by Rylee Coppel
“I’ll be famous one
now I’m
day,
but
for
stuck in middle school.” Charleston Stage, now celebrating its 48th Season, is South Carolina’s largest professional theatre company in residence at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. Charleston Stage’s acclaimed full-scale productions light up the stage with stunning scenery, dazzling costumes, and brilliant lights! Productions feature a Professional Resident Acting Company and over 100 professional actors, singers, designers and theatre artists. All performances take place at the Historic Dock Street Theatre, “America’s First Theatre,” in the heart of downtown Charleston.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 Brief Synopsis, Run Time, Target Audience and Educational Tie-ins
4 Background Info: The Creative Team
5-6 If You Like Diary of a Wimpy Kid You Might Also Like 6 Content Considerations and Fun Facts 7 Theatre Education
8-9 Dock Street Theatre
Book by Kevin del Aguila
Music and Lyrics by Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler
Based on the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” Book Series by Jeff Kinney and 20th Century Studios
Direction and Choreography by Rylee Coppel
Music Direction by Michael Lopez
BRIEF Synopsis:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical is a stage adaptation of the wildly popular book series by Jeff Kinney. It follows Greg Heffley, a middle schooler with big dreams of popularity, as he navigates the pitfalls of growing up—awkward friendships, embarrassing moments, and the elusive goal of becoming “cool.” With catchy songs, humor, and heart, the musical brings the spirit of the books to life.
run time:
Approximately 60-70 minutes with or without intermission
target audience:
Elementary and middle school students, families, and fans of the book series
Educational Tie-Ins:
This production is a great opportunity to spark discussions about:
• Social-emotional learning: Navigating friendships, resilience, and empathy
• Literature connections: Compare the musical to the book series (ELA Standards)
• Creative expression: Explore the transformation from book to stage (Theatre & Media Arts Standards)
• Identity & self-expression: How we present ourselves and deal with embarrassment or failure
the creative team
Kevin Del Aguila (Book)
Kevin Del Aguila is an Emmy Award–winning writer and Tonynominated actor. Known for his witty storytelling and sharp humor, Kevin has written for both stage and screen, including the book for Dog Man: The Musical and lyrics for The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. His work has been praised for its heart, humor, and appeal to young audiences.
Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler (Music & Lyrics)
Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler are an award-winning musical theatre songwriting team. Their work blends catchy melodies with clever lyrics and emotional depth. Together, they have collaborated on numerous projects including How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back? and Something in the Game. Mahler is also known for his work on the Broadway revival of Miss Saigon. Their score for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical captures the awkward, hilarious, and heartfelt roller coaster of middle school life.
Illustrated / Journal-style Humor
1. Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
• Comic strip format with a mischievous and confident middle schooler at the center.
• Tons of humor and school-based antics.
2. Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell
• Diary-style but from a girl’s perspective. Drama, crushes, and middle school mishaps.
• Great female-led alternative to Wimpy Kid.
3. Timmy Failure by Stephan Pastis
• A clueless kid detective with delusions of grandeur.
• Silly humor and simple illustrations.
4. Tom Gates by Liz Pichon
• British take on the illustrated diary format.
• Packed with doodles, jokes, and school life challenges.
5. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
• Blends humor, heartbreak, and rebellion in a graphic-lite style.
• Perfect for fans of underdog characters.
Other Humorous, Illustrated Reads
1. The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John
• Prank war between two middle schoolers.
• Clever and absurd in all the right ways.
2. My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish by Mo O’Hara
• A mad scientist’s prank revives a pet goldfish as a zombie.
• Wacky humor and light science fiction.
3. Justin Case by Rachel Vail
• A neurotic, lovable third grader narrates his daily struggles.
• Thoughtful and funny with less slapstick. If You Like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, You Might Also Like
Realistic Fiction with Humor (Less Illustrative)
1. Frindle by Andrew Clements
• A boy invents a new word and starts a school-wide revolution.
• Great for classroom discussions.
2. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
• Combines Star Wars fandom with middle school dilemmas.
• Told through case files and doodles.
3. Alvin Ho by Lenore Look
• A boy with anxiety narrates his everyday adventures.
• Sensitive and funny with illustrations.
4. The Tapper Twins by Geoff Rodkey
• Digital-style storytelling with texts, photos, and screenshots.
• Modern sibling rivalry with humor.
content considerations
Language: Clean and age-appropriate; some light teasing and slang (e.g., “dork”)
Themes: Peer pressure, self-identity, friendship, popularity, honesty
Violence: Comic, non-threatening (e.g., a “Cheese Touch” moment, exaggerated schoolyard antics)
Romance: Innocent middle school crushes; a few brief references, played for humor
Scary Moments: None
Sensitive Topics: Mild bullying and social exclusion are depicted but handled thoughtfully
fun facts
1. What makes Greg a “wimpy kid”? Do you think that’s a fair label?
2. How do Greg’s decisions affect his friendships with Rowley and others?
3. Have you ever felt pressure to be someone you’re not? What happened?
4. How does the musical version change or expand on the story in the books?
Theatre Education
Acting Classes
200+ Students Attend Acting Classes
After School
Charleston Stage’s TheatreSchool offers classes year round for students from kindergarten through 8th grade at Charleston Stage’s West Ashley Theatre Center. Acting classes for students of all ages and abilities are taught by members of Charleston Stage’s Professional Resident Acting Company. Classes range from beginning classes to performance workshops and performance troupes. We are now offering a new full-year registration. Tuition scholarships are available for need-based students. Register online today at CharlestonStage.com/education!
ArtReach In-School Workshops
Bringing Professional Actors Into the Classroom
Charleston Stage’s Professional Resident Actors provide dynamic workshops in area schools throughout the Lowcountry. Workshops use theatrical skills to teach academic subjects and can be combined with a school matinee performance experience. For information on booking ArtReach workshops, contact Rylee Coppel, Director of Education and Engagement, at rcoppel@charlestonstage.com or (843) 225-3900.
TheatreWings High School Apprenticeships A Tuition-Free Apprentice Program For Teens
The TheatreWings High School Apprentice Program is designed to allow talented young people the opportunity to work directly with theatre professionals and gain first-hand experience in professional theatrical production. Students explore stage management, lighting and sound, as well as set, prop, and costume design and construction. Designed for highly dedicated students, TheatreWings requires more than 100+ hours of apprenticeship each season. For more information, email TheatreWings Co-Coordinators Ravyn Meador or Caleb Garner at wings@charlestonstage.com.
For more information on our Education programs, call the Education Office at (843) 225-3900 or visit CharlestonStage.com/education.
For almost 300 years audiences have delighted in performances at the Historic Dock Street Theatre which stands on the site of the very first theatre building in America which opened its doors in 1736. The current building, originally The Planter’s Hotel was built in 1803 and in 1937 was converted into the Dock Street Theatre know today. Charleston Stage presents over 150 performances at the Historic Dock Street Theatre playing to theatre goers from every state in the union and many foreign countries. The Dock Street Theatre, newly renovated in 2010, is currently owned and managed by the City of Charleston. Other performing arts groups including Spoleto Festival USA perform here annually.
On February 12, 1736 the Dock Street Theatre opened with a performance of The Recruiting Officer. Built on the corner of Church Street and Dock Street (now known as Queen Street), the Historic Dock Street Theatre was the first building in America built exclusively to be used for theatrical performances. Flora, the first opera performance in America, took place at the Historic Dock Street Theatre.
The original Dock Street Theatre was probably destroyed by the Great Fire of 1740 which destroyed many of the buildings in Charleston’s French Quarter. In 1809, the Planter’s Hotel was built on this site and in 1835 the wrought iron balcony and sandstone columns of the Church Street facade were added. A number of notable persons worked and patronized the Planter’s Hotel including the noted 19th Century actor Junius Brutus Booth (father of Edwin and John Wilkes Booth). Robert Smalls, an African-American Civil War hero, who stole a steamboat in the harbor and sailed it out past the Confederate-held Ft. Sumter and turned it over to the blockading Union Fleet, served as a waiter in the hotel’s dining room prior to the war. Charleston’s famed Planter’s Punch was first introduced here.
After the Civil War, the Planter’s Hotel fell into disrepair and was slated for demolition. But in 1935, after Milton Pearlstine made the property available to the City of Charleston and at the urging of Mayor Burnet Maybank and other notable citizens, the original building became a Depression Era WPA (Works Progress Administration) project. At that time, the present theatre was constructed within the shell of the
Planter’s Hotel. The hotel’s grand foyer became the grand foyer of the theatre and the hotel’s dining room now serves as the box office lobby. The beautiful woodwork and mantels of the second floor drawing room were salvaged from the Radcliffe-King Mansion (circa 1799) which stood at the corner of George and Meeting Streets and was razed to build the College of Charleston gymnasium, another WPA project. Modeled on eighteenth century London playhouses by Charleston architect Albert Simons, the present Dock Street Theatre’s new stage house and auditorium were built in the hotel’s courtyard. The local carpenters who were put to work as a part of this Depression era relief effort utilized locally grown and milled native black cypress for the beautiful warm wooden interior. Following this $350,000 renovation, The Historic Dock Street Theatre’s second grand opening took place on November 26, 1937. Notables in the audience included author DuBose Heyward (Porgy) who was named writer-inresidence.
The Historic Dock Street Theatre reopened for the third time on March 18, 2010 after a three year, $19 million dollar renovation by the City of Charleston. This extensive fullscale renovation brought the historic theatre into the 21st century with state-of-theart lighting and sound, modern heating and air conditioning, and new restrooms and seating. In addition, the theatre was made seismically secure and fully handicapped accessible. Extensive sound-proofing was added to ensure that outside noises no longer intruded on performances inside.
