“How are you? I’m so glad you came back! I missed you!” The stagehand greeted the young children seated cross-legged at the foot of the stage. At The Coterie’s show in co-production with What if Puppets Just Ask!, the theater offers its youngest audience members the best seats—right up close to the actors—while parents relax in comfortable theater chairs just behind them. The stage, transformed into a vibrant garden, features colorful vegetables adorning the walls, with the cheerful sounds of birds chirping over the excited chatter of eager viewers.
This lively production is based on Just Ask!, the New York Times bestselling children’s book by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Adapted into a joyful new musical, the story celebrates children of all abilities working together to cultivate a garden. The main character, inspired by Sotomayor herself, shares her experience with diabetes, encouraging her friends to ask questions and learn from one another. Bringing authenticity to the stage, the cast includes actors with real-life disabilities such as asthma, Down syndrome, ADHD, dyslexia, and autism.
For my daughter, the upbeat music was the most captivating aspect. She swayed to the rhythm and clapped along as the actors sang directly to the children, engaging them at eye level. The songs, inspired by diverse cultural influences, further highlighted the uniqueness each character brought to the story.
This world-premiere musical was elevated by the incredible puppetry of What If Puppets. Three curious puppet characters—a rabbit, a squirrel, and a flower—narrated key scenes, helping the audience follow the journey as the children work together to save their garden from developers and decide the fate of a mysterious puppet plant.
Running from January 29 to February 23, 2025, Just Ask! leaves its audience with a powerful closing question: “What is your power?” Encouraging each child to see their own unique abilities as a superpower, the show delivers a heartfelt and inspiring message that lingers long after the final bow.