Member Show
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress
By Juliany Taveras
Based on the book Written by Christine Baldacchino and Illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant
Published by Groundwood Books. Co-Commission with Children’s Theater Company and Chicago Children’s Theater. A 2024 Distinguished Play Award Winner from American Alliance for Theater and Education.
Morris likes lots of things: doing puzzles, painting pictures, pretending to be an astronaut. Morris is a kid who just happens to play astronaut using a tangerine dress from his school’s dress-up box because it “reminds him of tigers, the sun, and his mother’s hair.” But some of his classmates think boys can’t wear dresses from the dress-up box because … well, because they’re boys.
As Morris asks the jungle characters in his vibrant dreams if there is a wrong way to play astronaut, we see the perfect wonders of how children play pretend. This beautiful show celebrates the many places our imaginations take us to, even the ones that are unconventional and wholly original.
If you loved stories like Harold and the Purple Crayon, Milo Imagines the World, or Last Stop on Market Street you won’t want to miss this one!
Show Resources
Accessibility
Shows with ASL Services
Shows with Sensory-Friendly Services
Shows with Audio Descriptive Services
Pay What You Can Availability
Cast
Leland Pfannenstiel
He/Him/They/Theirs
Morris
Leland Pfannenstiel
He/Him/They/Theirs
Leland is excited to return to The Rose MainStage after last appearing as Fregley in Diary of a Wimpy Kid in 2024. Leland is a 6th grader in Omaha Public Schools and a student at The Rose Youth Artist Studios where he takes tap, tumbling, and Boys Athletic Dance. Leland is also a proud member of The Rose Junior Brigade. They are grateful for family support of all these pursuits.
Silver Poast
He/Him/His
Morris
Silver Poast
He/Him/His
Silver is over the moon to make his mainstage debut at the Rose Theater, where he's frequented for many years. You can find him on and offstage, doing a little bit of everything theater-related, but his first love is acting. Previous roles include Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Hades in Pride Players' queer retelling of Hercules. Thank you everyone I've ever known for getting me to where I am! Instagram: @silvertheatrekid
Breanna Mack
She/Her/Hers
Moira
Breanna Mack
She/Her/Hers
Breanna Mack is excited to return to the Rose Theater Stage to tell the beautiful story of Morris Micklewhite and The Tangerine Dress as “Moira”. She works at The Rose Theater as a Teaching Artist for Pre-K Students and Musical Theater Classes. She also is the Director for Bloom Brigade. She has recently been seen on the Rose Theater Stage as “Peach/Pearl’s Parent” in Finding Nemo, "The Other Father” in Coraline and “Defining Squirrel” in The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! She has loved theater from a young age, and loves getting to share the magic of theater with young people. In her free time she likes to make coffee, read, and hang out with her friends. She would like to thank her family and friends for all their support and hopes you enjoy the show!
Hailey Vernon
She/Her/Hers
Ms. Melo
Hailey Vernon
She/Her/Hers
Hailey Vernon is a theatre artist that grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. She has always had a passion for theatre, first taking the stage at the age of 12. In the Spring of 2020, Hailey graduated from Northwest Missouri with a degree in Speech and Theatre Education. Throughout college and after graduation Hailey was involved in several productions on and off the stage. Most recently Hailey directed The Play That Goes Wrong with Bennington Community Theatre. She would like to thank her girlfriend, Katelyn, for her love and support throughout the process of putting the show together. Hailey is excited to perform at The Rose for the first time!
Lizzy Humphrey
She/Her/They/Theirs
Becky / Elephant
Lizzy Humphrey
She/Her/They/Theirs
I'm a seventeen year old playwright and actor. I've been at the Rose Theater for as long as I can remember. If does years of the TNT program and just finished my 6th year at Pride Players. I'm graduating a whole year early to go pursue Screenwriting, Poetry, Theater, and other things at UNO. My favorite play I've written was a show that was a musical about demigods who embody struggles, and disabilities and show how no matter what you're dealing with your what's going on you're still strong in your own way.
Grace Katt
She/Her/Hers
Lila / Zebra
Grace Katt
She/Her/Hers
Grace Katt is thrilled to be playing Lila in Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress. She loves pretending, telling stories, and using her imagination to bring characters to life on stage. She is a 6th grader at Alice Buffett Middle School. When she’s not performing, Grace enjoys singing, reading, and hanging out with friends. Grace hopes you enjoy the show and have fun using your imagination.
Harper Leitch
She/Her/Hers
Eli / Giraffe
Harper Leitch
She/Her/Hers
Harper is overjoyed to return to The Rose main stage after appearing in last year’s The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! Harper is an 8th grade student at Liberty Middle School where she is an honor roll student and a member of the award-winning Flight Show Choir. Her hobbies include drawing, painting and pretty much anything art related, taking singing lessons, and spending time with her family and friends. Harper has previously played Dory in Finding Nemo Jr. at Omaha Community Playhouse, Delia Schlimmer in Beetlejuice Jr. at SNJ Studio of Music, and Ariel in Little Mermaid Jr. at Sagamore Hills Elementary. She hopes the show inspires everyone to find their own tangerine dress—the thing that makes them feel happy, special, and truly themselves.
Randall Johanningsmeier
Henry / Tiger
Randall Johanningsmeier
Randall is really looking forward to sharing this beautiful story with you! Randall played Romeo in the Rose's educational tour of Romeo and Juliet last year, but this is his first time performing on the Rose mainstage, and he's super excited about it. Randall has also recently acted at the Joslyn Castle, for the Great Plains Theatre Commons, and with Old School Shakespeare Omaha. In his free time, Randall loves to oil paint, make quilts, read novels, study math, make music, and try new things. Thanks to Randall's parents for all their love and support!
The Question/Answer session is always fun to participate in and the actors signing autographs help make visiting The Rose a special event.
Teachers, Find School Shows Here!
Learn MoreUpcoming Shows
Member Show
Mar. 13 — 22, 2026
Member Show
Apr. 17 — May. 3, 2026
Premium Show
Jun. 5 — 28, 2026
