The Emperor's New Clothes

Storybook Theatre at Theatre West is back for its 43rd season with its musical take on The Emperor's New Clothes. Hans Christian Andersen's tale of a vain ruler, a pair of crafty tailors and one very honest child gets a bright, giggly makeover, with book and lyrics by Lloyd J. Schwartz and David Wechter and music by Phil Orem.

This is not a sit-quietly-and-watch kind of show. Kids are invited to sing along, toot on kazoos, and even help put on their very own fashion show right alongside the cast. Storybook Theatre has spent decades crafting gentle, interactive musicals for children ages 3 to 9, so the story never gets scary, and the one-hour running time is just right for wiggly preschoolers and early elementary students.

The ensemble includes Caroline Quigley, Coco Kirton, David Mingrino, Kathy Garrick, Cecil Jennings, Jesse Corwin. Understudies: Mark Bowen, Anne Leyden. Choreographer: Nikki D’Amico. Stage mangers: Sarah Acuna, Briana Burnside, Leesa Freed.

Book and lyrics by Lloyd J. Schwartz and David Wechter; Music by Phil Orem; Directed by Lloyd J. Schwart and Barbara Mallory Schwartz.

Produced by Barbara Mallory Schwartz.

The production is made possible in part by the generous support of the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.

📅 Dates & Times

Saturdays, October 17, 2026 – May 22, 2027

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

No performance on Saturday, December 26, 2026.

📍 Venue

Theatre West

3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West

Los Angeles, CA 90068

👨🏻‍👩🏻‍👦🏻‍👦🏻 Age Requirement

All ages are welcome.

The show is ideal for children ages 3 to 9.

🎟️ Tickets/Price

All tickets are $20 (plus fees when purchased online).

Advance tickets are non-refundable.

The box office opens one hour before each performance for walk-up sales and will-call pickup.

Box office phone: 818-761-2203

🍔 Food

Juice and cookies are available at intermission.

🚙 Parking

Some metered street parking is available nearby.

A privately operated parking lot across the street charges $12 (credit card only).

Metro Bus 156 stops at Cahuenga Blvd. West and Oakshire Drive.

🌐 Website Link

Storybook Theatre at Theatre West

🧭 Directions

Click on the “Google” map for directions.

📢 Disclaimer

Event listings are believed to be accurate at the time of posting, but details are subject to change without notice. Please confirm all details with the event organizer before attending. FUN WITH KIDS IN LA® is not liable for errors, omissions, or changes to listings in our calendar. Some events have paid us to be on our events calendar, and some events contain an affiliate link.