Dog o' Day
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“The Perfect Dog” children’s musical debuts at Philadelphia theater

ByWesley Coburn|
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 29: Rehearsal for 'Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! - The Musical' go on inside Studio K, the largest studio space at the nearly finished REACH, an expansion of the Kennedy Center's performance, rehearsal and work space May 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. Based on the best-selling book by the same name, 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus!' author Mo Willems is the Kennedy Center education artist-in-residence. More than two years late and $100 million over its original cost, The REACH will include outdoor public space with a video wall, a theater, large event spaces, a 69,000-square-foot green roof and workspaces named for important concepts in the life of President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jaqueline Kennedy. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 29: Rehearsal for 'Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! - The Musical' go on inside Studio K, the largest studio space at the nearly finished REACH, an expansion of the Kennedy Center's performance, rehearsal and work space May 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. Based on the best-selling book by the same name, 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus!' author Mo Willems is the Kennedy Center education artist-in-residence. More than two years late and $100 million over its original cost, The REACH will include outdoor public space with a video wall, a theater, large event spaces, a 69,000-square-foot green roof and workspaces named for important concepts in the life of President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jaqueline Kennedy. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“The Perfect Dog,” a children’s stage musical based on John O’Hurley’s book, will debut this weekend at a Philadelphia theater.

The Perfect Dog, a children’s musical based on John O’Hurley’s picture book of the same title, will debut at Philadelphia’s Footlighters Theater at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, as the city celebrates National Dog Show Month.

Performances on Thursday the 14th. Saturdays the 16th and 23rd, and Friday the 22nd will be at 7 p.m., while the Sunday the 17th and 24th shows will be matinees at 2 p.m.

The Perfect Dog follows a 12-year-old boy named Sam who is seeking an ideal dog to enter in the town’s dog contest. Sam is forced to enter the family’s dog, Max, who is anything but perfect and obedient.

O’Hurley is best known for his recurring role as J Peterman on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, and as the host of the game show Family Feud from 2006-2010. Along with dog expert David Frei, O’Hurley has hosted the National Dog Show since its inception in 2001.

The Perfect Dog book, published in 2013, is written in a rhyming format, and is available on both Amazon and Thriftbooks.

The most famous theatre production involving dogs would be Annie, of course, which features the role of Sandy, who our friend Sir Winston Da Doodle played in a community theater production recently.

Also at this year’s Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, service dogs in training went viral after they attended several performances.

Footlighters Theater is the oldest community theater along Philadelphia’s Main Line, an all-volunteer organization housed in a former church building that is dedicated to “producing outstanding productions and to the education of the community in the theatrical arts,” as their website states.

It is located at 58 Main Avenue in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and their phone number is 610-296-9245. See their website for more details and to buy tickets for The Perfect Dog, which will likely be a very enjoyable show.

The National Dog Show presented by Purina will air on Thanksgiving Day, which is Thursday, November 28, at noon Eastern on NBC.

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