TheaterWorksUSA has optioned the rights to Scholastic’s animated TV series Clifford the Big Red Dog, based on the beloved book series by Norman Bridwell for a new musical adaptation. A preview tour is scheduled for this May, with school-time performances at the Kupferberg Center for the Arts in Queens, NY on May 19, the Shea Center for Performing Arts in Wayne, NJ, on May 27, and John Cranford Adams Playhouse in Hempstead, NY, on May 28. Tickets can be purchased at TWUSA.ORG/TICKETS. The musical adaptation is created for young children and family audiences.
Clifford the Big Red Dog: The Musical features music and lyrics by Sam Tsui & Casey Breves (Eight Immortals), a book by Matt Hoverman (Emmy Award, Arthur; Fancy Nancy, Sofia the First), puppet direction by Ash Winkfield (Fire in the Head, The Harlem Doll Place), and direction and choreography by Laura Brandel (Harry Potter: A Yule Ball Experience, Hereville: A Nu Musical, The Pout-Pout Fish, named to the Women to Watch on Broadway: 2026 list by Broadway Women’s Fund).
Everyone’s favorite Big Red Dog, CLIFFORD– bounds onto the stage in a brand-new musical comedy adventure that celebrates friendship, imagination and the magic of unconditional love! Emily Elizabeth absolutely adores her new puppy – the tiny red runt of the litter. But when her GIANT love makes Clifford grow into a GIANT, the family must trade their cramped city apartment for a home on Birdwell Island – where folks aren’t so sure about a house-sized, playful pup. Worried his colossal clumsiness is keeping Emily Elizabeth from making friends, Clifford wishes he never grew so big – and it works! He enjoys a fur-tastic small-dog-sized day… until his adventurous BFF and her new island friends get stuck in a place from which only a BIG red dog can save them. Clifford the Big Red Dog: The Musical is full of extra-large laughs, joy and love – the paw-fect show for Clifford’s growing young fans – and nostalgic parents who remember him too.
Since its debut in 1963, Clifford the Big Red Dog has grown into one of the world’s most beloved and enduring children’s brands and a cornerstone of Scholastic’s publishing portfolio. With more than 135 million books in print across 20 languages worldwide, the franchise spans multiple animated television series, a successful 2021 live-action feature film from Paramount, and a robust consumer products program with more than 25 active licensees across categories including toys, apparel, publishing, food and beverage and more. With new publishing releases planned through 2027, Clifford continues to delight new generations with timeless stories of friendship, kindness and big-hearted adventure.
“As we continue to grow Clifford across publishing, screen and consumer products, bringing him to the stage offers families a truly magical way to experience their favorite big red dog in a whole new setting,” said Kristin Lecour, VP Consumer Products for 9 Story Brands, the consumer products division of 9 Story Media Group, which represents Scholastic’s portfolio of brands. “Experiential extensions like this are an important part of our long-term brand strategy, allowing us to deepen emotional connections with audiences while introducing Clifford to a new generation of children in a joyful and memorable way. TheaterWorksUSA is the ideal parter to help bring that vision to life.”
“We are honored that Scholastic has entrusted us with one of its most iconic, enduring, and beloved brands,” said TheaterWorksUSA Producing Artistic Director, Barbara Pasternack.
“It’s been an absolute joy and honor to help bring these iconic characters to the musical stage,” composers and lyricists Casey Breves and Sam Tsui said. “As parents of a four-year old who adores the Clifford books as much as we both have since we were kids, we cannot wait to share the magic of this show with families across the country!”
“We pulled out all the stops to bring to the stage the humongous heart, humor and imagination of the Clifford books and TV series. It’s a musical for kids and their grown ups – on a theme the Big Red Dog knows best of all: love makes us grow,” said book writer Matt Hoverman.
Additional creative team for Clifford the Big Red Dog: The Musical includes associate direction by Andrew Coopman (Georgia & The Butch, Alan Turing & The Queen of the Night, The Apollo of Bellac), scenic design by Charlie Corcoran (Outer Critics Circle Award, A Comedy of Tenors), costume design by Jen Caprio (Emmy Award, Sesame Street; In Transit), puppet design by Lake Simons (War Horse, Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland, White Elephant), props design by Clara Cable, scenic fabrication by Hillbolic Arts & Carpentry (An Ideal Husband, CATS: The Jellicle Ball), and puppet fabrication by Puppet Heap (The Muppets (2011), Sesame Street).
Industry workshop presentations took place earlier this month featuring Todd Buonopane (Tartuffe), Izzy Figueroa (The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical), Julia Wheeler Lennon (Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends), Sonia Roman (Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical), Mateo Lizcano (Kimberly Akimbo), Markia Nicole Smith (Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical). Music direction was by Rashad McPherson (Bayard Rustin: Inside Ashland), and stage management was Ryan Juda (A Strange Loop) and Jared Six (The Maenads). A preview tour will begin in May of this year
For more information on Clifford the Big Red Dog: The Musical, or to book the production for the 26/27 season, please visit TWUSA.ORG.
About TheaterWorksUSA
TheaterWorksUSA (Barbara Pasternack, Producing Artistic Director; Tegan Meyer, Managing Director) has led the Theater for Young and Family Audiences movement in New York City and across North America for over half a century. At TWUSA, we believe that access to art—and theater, in particular—is vital for our youth. Since 1967, the 501(c)3 not-for-profit has captured the imaginations of 100 million new and veteran theatergoers with an award-winning repertoire of over 140 original plays and musicals. Acclaimed alumni include Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (Disney’s Frozen), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent), Jerry Zaks (The Music Man), Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen), Miguel Cervantes (Hamilton), Kathleen Chalfant (Angels in America), and Chuck Cooper (Tony award-winning actor, The Life).
About Scholastic Entertainment
Scholastic Entertainment brings high-quality content across multiple platforms to audiences of all ages. Among its award-winning productions are the animated series “Clifford the Big Red Dog®” for Amazon Prime and PBS Kids, a live-action “Clifford the Big Red Dog®” feature for Paramount, and Peabody and Daytime Emmy® Award-winning “Stillwater®,” an animated series for Apple TV+. Scholastic Entertainment continues to build celebrated brands worldwide by bringing both nostalgic Scholastic properties and exciting new voices to the screen. Some of its recent projects include “Eva the Owlet™,” an animated series for Apple TV+ based on the New York Times bestselling Scholastic book series OwlDiaries™, the hit live-action “Goosebumps®” series with Disney+ and Hulu which premiered Season 2 in January 2025, and a live-action feature adaptation of “The Magic School Bus” in development with Elizabeth Banks and Marc Platt. Scholastic Entertainment is the media division of Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL).