macbeth - UNO
- The going away part | 2024 | Dir. By Jessie Eastman
- Nervous Records | 2023 | Dir. By Jessie Eastman
- Son Of Ares | 2022 | Dir. By Maverick Knox
Lauren Krupski
She/Her/Hers
Piggie
Lauren Krupski
She/Her/Hers
Lauren is an Omaha- based actor who has appeared in many productions throughout the area. Some notable roles include Maria in The Sound of Music at The Rose, Rosalie Mullins in School of Rock at the Omaha Community Playhouse, Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical at The Rose and most recently as Sandra in The Play That Goes Wrong at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Also, Lauren has performed many times with the Omaha Symphony in their family and educational shows. She has been seen in Mission Imagination for two years, as well as hosting the Link Up! concerts the last five years. Lauren has also appeared with the Sarasota Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, and the Lima Symphony Orchestra. Previous Rose Credits:
- Mother - Coraline
- Fairy Godmother- Descendants
- Cat and Fish- The Cat in the Hat
- Lucinda- Ella Enchanted
- Miss Shields- A Christmas Story the Musical
- Pig- George and Martha Tons of Fun
- Mouse and others- A Year with Frog and Toad
- Cow- Click Clack Moo Cows That Type
Alice Franssen
She/Her/Hers
Zoomy (US Piggie)
Alice Franssen
She/Her/Hers
Zach Kloppenborg
He/Him/His
Zappy (US Gerald)
Zach Kloppenborg
He/Him/His
Bri Davis
She/Her/Hers
Zoopy
Bri Davis
She/Her/Hers
Bri is thrilled to be making her debut performance at The Rose as Sammie in Dragons Love Tacos! The experience has been wonderful and allowed her to meet some phenomenal artists. The cast and production team are a group of beautiful, talented individuals. She would like to thank her fiancé, family, and friends for their continued support and encouragement of pursuing her love for theatre. She hopes to be able to continue doing shows in the Omaha area as she has loved being a part of the community. Thank you for supporting the arts, and enjoy the show!! Previous Credits:
- Waitress at OCP (won the Elaine Jabenis award for a Cameo Role in a Musical)
- Heathers at SNAP! Productions.
Carter Nelson
He/Him/His
Flappy (US Pigeon)
Carter Nelson
He/Him/His
Chloe Hug
She/Her/Hers
Ensemble / Youth Coach
Chloe Hug
She/Her/Hers
Breanna Mack
She/Her/Hers
Ensemble / Youth Coach
Breanna Mack
She/Her/Hers
Breanna Mack is excited to return to the Rose Theater Stage and jump into the Big Blue World as “Peach” and “Pearl’s Parent”. She works at The Rose Theater as an Advanced Teaching Artist Fellow. In this position, she travels around to schools in the Nebraska and Iowa area teaching students of all ages about theater. She recently just directed the KIDS version of Finding Nemo at The Rose Youth Artist Studios. She has recently been seen on the Rose Theater Stage as The “Other Father” in Coraline. She also was one of the puppeteers for “Bumble” in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. She has loved theater from a young age, and loves getting to share the magic of theater with young people. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their support and hopes you enjoy the show! Previous Credits:
- Other Father - Coraline (Rose Theater)
- Bumble Puppeteer- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (Rose Theater)
- Paulie - The Last Supper (Snap! Productions)
- Meg - Crimes of the Heart (Missouri State Theater)
Chris Allen
He/Him/His
Ensemble / Youth Coach
Chris Allen
He/Him/His
In the middle of the show, my granddaughter whispered ‘this is my favorite show ever!’ to me.
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