Engaging musical show for young audiences
GUELPH, ON February 19, 2026 — From the page to the stage, everyone’s favourite inquisitive little monkey stars in this adorably fun, family-friendly show. Join Curious George, The Man with the Yellow Hat, and plenty of new friends as they try to win the world-famous Golden Meatball Contest in Rome. Curious George: The Golden Meatball takes River Run Centre’s Main Stage on Saturday, March 21 at 4 p.m.
This trouble-making monkey lives in the hearts of many, with the story of Curious George dating back to the early 1940s. The original literary series was written by husband-and-wife team Hans Augusto (H.A.) and Margret Rey. Over the decades, Curious George has appeared in books, on screen, on stage, and in various other forms of media.
This live musical venture is perhaps the little primate’s most exciting one yet. The show is produced by Wishing Star Productions, LLC, based on the Reys’ books and the play owned by Universal Stage Productions, with music by John Kavanaugh and lyrics by Jeremy Desmon. The Golden Meatball is designed for children, but it will satisfy the nostalgic cravings of grown-up admirers as well.
The engaging plot takes Curious George on a mission to help his friend, Chef Pisghetti, regain his passion for cooking. Their goal is to win the world-famous Golden Meatball Contest in Rome, and all sorts of travelling shenanigans ensue along the way. In the end, everyone learns about the power of friendship and that the secret ingredient in anything worth doing is love.
Between the colourful set and costumes, the show does a wonderful job at matching the book illustrations with a modern twist. This production features cyberpunk-inspired costumes, a tech-heavy set, and an urban landscape. The show’s director, Isaiah C.L. Harris, shares that, “Our goal was to show that curiosity still thrives, even in a world built on tech.”
Part of the Wooly Family Series, this show is supported by Series Sponsor The Wooly Pub, Season Sponsor Richardson Wealth, with funding from the Government of Canada.
Tickets to Curious George: The Golden Meatball are $49 for adults, $47 for patrons over 60 years old, $39 for those under 30, and $29 for those under 14. For more information or to purchase, call 519-763-3000, visit River Run’s Box Office at 35 Woolwich Street in Guelph, or go to https://riverrun.ca/whats-on/curious-george-the-golden-meatball/.
FOR INFORMATION
Kasia Rusiniak | Program Manager, Development and Marketing
River Run Centre | City of Guelph
519-837-5662 ext. 2589
[email protected]