Content Guidance

Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical is a lively, interactive production designed for children and families. The story explores themes of creativity, self-expression, and overcoming fears, all while maintaining a playful and humorous tone. The frogs’ comics include imaginative scenarios that range from silly to mischievous, to slightly macabre, always resolved in a positive and constructive manner. The play features elements of sibling rivalry and playful conflict.

• Censorship – Censorship is just a big word for telling someone what they can and cannot say or do. In Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical, Flippy tries to control what the kids write, making the kids feel like they cannot express who they really are in their comics. Flippy learns that he cannot write the kids’ story, and it’s better to let the kids find their own voices. It teaches us that allowing kids to express themselves and to be true to who they are is the best way to support them.

• Mentorship – Mentors are kind of like teachers. They teach us new things and cheer us on when we need support. The coolest part is anyone can be a mentor! Being a good mentor is not just about teaching, it is also about being there when someone needs you. In Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical, Flippy learns that instead of trying to make the kids just like him, it is better to give them the tools they need to discover themselves.

• The Power of Imagination – Inside all of us we have a seed of imagination. The seed is always there but without water it cannot grow. Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical reminds us that imagination is worth watering and growing. The Cat Kid Comic Club is a space for the characters to grow their imagination from a seed into a beautiful flower and reminds us to take care of our own seed, water it and be proud of the beautiful flower of imagination we all have inside.

• Togetherness – Communities Creating Together – Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical shows us how working together can make us closer. Most of the characters write their comics alone, but the whole club always presents them together for their audience. By working together, the kids find community with each other and become closer as a club. Watching the play, we learn that the power of making things together brings people closer, and stronger.

The play includes mild “gross out” language, such as “butt,” “poop,” and “boogers,” along with some lighthearted teasing and playful humor. There are also instances of schoolyard insults and ableist terms.

None

Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical has moments of loud music, moving lights, and brief flashing lights. Audience responses or reactions can be noisy and potentially intense for some audience members.

Check back for additional notes in our Sensory Guide which will be available after the first weekend of performances.

The play begins with Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog introducing the audience to the chaotic world of their new club, where they aim to teach 21 baby frogs how to create their own comics. Each frog is bursting with energy, and Cat Kid promises that by the end of the week, everyone will have created a comic, with the reward of a “Mega-Gigantic, Humonga-normous Comic Club Party” awaiting their success.

As the frogs begin their creative journey, they struggle with self-doubt and fear of failure. The club’s first project, “Dennis the Toothbrush Lawyer for Dinosaurs,” is a collaborative effort that showcases the frogs’ wild imaginations. However, sibling rivalry flares up as Naomi and Melvin clash over their differing interests, leading to playful conflict and a series of comic creations that range from absurdly funny to slightly macabre, such as “Supa Fail!” and “The Cute, Little, Fluffy Cloud of Death.”

Despite these creative outbursts, Flippy, the frogs’ father, grows increasingly concerned about the content of the comics, particularly the recurring themes of destruction and dark humor. Tensions rise when Flippy imposes a rule that all comics must be “decent, wholesome, and with good moral values,” prompting a rebellion among the frogs. This conflict highlights the show’s exploration of creative freedom versus imposed restrictions.

As the week progresses, the frogs begin to find their unique voices. Starla, a shy frog, is encouraged to create a comic in haiku form, embracing her love for the Japanese art form. The final day brings a touching moment of reconciliation between Naomi and Melvin, as Melvin creates a comic from Naomi’s perspective, leading to a newfound understanding and respect between the siblings.

The play culminates in the much-anticipated Comic Club Party, where each frog presents their completed comic, celebrating the power of creativity, individuality, and the importance of embracing one’s unique talents. The story closes with the message that true creativity flourishes when fear of failure is overcome and self-expression is celebrated.

For a scene by scene breakdown, please see our Full Synopsis

Havana Hop is an upbeat one-woman production intended for multigenerational families. One actor plays multiple characters and addresses the audience directly throughout the play, which uses song and dance to explore family history. Attendees are invited to respond verbally and dance in their seats along with her. There are themes of identity, stories, self-confidence, and self-expression as Yeila takes inspiration from her mother, her Abuela, and her Cuban roots to take on a dancing contest, despite her stage fright, alongside the audience.

• IDENTITY
  • People are like puzzles with our lives, stories, cultures acting like little puzzle pieces that all come together to make us the unique person we are. These pieces of ourselves are our superpowers because they help us understand how special we are, which only makes us stronger. Havana Hop shows the audience how different everyone’s puzzle pieces can be. By following Yeila in finding her roots, we see how all these different pieces of us make the person we are today, and the person that we hope to become.

• FAMILY AND STORIES
  • Families are super special for people. Whether they’re the ones we are born into or the ones we choose, families connect us to our past and help us look toward the future. In Havana Hop Yeila learns more about herself by talking to her mom and Abuelita. By watching Yeila learn from the stories her mother and Abuelita tell, we see how listening to the stories our family shares can make us stronger.

• SELF-CONFIDENCE AND OVERCOMING YOUR FEARS
  • In Havana Hop Yeila struggles being confident and facing her fears. In the play Yeila goes on an adventure to learn about all the different parts of her that make her special. As she finds out more about herself, Yeila becomes more confident and gains the courage to face her fears. Watching the show, we see how learning more about what makes us unique can make us strong and brave just like Yeila.

• SELF-EXPRESSION
  • Havava Hop follows Yeila on an adventure of finding out what makes her unique. The play teaches us how knowing what makes you special and being proud to share that with the world is what makes us strong and brave.

Although primarily in English, Spanish is used regularly throughout the story, often with enough context to infer meaning.

Abuela experiences memory loss, as a symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease, which is explained in the play.

Audience responses or reactions can be noisy and potentially intense for some audience members.

The play opens with Yeila engaging the audience against a backdrop of a Cuban flag projected in the night sky. She teaches them to wave their hands in response to a mysterious sound, creating an interactive atmosphere. Excited about performing at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., Yeila reveals her anxiety about auditioning, especially due to her stage fright.

To boost her confidence, she performs an energetic hip-hop dance and rap about self-love. As they arrive at the audition venue, filled with other artists, Yeila leads a warm-up session to energize everyone. However, when it’s her turn to audition, she freezes up. The judges still offer her a spot in the festival, but she must first explore her cultural roots.
Yeila rushes home to share her day, only to find her mother distressed over Yeila’s Abuela, who has Alzheimer’s and is losing her memories. Yeila learns from her mother about the importance of roots—raíz in Spanish—as a connection to heritage and self-discovery. Inspired, Yeila decides to research her Cuban culture with her mother’s help.

They plan a trip to Cuba, inviting the audience to join them on a joyful, interactive flight. Upon arriving in Havana, Yeila is enchanted by the sights and sounds. She creates a beat from her surroundings and starts speaking in Spanish. Her mother encourages the audience to engage in a bilingual call-and-response.

In Abuela’s courtyard, Yeila hears the mysterious sound again, realizing it represents her roots. She calls out for Abuela, who initially responds with confusion. After some coaxing and the mention of salsa dancing, Abuela begins to remember. Yeila’s mother leads the audience in a song that highlights the letters of Cuba—C for Culture, U for Unique, B for Beautiful, and A for Amazing—helping Abuela regain her memories.
As Abuela reconnects with her heritage, she inspires Yeila for her festival performance. After a touching moment where Abuela gives Yeila a flower for inspiration, Yeila returns to D.C. for the festival. Backstage, she finds comfort in the presence of her mother, Abuela, and her new friends.

On stage, Yeila performs a vibrant dance that celebrates her roots and newfound confidence, concluding the play on a triumphant note that emphasizes the power of cultural pride and self-acceptance. The audience cheers as Yeila’s journey comes full circle

Havana Hop is an upbeat one-woman production intended for multigenerational families. One actor plays multiple characters and addresses the audience directly throughout the play, which uses song and dance to explore family history. Attendees are invited to respond verbally and dance in their seats along with her. There are themes of identity, stories, self-confidence, and self-expression as Yeila takes inspiration from her mother, her Abuela, and her Cuban roots to take on a dancing contest, despite her stage fright, alongside the audience.

• IDENTITY
  • People are like puzzles with our lives, stories, cultures acting like little puzzle pieces that all come together to make us the unique person we are. These pieces of ourselves are our superpowers because they help us understand how special we are, which only makes us stronger. Havana Hop shows the audience how different everyone’s puzzle pieces can be. By following Yeila in finding her roots, we see how all these different pieces of us make the person we are today, and the person that we hope to become.

• FAMILY AND STORIES
  • Families are super special for people. Whether they’re the ones we are born into or the ones we choose, families connect us to our past and help us look toward the future. In Havana Hop Yeila learns more about herself by talking to her mom and Abuelita. By watching Yeila learn from the stories her mother and Abuelita tell, we see how listening to the stories our family shares can make us stronger.

• SELF-CONFIDENCE AND OVERCOMING YOUR FEARS
  • In Havana Hop Yeila struggles being confident and facing her fears. In the play Yeila goes on an adventure to learn about all the different parts of her that make her special. As she finds out more about herself, Yeila becomes more confident and gains the courage to face her fears. Watching the show, we see how learning more about what makes us unique can make us strong and brave just like Yeila.

• SELF-EXPRESSION
  • Havava Hop follows Yeila on an adventure of finding out what makes her unique. The play teaches us how knowing what makes you special and being proud to share that with the world is what makes us strong and brave.

Although primarily in English, Spanish is used regularly throughout the story, often with enough context to infer meaning.

Abuela experiences memory loss, as a symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease, which is explained in the play.

Audience responses or reactions can be noisy and potentially intense for some audience members.

The play opens with Yeila engaging the audience against a backdrop of a Cuban flag projected in the night sky. She teaches them to wave their hands in response to a mysterious sound, creating an interactive atmosphere. Excited about performing at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., Yeila reveals her anxiety about auditioning, especially due to her stage fright.

To boost her confidence, she performs an energetic hip-hop dance and rap about self-love. As they arrive at the audition venue, filled with other artists, Yeila leads a warm-up session to energize everyone. However, when it’s her turn to audition, she freezes up. The judges still offer her a spot in the festival, but she must first explore her cultural roots.
Yeila rushes home to share her day, only to find her mother distressed over Yeila’s Abuela, who has Alzheimer’s and is losing her memories. Yeila learns from her mother about the importance of roots—raíz in Spanish—as a connection to heritage and self-discovery. Inspired, Yeila decides to research her Cuban culture with her mother’s help.

They plan a trip to Cuba, inviting the audience to join them on a joyful, interactive flight. Upon arriving in Havana, Yeila is enchanted by the sights and sounds. She creates a beat from her surroundings and starts speaking in Spanish. Her mother encourages the audience to engage in a bilingual call-and-response.

In Abuela’s courtyard, Yeila hears the mysterious sound again, realizing it represents her roots. She calls out for Abuela, who initially responds with confusion. After some coaxing and the mention of salsa dancing, Abuela begins to remember. Yeila’s mother leads the audience in a song that highlights the letters of Cuba—C for Culture, U for Unique, B for Beautiful, and A for Amazing—helping Abuela regain her memories.
As Abuela reconnects with her heritage, she inspires Yeila for her festival performance. After a touching moment where Abuela gives Yeila a flower for inspiration, Yeila returns to D.C. for the festival. Backstage, she finds comfort in the presence of her mother, Abuela, and her new friends.

On stage, Yeila performs a vibrant dance that celebrates her roots and newfound confidence, concluding the play on a triumphant note that emphasizes the power of cultural pride and self-acceptance. The audience cheers as Yeila’s journey comes full circle

Havana Hop is an upbeat one-woman production intended for multigenerational families. One actor plays multiple characters and addresses the audience directly throughout the play, which uses song and dance to explore family history. Attendees are invited to respond verbally and dance in their seats along with her. There are themes of identity, stories, self-confidence, and self-expression as Yeila takes inspiration from her mother, her Abuela, and her Cuban roots to take on a dancing contest, despite her stage fright, alongside the audience.

• IDENTITY
  • People are like puzzles with our lives, stories, cultures acting like little puzzle pieces that all come together to make us the unique person we are. These pieces of ourselves are our superpowers because they help us understand how special we are, which only makes us stronger. Havana Hop shows the audience how different everyone’s puzzle pieces can be. By following Yeila in finding her roots, we see how all these different pieces of us make the person we are today, and the person that we hope to become.

• FAMILY AND STORIES
  • Families are super special for people. Whether they’re the ones we are born into or the ones we choose, families connect us to our past and help us look toward the future. In Havana Hop Yeila learns more about herself by talking to her mom and Abuelita. By watching Yeila learn from the stories her mother and Abuelita tell, we see how listening to the stories our family shares can make us stronger.

• SELF-CONFIDENCE AND OVERCOMING YOUR FEARS
  • In Havana Hop Yeila struggles being confident and facing her fears. In the play Yeila goes on an adventure to learn about all the different parts of her that make her special. As she finds out more about herself, Yeila becomes more confident and gains the courage to face her fears. Watching the show, we see how learning more about what makes us unique can make us strong and brave just like Yeila.

• SELF-EXPRESSION
  • Havava Hop follows Yeila on an adventure of finding out what makes her unique. The play teaches us how knowing what makes you special and being proud to share that with the world is what makes us strong and brave.

Although primarily in English, Spanish is used regularly throughout the story, often with enough context to infer meaning.

Abuela experiences memory loss, as a symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease, which is explained in the play.

Audience responses or reactions can be noisy and potentially intense for some audience members.

The play opens with Yeila engaging the audience against a backdrop of a Cuban flag projected in the night sky. She teaches them to wave their hands in response to a mysterious sound, creating an interactive atmosphere. Excited about performing at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., Yeila reveals her anxiety about auditioning, especially due to her stage fright.

To boost her confidence, she performs an energetic hip-hop dance and rap about self-love. As they arrive at the audition venue, filled with other artists, Yeila leads a warm-up session to energize everyone. However, when it’s her turn to audition, she freezes up. The judges still offer her a spot in the festival, but she must first explore her cultural roots.
Yeila rushes home to share her day, only to find her mother distressed over Yeila’s Abuela, who has Alzheimer’s and is losing her memories. Yeila learns from her mother about the importance of roots—raíz in Spanish—as a connection to heritage and self-discovery. Inspired, Yeila decides to research her Cuban culture with her mother’s help.

They plan a trip to Cuba, inviting the audience to join them on a joyful, interactive flight. Upon arriving in Havana, Yeila is enchanted by the sights and sounds. She creates a beat from her surroundings and starts speaking in Spanish. Her mother encourages the audience to engage in a bilingual call-and-response.

In Abuela’s courtyard, Yeila hears the mysterious sound again, realizing it represents her roots. She calls out for Abuela, who initially responds with confusion. After some coaxing and the mention of salsa dancing, Abuela begins to remember. Yeila’s mother leads the audience in a song that highlights the letters of Cuba—C for Culture, U for Unique, B for Beautiful, and A for Amazing—helping Abuela regain her memories.
As Abuela reconnects with her heritage, she inspires Yeila for her festival performance. After a touching moment where Abuela gives Yeila a flower for inspiration, Yeila returns to D.C. for the festival. Backstage, she finds comfort in the presence of her mother, Abuela, and her new friends.

On stage, Yeila performs a vibrant dance that celebrates her roots and newfound confidence, concluding the play on a triumphant note that emphasizes the power of cultural pride and self-acceptance. The audience cheers as Yeila’s journey comes full circle

Havana Hop is an upbeat one-woman production intended for multigenerational families. One actor plays multiple characters and addresses the audience directly throughout the play, which uses song and dance to explore family history. Attendees are invited to respond verbally and dance in their seats along with her. There are themes of identity, stories, self-confidence, and self-expression as Yeila takes inspiration from her mother, her Abuela, and her Cuban roots to take on a dancing contest, despite her stage fright, alongside the audience.

• IDENTITY
  • People are like puzzles with our lives, stories, cultures acting like little puzzle pieces that all come together to make us the unique person we are. These pieces of ourselves are our superpowers because they help us understand how special we are, which only makes us stronger. Havana Hop shows the audience how different everyone’s puzzle pieces can be. By following Yeila in finding her roots, we see how all these different pieces of us make the person we are today, and the person that we hope to become.

• FAMILY AND STORIES
  • Families are super special for people. Whether they’re the ones we are born into or the ones we choose, families connect us to our past and help us look toward the future. In Havana Hop Yeila learns more about herself by talking to her mom and Abuelita. By watching Yeila learn from the stories her mother and Abuelita tell, we see how listening to the stories our family shares can make us stronger.

• SELF-CONFIDENCE AND OVERCOMING YOUR FEARS
  • In Havana Hop Yeila struggles being confident and facing her fears. In the play Yeila goes on an adventure to learn about all the different parts of her that make her special. As she finds out more about herself, Yeila becomes more confident and gains the courage to face her fears. Watching the show, we see how learning more about what makes us unique can make us strong and brave just like Yeila.

• SELF-EXPRESSION
  • Havava Hop follows Yeila on an adventure of finding out what makes her unique. The play teaches us how knowing what makes you special and being proud to share that with the world is what makes us strong and brave.

Although primarily in English, Spanish is used regularly throughout the story, often with enough context to infer meaning.

Abuela experiences memory loss, as a symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease, which is explained in the play.

Audience responses or reactions can be noisy and potentially intense for some audience members.

The play opens with Yeila engaging the audience against a backdrop of a Cuban flag projected in the night sky. She teaches them to wave their hands in response to a mysterious sound, creating an interactive atmosphere. Excited about performing at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., Yeila reveals her anxiety about auditioning, especially due to her stage fright.

To boost her confidence, she performs an energetic hip-hop dance and rap about self-love. As they arrive at the audition venue, filled with other artists, Yeila leads a warm-up session to energize everyone. However, when it’s her turn to audition, she freezes up. The judges still offer her a spot in the festival, but she must first explore her cultural roots.
Yeila rushes home to share her day, only to find her mother distressed over Yeila’s Abuela, who has Alzheimer’s and is losing her memories. Yeila learns from her mother about the importance of roots—raíz in Spanish—as a connection to heritage and self-discovery. Inspired, Yeila decides to research her Cuban culture with her mother’s help.

They plan a trip to Cuba, inviting the audience to join them on a joyful, interactive flight. Upon arriving in Havana, Yeila is enchanted by the sights and sounds. She creates a beat from her surroundings and starts speaking in Spanish. Her mother encourages the audience to engage in a bilingual call-and-response.

In Abuela’s courtyard, Yeila hears the mysterious sound again, realizing it represents her roots. She calls out for Abuela, who initially responds with confusion. After some coaxing and the mention of salsa dancing, Abuela begins to remember. Yeila’s mother leads the audience in a song that highlights the letters of Cuba—C for Culture, U for Unique, B for Beautiful, and A for Amazing—helping Abuela regain her memories.
As Abuela reconnects with her heritage, she inspires Yeila for her festival performance. After a touching moment where Abuela gives Yeila a flower for inspiration, Yeila returns to D.C. for the festival. Backstage, she finds comfort in the presence of her mother, Abuela, and her new friends.

On stage, Yeila performs a vibrant dance that celebrates her roots and newfound confidence, concluding the play on a triumphant note that emphasizes the power of cultural pride and self-acceptance. The audience cheers as Yeila’s journey comes full circle

Havana Hop is an upbeat one-woman production intended for multigenerational families. One actor plays multiple characters and addresses the audience directly throughout the play, which uses song and dance to explore family history. Attendees are invited to respond verbally and dance in their seats along with her. There are themes of identity, stories, self-confidence, and self-expression as Yeila takes inspiration from her mother, her Abuela, and her Cuban roots to take on a dancing contest, despite her stage fright, alongside the audience.

• IDENTITY
  • People are like puzzles with our lives, stories, cultures acting like little puzzle pieces that all come together to make us the unique person we are. These pieces of ourselves are our superpowers because they help us understand how special we are, which only makes us stronger. Havana Hop shows the audience how different everyone’s puzzle pieces can be. By following Yeila in finding her roots, we see how all these different pieces of us make the person we are today, and the person that we hope to become.

• FAMILY AND STORIES
  • Families are super special for people. Whether they’re the ones we are born into or the ones we choose, families connect us to our past and help us look toward the future. In Havana Hop Yeila learns more about herself by talking to her mom and Abuelita. By watching Yeila learn from the stories her mother and Abuelita tell, we see how listening to the stories our family shares can make us stronger.

• SELF-CONFIDENCE AND OVERCOMING YOUR FEARS
  • In Havana Hop Yeila struggles being confident and facing her fears. In the play Yeila goes on an adventure to learn about all the different parts of her that make her special. As she finds out more about herself, Yeila becomes more confident and gains the courage to face her fears. Watching the show, we see how learning more about what makes us unique can make us strong and brave just like Yeila.

• SELF-EXPRESSION
  • Havava Hop follows Yeila on an adventure of finding out what makes her unique. The play teaches us how knowing what makes you special and being proud to share that with the world is what makes us strong and brave.

Although primarily in English, Spanish is used regularly throughout the story, often with enough context to infer meaning.

Abuela experiences memory loss, as a symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease, which is explained in the play.

Audience responses or reactions can be noisy and potentially intense for some audience members.

The play opens with Yeila engaging the audience against a backdrop of a Cuban flag projected in the night sky. She teaches them to wave their hands in response to a mysterious sound, creating an interactive atmosphere. Excited about performing at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., Yeila reveals her anxiety about auditioning, especially due to her stage fright.

To boost her confidence, she performs an energetic hip-hop dance and rap about self-love. As they arrive at the audition venue, filled with other artists, Yeila leads a warm-up session to energize everyone. However, when it’s her turn to audition, she freezes up. The judges still offer her a spot in the festival, but she must first explore her cultural roots.
Yeila rushes home to share her day, only to find her mother distressed over Yeila’s Abuela, who has Alzheimer’s and is losing her memories. Yeila learns from her mother about the importance of roots—raíz in Spanish—as a connection to heritage and self-discovery. Inspired, Yeila decides to research her Cuban culture with her mother’s help.

They plan a trip to Cuba, inviting the audience to join them on a joyful, interactive flight. Upon arriving in Havana, Yeila is enchanted by the sights and sounds. She creates a beat from her surroundings and starts speaking in Spanish. Her mother encourages the audience to engage in a bilingual call-and-response.

In Abuela’s courtyard, Yeila hears the mysterious sound again, realizing it represents her roots. She calls out for Abuela, who initially responds with confusion. After some coaxing and the mention of salsa dancing, Abuela begins to remember. Yeila’s mother leads the audience in a song that highlights the letters of Cuba—C for Culture, U for Unique, B for Beautiful, and A for Amazing—helping Abuela regain her memories.
As Abuela reconnects with her heritage, she inspires Yeila for her festival performance. After a touching moment where Abuela gives Yeila a flower for inspiration, Yeila returns to D.C. for the festival. Backstage, she finds comfort in the presence of her mother, Abuela, and her new friends.

On stage, Yeila performs a vibrant dance that celebrates her roots and newfound confidence, concluding the play on a triumphant note that emphasizes the power of cultural pride and self-acceptance. The audience cheers as Yeila’s journey comes full circle

Havana Hop is an upbeat one-woman production intended for multigenerational families. One actor plays multiple characters and addresses the audience directly throughout the play, which uses song and dance to explore family history. Attendees are invited to respond verbally and dance in their seats along with her. There are themes of identity, stories, self-confidence, and self-expression as Yeila takes inspiration from her mother, her Abuela, and her Cuban roots to take on a dancing contest, despite her stage fright, alongside the audience.

• IDENTITY
  • People are like puzzles with our lives, stories, cultures acting like little puzzle pieces that all come together to make us the unique person we are. These pieces of ourselves are our superpowers because they help us understand how special we are, which only makes us stronger. Havana Hop shows the audience how different everyone’s puzzle pieces can be. By following Yeila in finding her roots, we see how all these different pieces of us make the person we are today, and the person that we hope to become.

• FAMILY AND STORIES
  • Families are super special for people. Whether they’re the ones we are born into or the ones we choose, families connect us to our past and help us look toward the future. In Havana Hop Yeila learns more about herself by talking to her mom and Abuelita. By watching Yeila learn from the stories her mother and Abuelita tell, we see how listening to the stories our family shares can make us stronger.

• SELF-CONFIDENCE AND OVERCOMING YOUR FEARS
  • In Havana Hop Yeila struggles being confident and facing her fears. In the play Yeila goes on an adventure to learn about all the different parts of her that make her special. As she finds out more about herself, Yeila becomes more confident and gains the courage to face her fears. Watching the show, we see how learning more about what makes us unique can make us strong and brave just like Yeila.

• SELF-EXPRESSION
  • Havava Hop follows Yeila on an adventure of finding out what makes her unique. The play teaches us how knowing what makes you special and being proud to share that with the world is what makes us strong and brave.

Although primarily in English, Spanish is used regularly throughout the story, often with enough context to infer meaning.

Abuela experiences memory loss, as a symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease, which is explained in the play.

Audience responses or reactions can be noisy and potentially intense for some audience members.

The play opens with Yeila engaging the audience against a backdrop of a Cuban flag projected in the night sky. She teaches them to wave their hands in response to a mysterious sound, creating an interactive atmosphere. Excited about performing at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., Yeila reveals her anxiety about auditioning, especially due to her stage fright.

To boost her confidence, she performs an energetic hip-hop dance and rap about self-love. As they arrive at the audition venue, filled with other artists, Yeila leads a warm-up session to energize everyone. However, when it’s her turn to audition, she freezes up. The judges still offer her a spot in the festival, but she must first explore her cultural roots.
Yeila rushes home to share her day, only to find her mother distressed over Yeila’s Abuela, who has Alzheimer’s and is losing her memories. Yeila learns from her mother about the importance of roots—raíz in Spanish—as a connection to heritage and self-discovery. Inspired, Yeila decides to research her Cuban culture with her mother’s help.

They plan a trip to Cuba, inviting the audience to join them on a joyful, interactive flight. Upon arriving in Havana, Yeila is enchanted by the sights and sounds. She creates a beat from her surroundings and starts speaking in Spanish. Her mother encourages the audience to engage in a bilingual call-and-response.

In Abuela’s courtyard, Yeila hears the mysterious sound again, realizing it represents her roots. She calls out for Abuela, who initially responds with confusion. After some coaxing and the mention of salsa dancing, Abuela begins to remember. Yeila’s mother leads the audience in a song that highlights the letters of Cuba—C for Culture, U for Unique, B for Beautiful, and A for Amazing—helping Abuela regain her memories.
As Abuela reconnects with her heritage, she inspires Yeila for her festival performance. After a touching moment where Abuela gives Yeila a flower for inspiration, Yeila returns to D.C. for the festival. Backstage, she finds comfort in the presence of her mother, Abuela, and her new friends.

On stage, Yeila performs a vibrant dance that celebrates her roots and newfound confidence, concluding the play on a triumphant note that emphasizes the power of cultural pride and self-acceptance. The audience cheers as Yeila’s journey comes full circle