Hello, Universe
March 19 – April 4, 2027
Based on the book by Erin Entrada Kelly
Adapted by Melissa Leilani Larson
In collaboration with Theater Mu
It’s not being brave if you aren’t scared.
In one day, four middle schoolers find their lives intertwined when a prank goes wrong, and Virgil finds himself trapped in a well with his guinea pig. Can they come together to prove that even the unlikeliest heroes can make a difference? Imaginations come to life as they navigate friendship, courage, and a very important rescue mission. Told from the perspective of each teenager, coincidence and fate collide in this funny, poignant adaptation of Erin Entrada Kelly’s Newbery Medal winning novel, where the stories we tell ourselves are tested.
Recommended for: Ages 8+
Location: Jaycees Studio Theatre
Show Run Time: 75 Minutes
Resource Guide: Coming soon!
A collaboration with:
About Theater Mu
Over the years, Mu has grown to be one of the largest Asian American theater companies in the United States and is the largest in the Midwest. Through performance and community outreach, Mu provides an unparalleled resource for Asian American artists, introduces Asian American stories and issues to audiences of all backgrounds, and gives Asian Americans of all ages and ethnicities a place to connect and belong. Mu has become a leader in the local and national development of Asian American theater. Mu has helped to develop and support the work of local and national playwrights, actors, directors, and musicians by premiering many new works, fostering a new generation of Asian American artists, and bringing Asian American voices to Twin Cities audiences. Through educational, community, and corporate outreach programs, Mu provides theater throughout the upper Midwest, providing access to Asian American culture and arts to communities who otherwise may not have the opportunity to experience it. To learn more, please visit theatermu.org.
Hello, Universe is produced with permission of the author, Erin Entrada Kelly.
Show Calendar
Single Ticket Prices
- Ages 2-17: $20
- Ages 60+: $20
- Adults: $22
- Lap pass age 3 and under: $5
*All listed pricing includes processing fees.
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A variety of ticket packages to fit everyone’s budget and lifestyle!
Accessibility
We believe that every individual should be able to access the joy, wonder, and benefits of participation in the theatre arts.
Videos
Learn more about the show
Photos
Publicity Photos by Amy Rondeau Photography
Music
Preview songs from the show!
The Creative Team
- AUTHOR – Erin Entrada Kelly
- PLAYWRIGHT – Melissa Leilani Larson
- COLLABORATOR – Theatre Mu
- DIRECTOR – Fran De Leon
Check back closer to Opening Night for a complete list!
Creative Team Bios
Erin Entrada Kelly
Author
Erin Entrada Kelly – Erin is a two-time Newbery Medalist and National Book Award Finalist whose work has been translated into more than a dozen languages. She is a New York Times-bestselling author and teaches in the Master’s Program in Writing for Young Readers at the University of San Francisco. She has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from McNeese State University, an MFA in fiction from Rosemont College, and an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Moore College of Art and Design. She lives in Delaware.
Melissa Leilani Larson
Playwright
Melissa Leilani Larson – Melissa (she/her) is a mixed-race Filipino American writer from Salt Lake City whose award-winning work has been seen on five continents. Her current work in progress, A FORM OF FLATTERY, is a BAPF 46 Honorable Mention Finalist and a Portland Center Stage JAW finalist. Recent productions: PERSUASION at Snow College; LITTLE HAPPY SECRETS at Middle Tennessee State; THE EDIBLE COMPLEX at Wayne Theatre (tour); PRIDE AND PREJUDICE at CenterPoint Legacy Theatre, Grand Theatre Co., and Texas Shakes; BITTER LEMON at Plan-B Theatre; GIN MUMMY at Utah Valley University; RELATIVE SPACE, a new musical, at Creekside Theatre Fest; MESTIZA, OR MIXED at Lift Every Voice Festival (American Stage); SWEETHEART, COME at Pygmalion Theatre; THE POST OFFICE at schools across the country. Honors: AATE Distinguished Play Award; O’Neill semi-finalist; IRAM Best New Play Award; Mayhew Award; four AML Drama Awards; two Salt Like City Weekly “Best of” Awards. Mel is a member of the Plan-B Theatre Lab, Honor Roll!, and the Dramatists Guild. MFA, Iowa Playwrights Workshop.
Theatre Mu
Collaborator
Theater Mu – Over the years, Mu has grown to be one of the largest Asian American theater companies in the United States and is the largest in the Midwest. Through performance and community outreach, Mu provides an unparalleled resource for Asian American artists, introduces Asian American stories and issues to audiences of all backgrounds, and gives Asian Americans of all ages and ethnicities a place to connect and belong. Mu has become a leader in the local and national development of Asian American theater. Mu has helped to develop and support the work of local and national playwrights, actors, directors, and musicians by premiering many new works, fostering a new generation of Asian American artists, and bringing Asian American voices to Twin Cities audiences. Through educational, community, and corporate outreach programs, Mu provides theater throughout the upper Midwest, providing access to Asian American culture and arts to communities who otherwise may not have the opportunity to experience it.
Fran de Leon
Director
Fran de Leon – Born in Downtown Los Angeles, multi-hyphenate artist Fran de Leon is an actor, director, writer, and educator, raised in Hollywood and Manila. She is the Artistic Director of Theater Mu. Her one-person show, Faces of America, toured to over 500 venues across 49 states, including keynote performances for the United Nations Associations, California and New York. She is the Co-Artistic Director of Will & Company, Director of New Talent for Playfair, an ensemble member of Critical Mass Performance Group, and Adjunct Faculty at the University of Southern California. Notably, Fran helmed Into the Woods for Pasadena Playhouse, the opening production of the season which garnered the prestigious 2023 Regional Theatre Tony Award. She has been commissioned by Center Theatre Group for two short play commissions as well as a mini-documentary for their Digital Stage. Other companies with whom she has worked include: the Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Rep, East West Players, Playmakers’ Rep, Artists at Play, Playwrights’ Arena, and the Garry Marshall Theater. Additional writer/director credits include commissioned work for Segerstrom Center’s Arts Teach, TreePeople, and Twelfth Night Rep. TV credits include recurring roles on For All Mankind and For the People, as well as guest stars on Criminal Minds, Speechless, and the Michelle Yeoh led Netflix series, The Brothers Sun.
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