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VeggieTales Live! On Stage

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VeggieTales Live On Stage! (simply known as VeggieTales Live!) was the very first VeggieTales Live! show, touring from January 29th to June 2nd of 2002.

The show was produced by Clear Channel Entertainment, which is now known as iHeartMedia since 2014.

Plot[]

The main lesson in VeggieTales Live! On Stage is friendship, what you will see in the second summary describes the 2 stories from the home videos told! The show's main plot consists of Bob and Larry accidentally separating and having to look for each other. Bob finds himself in the story of Dave and the Giant Pickle. Goliath offers to fight Bob, to which Bob politely declines. Meanwhile, Larry, who gets mistaken for Joshua, is dragged into the story of Josh and the Big Wall!. After both stories conclude, Bob and Larry end up on either side of the stage, separate from one another. Once they spot each other, they race to the middle to give the best hug they can. Once these two are reunited, they sing "A Friend is a Friend" and bring in Qwerty to give a verse about Friendship. The show concludes with a finale with a live version of the Theme Song.

In VeggieTales Live!, Bob, Larry and other favorite characters like Junior Asparagus and French Peas, Jean Claude and Phillipe, recreate the best-selling video Dave and the Giant Pickle, a retelling of David vs. Goliath. The Veggies play the roles of David, Goliath, the Israelites and Philistines. They also recreate Josh and the Big Wall!. Amazing set design, unusual costumes (the characters don’t have arms or legs), lively musical numbers and Monty Python-inspired humor make the show appealing for kids and adults.

Synopsis[]

Based on the ever-popular VeggieTales video series, Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber and the rest of the Veggie cast bring their zany antics to the stage with "VeggieTales Live!" Combining hilarious story telling with outrageous, crowd-pleasing "Silly Songs" and timeless values such as self-esteem and the importance of friendship, "VeggieTales Live!" is like no stage show you've ever seen.

Cast[]

Humans[]

Veggies[]

Songs[]

Act 1[]

  1. VeggieTales Theme Song (on a screen that lowers)
  2. What a Sight!
  3. I'm Dave
  4. Big Things Too (Opening)
  5. The Water Buffalo Song (from Where's God When I'm S-Scared?)
  6. Big Things Too (Live Show version)
  7. Big Things Too (Reprise)

Act 2[]

  1. Promised Land (Live Show version)
  2. The Lord Has Given (Live Show version)
  3. Love My Lips
  4. Keep Walking (Live Show version)
  5. The Lord Has Given (Reprise)
  6. A Friend is a Friend
  7. What Have We Learned
  8. What Have We Learned (Live Show version)
  9. VeggieTales Theme Song (Live Show version)

List of People That Got Interviewed[]

List of shows[]

  • Chicago, Illinois (PREVIEWS): Thursday, January 24th, 2002 and Saturday, January 26th, 2002 at Illinois State University's Braden Auditorium
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota (PREMIERE): Tuesday, January 29th, 2002 through Sunday, February 3rd, 2002 at the State Theatre
  • Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas: Tuesday, February 5th, 2002 through Sunday, February 10th, 2002 at Texas Hall
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Camden, New Jersey: Wednesday, February 13th, 2002 through Sunday, February 17th, 2002 at the Tweeter Centre (now known as BB&T Pavillion)
  • Indianapolis, Indiana: Tuesday, February 19th, 2002 through Sunday, February 24th, 2002 at the Murat Theatre (now known as Old National Centre)
  • Chattanooga, Tennessee: Tuesday, February 26th, 2002 through Thursday, February 28th, 2002 at Memorial Auditorium
  • Louisville, Kentucky: Friday, March 1st, 2002 through Sunday, March 3rd, 2002 at the Palace Theatre
  • Grand Rapids, Michigan: Tuesday, March 5th, 2002 through Sunday, March 10th, 2002 at Welsh Auditorium (now closed)
  • Omaha, Nebraska: Tuesday, March 12th, 2002 through Sunday, March 17th, 2002 at Orpheum Auditorium
  • Cincinnati, Ohio: Tuesday, March 19th, 2002 through Sunday, March 24th, 2002 at the Taft Theatre
  • Denver, Colorado: Tuesday, April 2nd, 2002 through Sunday, April 7th, 2002 at Fillmore Auditorium (presumed, as venue was just listed as "Auditorium" on Big Idea's website.)
  • Orlando, Florida: Wednesday, April 10th, 2002 through Sunday, April 14th, 2002 at the Bob Carr Theater
  • Kansas City, Missouri: Tuesday, April 16th, 2002 through Sunday, April 21st, 2002 at the Midland Theatre
  • Detroit, Michigan: Tuesday, April 23rd, 2002 through Sunday, April 28th, 2002 at the Fox Theatre
  • Greenville, South Carolina: Tuesday, April 30th, 2002 through Sunday, May 5th, 2002 at the Peace Center
  • Columbus, Ohio: Tuesday, May 7th, 2002 through Sunday, May 12th, 2002 at the Palace Theatre
  • Chicago, Illinois: Tuesday, May 14th, 2002 through Sunday, May 19th, 2002 at the Rosemont Theatre
  • Atlanta, Georgia: Thursday, May 23rd, 2002 through Sunday, May 26th, 2002 at the Fox Theatre
  • Tulsa, Oklahoma: Thursday, May 30th, 2002 through Sunday, June 2nd, 2002 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center

Postponed Shows[]

  • Houston, Texas: Tuesday, September 17th, 2002 through Sunday, September 22nd, 2002 at the Hobby Center
  • San Antonio, Texas: Tuesday, September 24th, 2002 through Sunday, September 29th, 2002 at the Majestic Theatre
  • Phoenix, Arizona: Tuesday, October 1st, 2002 through Sunday, October 6th, 2002 at the Dodge Theatre (now Arizona Federal Theatre)
  • Universal City, California: Tuesday, October 8th, 2002, through Sunday, October 13th, 2002 at Universal Amphitheatre (now closed)
  • Sacramento, California: Wednesday, October 16th, 2002 through Sunday, October 20th, 2002 at Memorial Auditorium
  • Cupertino, California: Tuesday, October 22nd, 2002 through Sunday, October 27th, 2002 at the Flint Center (now closed)
  • Spokane, Washington: Tuesday, November 5th, 2002 through Thursday, November 7th, 2002 at Spokane Civic Theatre (Big Idea's website lists the venue as Civic Opera House, athough theoretically no venue named Civic Opera House has ever been in the city, so there is a possibility they meant Spokane Civic Theatre instead.)
  • Portland, Oregon: Friday, November 8th, 2002 through Sunday, November 10th at the Rose Garden Theater of the Clouds (now known as Moda Center)
  • Seattle, Washington: Tuesday, November 12th, 2002 through Sunday, November 17th at the Paramount Theatre

Transcript[]

Fun Facts[]

Trivia[]

  • Junior's costume in this tour was operated by Kristin Towers-Rowles. She ultimately ended up pushing a disc in her back due to wearing the 50 lbs costume so much that she never appeared onstage again until 7 years later.
  • A behind-the-scenes featurette of this is found on the DVD releases of Josh and the Big Wall!, as well as the VeggieTales Classics VHS of it.
  • According to an interview in the "From Screen to Stage" feature, there were some issues that arose in the first run through that involved characters’ costumes getting deflated and their mouths being taped shut in order for them to stay inflated. Larry was said to be an example of this and in some footage, Goliath was shown to have had the same problem.
    • There were also issues involving characters’ pupils falling off, which can be seen with Bob in the same feature.
  • In the audio commentary of Dave and the Giant Pickle, Mike Nawrocki mentions that Dave’s rock missed Goliath by six feet during the debut of the live show in Minneapolis. Goliath fell down regardless.
  • As heard in the "From Screen to Stage" feature, Bob’s costume measures 5 feet tall, Larry’s costume measures 9 feet tall and 3 feet across, and Goliath’s costume measures 14 feet tall.
  • This is the only live show for several things:
    • The only live show that Mr. Lunt doesn’t appear in, as his costume was not yet made and he is instead seen on a giant fabric hand fan (along side the other veggies, including Laura Carrot, Annie Onion, Dad Asparagus, Mom Asparagus, Madame Blueberry, Mr. Nezzer, Apollo Gourd, Percy Pea and Baby Lou) at the end of the show.
    • The only live show that Goliath appears in.
    • The only live show to recreate episodes of the show, as all other live shows onward were song compilations.
    • The only live show that Qwerty appears in, albeit his monitor projected on the screen.
    • The only live show to have an animated countertop segment.
    • The only live show to have the regular theme song play projected as opposed to being performed live.
    • The only live show known to have Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki as writers.
    • The only live show where the Silly Songs had their respective sets recreated.
    • The only live show that appears to give Bob and Larry eyelids that go down.
    • The only live show where Pa Grape is able to move his eyebrows.
    • The only live show where "God made you special, and He loves you very much" is said before the final lyric of the theme song reprise.
  • According to Joshua Gunther's website, there was a 2-minute animated intro at the start of the show. It was a countertop segment where Bob starts to read a letter after both Bob and Larry introduce themselves and stares to the crowd realizing they're not in a living room, but a live theater. Both characters get excited and run off opposite sides of the screen.
    • Judging by the designs of Bob, Larry, and the countertop, this segment was likely animated around the same time as the Jonah: An Overboard Adventure! VBS greetings.
  • Three original songs were written for the show: A Friend is a Friend, I'm Dave, and What a Sight!. A Friend is a Friend was the only song from the show that was ever released on an album (Bob & Larry's Backyard Party, as well as Have We Got A Show For You!: Ten Years of VeggieTales Greatest Hits and Junior's Playtime Songs), while the other two songs were never officially released.
    • What a Sight!, however, was a downloadable sample clip on Big Idea's former website, when the page for the original show was still up.
    • Many of the songs got re-arranged and re-recorded for the show, some examples being Promised Land, What Have We Learned, and the VeggieTales Theme Song (the third of which in the case of the version that plays at the end of the show). Love My Lips is the only one to retain its original instrumental and vocals (though it also includes extra music by Christopher Davis).
  • This is one of two live shows to have What Have We Learned, the other being Sing Yourself Silly.
  • According to a draft of the script, there were a few differences between pre-production and the final version:
    • The human character Marcy was not included.
    • In the countertop segment, after Bob says "They're all staring up here waiting for something to happen!", this would've followed:
      • Bob: Larry!  We're in a theater!
      • Larry: (gasps) A MOVIE theater?!?
      • Bob: No! Look!  There's no popcorn!  And their feet aren't stuck to the floor!  No, this is a CLASSY theater!
    • What a Sight! was going to be sung on the countertop.
      • Another draft that was written after the implementation of Marcy states that there was to be a radish prop during said song.[1]
    • Bacon was going to have some lines.
    • The doors that Bob and Larry enter would be revealed to be props leftover from a prior production at the theater from 20 years prior, that being The Old Testament on Ice.
    • The two Silly Songs were to have been projected as to being performed live.
      • It also appears to not have been known what exact Silly Songs were to be included, though it is likely that it was The Water Buffalo Song and Love My Lips.
    • Goliath was to appear on-stage during his introduction but instead only his shadow is projected. His costume was also noted to have his gloves not be visible until the battle sequence in which they would inflate out.
    • The passage of time during Josh and the Big Wall! was to be represented through the various days being projected on a scrim sheet with silhouettes of the Israelites walking around Jericho while being pelted with slushies. In the actual show, the passage of time is shown through the sheep carrying various signs (each slightly bigger than the last) with the days on them.
    • Qwerty would've physically appeared onstage, as a flat. This was reduced to simply having his monitor projected on the screen likely due to budget reasons.
    • Larry was originally going to play his sousaphone in the live show version of the theme song. This was changed to singing with the others likely because his sousaphone would be impossible to make, and so he could sing more in the finale.
    • The confetti cannons that burst at the end of the show were going to be overhead.
    • The French Peas had some dialogue after the curtain came down at the end of the show.
  • Shows that were scheduled from September to November 2002 were postponed due to Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie playing in theaters.[2]
  • It is rumored that a professional recording of the live show was sold on VHS to attendants after the end of each showing. However, evidence of such a tape has yet to surface.
  • According to an Animation World Network article, the show was originally envisioned as an adaptation of Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, but for unknown reasons, this idea got scrapped. [3]
  • At least one of the Greenville, South Carolina shows has Endangered Love projected on a screen, as well as a promo for World Vision and a trailer for Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie.
    • It is possible that the World Vision promo and Jonah trailer played at other shows.
  • In the autobiography Me, Myself, and Bob, Phil Vischer explains that while the show was a success, it lost money due to the elaborate sets and oversized props, filling four semi-trucks instead of the typical two. Vischer mentions that the show was downsized as it toured on the road. Below listed are things changed from earlier known material:
    • Larry laying on the couch during Love My Lips.
      • Additionally, during the "It's a lip" part of said song, the Rorschach cards were above the backdrop, meaning they were either lowered down, a spotlight shone on them, or projected on a screen.
    • Strings of lights outlining the proscenium of the stage.
    • Jericho having a second section.
    • Marcy appearing at the top of the cake near the end of Promised Land.
    • The priests playing their horns traveled by a cart. In shows such as the ones in Greenville and in Tulsa, they travel by a platform previously used for a pea band in What a Sight!.
    • Larry's cowboy hat in The Water Buffalo Song was removed. However, while it is gone in found footage of a Greenville show, an image from another performance in the same city shows it worn on Larry's head. It's possible that the prop didn't arrive at the venue yet, or it was worn interchangeably.
    • The Silly Songs' respective sets being held by wooden backdrop holders.
  • The show was going to return for a tour in 2004 according to the website, but fell through following Big Idea's bankruptcy and Clear Channel's two-year deal with the license lapsing.

Remarks[]

  • Dave's stone on his "slingshot" (which is just a string) remains attached after it apparently flies. Another stone hits Goliath, falling from above the stage.
  • Larry doesn't get his head stuck in a door during The Water Buffalo Song.
  • Junior, Jimmy, Jerry and Pa are in their Israelite outfits during the entire show, although the costumes were created without them.
  • In What a Sight!, a prop corn character with five singing faces is unveiled.
  • There are several differences between the live show and the original episodes:
    • Jimmy and Jerry's "Sometimes I think I could eat..." dialogue is noticeably absent.
    • During the Israelite and Philistine camp scene, Jean-Claude tells the Israelites that they have the brains of a salamander and the courage of a one-eyed wallaby instead of calling them pigs and saying that they will put apples in their mouths and stick them in their toaster ovens.
    • Philippe replaces Christophe Pea in the Dave and the Giant Pickle story.
    • King Saul does not wear his crown.
    • Characters like Tom Grape, Scooter, and Percy Pea are absent.
    • When the Israelites encounter the peas at Jericho, Jean-Claude is the one who greets the Israelites before rudely telling them to go away instead of Philippe. Conversely, Philippe is the one who says "Who are we? I think we should ask 'who are you?'" rather than Jean-Claude.
    • Marcy sings the reprise of The Lord Has Given instead of Junior, due to the latter portraying one of the Israelites in the second story. However, in an earlier draft before Marcy was added, Junior still sings it like in the episode.
  • During the Dave and Goliath battle scene, Pa, Jimmy and Jerry are portrayed as puppets behind hills.
  • Archie's pencil in Love My Lips is attached to the notepad and gives the illusion of moving around by hitting it.

Inside References[]

Real-World References[]

  • Laurel and Hardy were an British-American comedy team consisting of British actor Stan Laurel (1890-1965) and American actor Oliver Hardy (1892-1957).
  • Simon & Schuster is an American publishing house founded in New York City in 1924, by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster.

Fast Forward[]

Gallery[]

Images[]

Videos[]

References[]

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RwVmSyXzNdY
  2. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20021003131108/http://www.bigidea.com:80/events/live/tourdates.htm
  3. ↑ https://www.awn.com/news/veggietales-gets-its-own-touring-stage-show
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