Review: The Pumpkin Kid

Review: The Pumpkin Kid | Historic Elitch Theatre | Denver, CO | Curtain Up | Eric Fitzgerald

The Pumpkin Kid, adapted from the storybook by Barry Brown and Jeff LaGreca, feels unexpectedly at home on the stage of Denver’s historic Elitch Theatre — a place that’s seen more than a century of performers trying to make a little magic. Presented by Historic Elitch Theatre and Skyward Productions, this version leans into its autumn‑fable roots: a young orphan, a wagon full of oddball pumpkins, and a town that’s forgotten how to be anything but cranky.

With a book by Jeff LaGreca and music and lyrics by LaGreca and Suzanne Slade, the show unfolds with a kind of handmade sincerity. The orphan carves glowing pumpkins from cast‑off tools, and those small lights soften the townspeople in simple, sweet, and surprisingly affecting ways. It’s a gentle reminder that even the tiniest spark can shift a whole community — and Elitch’s old bones give that message a little extra resonance.

Bartolo (Stephen Bertles), the storyteller, introduces The Pumpkin Kid (Jane Curry), a quiet child who arrives in a cranky little village pulling a wagon of odd, lopsided pumpkins. Moving through the town, the child meets The Tailor (Rob Utesch), The Woodcarver (Annie Dwyer), The Blacksmith (David Hintz), The Candle Lady (Karey Montoya-James), and The Candle Man (Bryan Plummer) — each worn down and short on kindness. With a few cast‑off tools, the Pumpkin Kid carves lanterns that reflect the generosity and hope the townspeople have misplaced.

Jane Curry as The Pumpkin Kid | Photography credit: Suze Slade

Stephen Bertles brings an easy, grounded charm to Bartolo, guiding the audience through the tale with a storyteller’s presence that feels both relaxed and quietly assured. He never pushes for attention; he simply holds the space and invites everyone in. As The Pumpkin Kid, Jane Curry offers a gentle, steady performance that anchors the show. Curry moves through the village with calm determination, as if the character’s light comes from patience rather than bravado—and it gives the story the quiet magic it needs.

The rest of the cast brings an easy, lived‑in confidence to the stage, the kind that makes a children’s musical feel bigger than its modest frame. Each performer adds something distinct — a bright voice that lifts the score, sharp physical comedy that keeps young audiences engaged, and a grounded warmth that steadies the story. They move with crisp precision, trade comic beats cleanly, and handle gentler moments with unaffected sincerity. It’s an ensemble that keeps the energy buoyant, the storytelling honest, and lets the pumpkins glow.

The cast of The Pumpkin Kid | Photography credit: Suze Slade

The imaginative, immersive setting crafted by Tim LaGreca, Andrew Hamilton, and David Hintz surrounds the audience the moment they step through the stage door of the Historic Elitch Theatre. The designers lean into a storybook aesthetic—warm textures, bold shapes, and playful visual cues that immediately signal to younger viewers that they’re entering a world built just for them. Johnny Bartlett’s lighting reinforces that feeling, bathing the space in bright, inviting colors that shift cleanly from scene to scene and help kids follow the emotional beats without feeling overwhelmed.

Kit Matthews’ projection design adds gentle movement and magical flourishes that expand the world in accessible, rather than flashy, ways, while Sam Shapiro’s sound keeps dialogue crisp and music friendly to small ears. Slade and LaGreca’s props and costumes embrace tactile materials and exaggerated silhouettes that read clearly from any seat, giving children visual anchors throughout the show. Under Rachel Ross’s production design elements, everything clicks together into a cohesive environment—one that feels handcrafted, welcoming, and perfectly tuned to spark younger audiences’ imaginations.

The production truly sings because of the script—written by Jeff LaGreca, who also directs with a light, confident hand that keeps young audiences leaning forward rather than bracing for anything too intense. His writing speaks to children with clarity, humor, and adventure, without leaning on fear or darker tones. Instead, it invites them into a world of gentle suspense and bright discovery, trusting their imaginations to meet the story halfway.

The score, with music and lyrics by LaGreca and Suzanne Slade, wraps that narrative in buoyant melodies and clever turns of phrase, giving the show a musical pulse that feels both contemporary and timeless. The songs glide easily from scene to scene, helping young theatergoers stay anchored in the story while still feeling swept up in its energy.

Nick Sugar’s choreography adds to that lift, punctuating jokes, guiding transitions, and keeping the 70‑minute production in constant, lively motion. Together with the immersive design, these elements create an ambiance that feels like stepping into a living storybook—vivid, welcoming, and perfectly tuned to spark the imaginations of its youngest audience members.

The Pumpkin Kid has a gentle charm that reaches its youngest audience members while still offering plenty for the young at heart—those who appreciate a story told with sincerity, craft, and a touch of theatrical magic. It’s a bright, welcoming production that reminds families why live theatre matters, and a rare chance to experience a solid, lovingly built show inside the storied walls of the Historic Elitch Theatre.

Information and Tickets: https://pumpkinkid.lovable.app/