In this magical and deeply moving story, Lily and her family move to a new town to care for her ailing grandmother, a transition that feels full of uncertainty and unanswered questions. But when a mysterious tiger from her grandmother’s stories appears, Lily is drawn into a world where myth and memory intertwine, and where the past refuses to stay hidden.

Adapted from Tae Keller’s Newbery Medal–winning novel, When You Trap a Tiger explores the stories we inherit, the ones we choose to tell, and the courage it takes to face them. As Lily begins to uncover her family’s history, she is asked to consider what she believes, what she fears, and what she is willing to risk for the people she loves.

This story sits at the heart of our season’s theme, the courage to begin, reminding us that sometimes the bravest first step is not outward, but inward toward understanding, connection, and truth. It’s a powerful experience for young audiences and the adults who share in these stories with them.

Recommended: Ages 6 and up

Original commission by Stages Theatre Company, Hopkins, MN