Quote of the Day: Treasure Island has everything I love about storytelling: adventure, danger, high stakes, live music, transformation, and big emotions. Director Rick Dildine, also the Artistic Director of Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, MN. 

The Children’s Theater Company production of Treasure Island which runs through October 19, 2025.  Photographed by Glen Stubbe/Children’s Theatre Company

Come, let your imagination sail away with the adventures on the high seas with young Jim Hawkins, ruthless, but somehow likable Long John Silver, Billy Bones, Black Dog, Squire Trelawney and many more names and phrases you’ll recognize from pirate lore. Most of what we believe we know about pirates comes from the classic novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson – the black spot, X marks the spot on the treasure map, parrots belong with pirates. I read the book when I was young. My first introduction to a screen adaptation was from Disney’s 1950 film that would have played on Sunday nights when Disney had their featured programming on NBC in the 1970’s. My kids loved Treasure Planet, an animated adaptation, and many, many students and adults have dressed up as pirates for everything from parades to Halloween to themed Birthday parties. I really wanted to see this one, and I got to bring my own (now adult) son! We had a blast. 

The Children’s Theater Company production of Treasure Island which runs through October 19, 2025. Mason Yang as Jim Hawkins
Photographed by Glen Stubbe/Children’s Theatre Company

The role of young Jim Hawkins is double cast with Truman Bednar and Mason Yang alternating for various performances. We saw Mason Yang, and he was terrific. He has just the right amount of youthful naivete and quick thinking. He’s challenged by these pirates. Who can he trust? What should he do in these difficult situations? How can he gain control of his own fate?

The Children’s Theater Company production of Treasure Island which runs through October 19, 2025. Reed Sigmund as Long John Silver
Photographed by Glen Stubbe/Children’s Theatre Company

Reed Sigmund is a ruthless, yet endearing, Long John Silver. With his peg leg and hard scrabble appearance, we feel some sympathies for him. But, with his gruff ways and shouts for revenge, we understand that he is also to be feared. I LOVED the way they closed Act I. The tension really built to that moment as we meet each of the pirates and learn of their schemes and plans, and witness the battles. 

Matt Riehle plays Billy Bones and Captain Smollett. He also sings quite a bit, welcoming us into this seafaring world. This is a play with music, with actors taking up instruments and singing, sometimes bringing in choreography that fits the scene and atmosphere. Victor Zupanc is the music director and is on stage as part of the cast, playing mostly keyboard and other instruments. 

Ryan London Levin plays mostly villains – Black Dog, Morgan, and Israel Hands. He does a great job of making them tyrants. Em Adam Rosenberg is Squire Trelawney, who gets a few comedic moments as well as taking command. Max Wojtanowicz is Doctor Livesey, who is mostly funny, but gets into the brawl at times, as well. Theo Janke-Furman, Keegan Robinson, José Sabillón, Logan Lang, and Jon Schumacher fill out the pirate world in various parts.

The Children’s Theater Company production of Treasure Island which runs through October 19, 2025.
Photographed by Glen Stubbe/Children’s Theatre Company

The set design by Christopher and Justin Swader is really cool. At first glance is looks like the inside of a ship with pillars and passageways. It also works as a tavern, and as you look more closely you see that the sides are lined with books, giving it a feeling of the book coming alive through the telling of this tale. They use stage and props in such unique ways. I like how the ropes came down in the second act to feel a bit more like a jungle, and when trap doors open, and they even use the pit in surprising ways. 

Costume designs by Alexa Behm are fantastic! Of course, they are mostly in traditional pirate attire, long coats over pants tucked into boots, hats, vests. Billy Bones has extra fabric hanging off his coat because he’s been on the island so long. Lots of great attention to detail! Lighting design by Jeff Behm, and Sound design by Melanie Chen Cole.

Treasure Island is filled with action and adventure. There is some death depicted, so it’s not for the younger kids. Bring your upper elementary and middle schoolers – even your young adults! Director Rick Dildine brings out all the fun elements, as well as depicts the battles and ruthlessness, but he also gets to the heart of the story, as the Children’s Theatre is so good at. You see where characters like Jim must make choices to be the man he wants to be. You root for him as he takes charge. You see good triumph over evil and it leaves you feeling empowered to go out in the world and be the good and do better.

You can see Treasure Island at The Children’s Theatre in Minneapolis, MN through October 19, 2025. Get your tickets soon. This is a popular one!

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt: (I’ll borrow from the question prompts in the playbill from CTC) What would you want to find in a treasure chest? Where would you like to go on an adventure? If you had a pirate ship, what would you name it?