Byham Theater

November 23 & 24
10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m.

What happens when detention-going sixth grader and drummer Big Nate tries to woo his classmate and win his school’s Battle of the Bands? Lincoln Peirce’s popular comic strip and bestselling books will come to life on stage in the live stage musical, Big Nate, presented by the Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.

Kids and families will follow along on the adventures—and misadventures—of rebellious and energetic sixth grade student Nate Wright, along with his classmates, teachers and family, and his best friends Francis and Teddy. Drummer for the garage rock band Enslave the Mollusk, and a regular at detention, Nate has aspirations to win the heart of his beautiful classmate and also nab first prize in the school’s upcoming Battle of the Bands contest. Find out what happens when Nate’s rival Gina forms a pop band, and Nate strives to mend his ways and achieve all-star status at school.

The imaginative show features a book by Jason Loewith and Lincoln Peirce, music by Chris Youstra and lyrics by Jason Loewith and Chris Youstra. Written and illustrated by Lincoln Peirce, the Big Nate comic strip first launched in January of 1991, and has gone on to inspire comic collections, a series of children’s novels, activity books and the  musical. Peirce recently finished his seventh book in the series, Big Nate Lives It Up.

Big Nate is one of five live shows featured in the Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater’s 2014-2015 Family Series. The show is recommended for ages 5 and up. Duration: 60 minutes.

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Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Dahesh Museum of Art and is co-author of Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania. She also is co-coordinator of Handmade Arcade. Musically, she is in a band called The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.