For the last three summers I have made a point to attend Stages Theatre Company's Theatre for the Very Young (TFVY) productions with my young children. These productions are specifically created for children ages 0-5 and their families. They generally focus on interactive play and engage with children's imaginations, are presented in a relaxed, welcoming and flexible environment that understands the needs of small children, and clock in at around 45 minutes. This year's production is the world premiere of Tell Me Your Dreams, directed by Melanie Salmon-Peterson, based on the book by Amanda Kloots, illustrated by Alex Willmore, written by Jim Hibbeler, with music and lyrics by Matt Ouren, who also performs the role of Dada in the production.

Tell Me Your Dreams is more similar to traditional children's theatre than past TFVY I've seen at Stages. Instead of children sitting in a circle with some optional chair seating for grown ups, the black box seating areas are arranged in three risers, creating a proscenium stage in a scenic design by playwright Jim Hibbeler. I imagine this setup allows for a greater audience capacity, but it does diminish the interactive play quite a bit, as children are generally participating from their seats, with student actors positioned throughout the audience to facilitate.

Hibbeler's scenic design and Kayla Marie Mielke's costume design echo the bright, playful color palette and illustrations of the book, to the delight of my 4-year-old. When the Child, played winningly by Hank Whinnery, falls asleep in his bedroom, the scenic design transforms in the manner of opening the pages of a book and we find ourselves in the clouds. "It's just like the book!," my son exclaimed.

Tell Me Your Dreams takes the audience on a journey through the Child's dreams of an all-time toddler favorite topic: modes of transportation. Ouren succinctly introduces the theme in the opening of the production by leading the audience in a few rounds of "The Wheels on the Bus." He is a staple in TFVY productions at Stages, creating and performing for the last six years, and engages easily with the young audience while gently moving the play forward. Student actors are called on to lead in a similar manner to varying degrees of success.

I highly recommend this charming production for any family with young children. Familiarity with the source material is not necessary. Stages knows its audience and offers performances at 9am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 4pm, so as not to interfere with afternoon naps. I can't think of a more ideal way to introduce the very young people in your life to the theatre.

Tell Me Your Dreams runs through August 24, 2025, at Stages Theatre Company in the Jaycees Studio Theatre at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins MN. For tickets and information, please call 952-979-1111 or visit stagestheatre.org.