Magik Theatre Wraps Up a Beautiful Metamorphosis with “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”
Magik Theatre is wrapping up an exciting metamorphosis. After extensive renovations to its home at Hemisfair’s historic Beethoven Hall, the region’s leading children’s theatre will mark its return on June 13 with a Grand Reopening party in Hemisfair Park followed by the opening performance of Eric Carle’s classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show.
- WHAT: Magik Theatre Grand Reopening, Ribbon Cutting and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
Premiere
- WHEN: June 13, 2026
- WHERE: Magik Theatre, 420 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205
- EVENT TIMELINE:
- 12 PM – Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Remarks by Magik CEO Mel Zarb-Cousin, District 1 Councilmember Sukh Kaur and Hemisfair CEO Melissa Robinson
- 12:30 – 1:30 PM – Party in the Park: Free public celebration in Hemisfair Park featuring
- refreshments, themed crafts and activities, and live music
- 12:30 – 1:30 PM – Media Tours: Available Upon Request
- 1 PM – Theatre Doors Open: Patrons’ first look at interior renovations
- 2 PM – Opening Day Performance: Premiere of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
- VIP/Media Tours & After-Show Reception: Guided tours, backstage access, and refreshments
A NEW LEAF
For the first time this year, Magik will return to the Beethoven Hall mainstage after completing upgrades including custom-made theatre seats, a brand-new HVAC system, safety enhancements, and more accessible entrances and seating for mobility-challenged guests. “These renovations build on our commitment to equitable access to the performing arts and will make Magik Theatre even more comfortable and welcoming for all patrons,” said Magik CEO Melissa Zarb-Cousin. “We are grateful to the City of San Antonio and our community supporters for funding this project.”
Magik fans from all over can help preserve the theatre’s legacy by sponsoring seats with a custom chair plaque honoring their donation. Local families can see the theatre’s transformation in advance of the grand reopening by signing up for the first weeks of Magik’s popular, newly expanded summer day camps.
Eager to welcome the public back into their magikal home, the theatre added The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show to their 2025-26 season, premiering on June 13 and running through August 2. The production’s opening day Party in the Park will double as Magik’s Grand Reopening, celebrating the transformation of both the most famous caterpillar in children’s literature and the region’s leading Theatre for Young Audiences.
Zarb-Cousin will be joined by local officials and longtime Magik supporters for remarks during the ribbon cutting ceremony, kicking off a day of play and performance. The subsequent, free Party in the Park will entertain revelers right outside Magik’s front entrance, with activities provided by the San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio Public Library and the Monarch Festival. Guests can create their own themed craft, enjoy a live DJ set and munch on candied fruit. At 1 PM, doors to the theatre will open in advance of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show’s San Antonio premiere at 2 PM. Afterward, select VIPs and media are invited backstage for guided tours of the renovation, alongside butterfly-inspired craft cocktails and bites from James Beard- and Michelin-recognized Chef Nicola Blaque of The Jerk Shack and Freight Fried Chicken.
THE PERFECT PRODUCTION FOR MAGIK’S REEMERGENCE
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show has dazzled more than 2,000 audiences around the globe, faithfully bringing Eric Carle’s timeless classics to the stage. Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, this production of the critically acclaimed show features a menagerie of over 75 magical puppets, including the star of the show –The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The San Antonio production is directed by Magik’s new artistic director Collin Pittmann, with puppetry coaching from San Antonio’s own Bradley Freeman, a Muppets Studio puppeteer whose characters include Rizzo the Rat and Bean Bunny.
“We are thrilled our first mainstage production in the renovated theatre is based on the iconic creations of children’s author and illustrator Eric Carle,” said Pittmann. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show is instantly recognizable to children and their families, and an incredible way to acknowledge our theatre’s recent transformation.”
Every production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show also features three other Eric Carle stories. Audiences will meet The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse and The Very Lonely Firefly, all brought to life by a captivating cast of storytellers, sweeping original music and stunning puppetry. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show has been performed to over 3 million children worldwide, receiving accolades from The New York Times, Time Out, The Huffington Post and more, as well as Drama Desk and Off-Broadway Alliance Award nominations.
In addition to the opening day matinee, San Antonio audiences have multiple opportunities to catch The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show all summer long, including Saturday and Sunday performances plus Wednesday morning shows to help pep up long, school-free weeks. And on June 9, Magik will join Hemisfair for a special, free storytime in Yanaguana Garden at 10 AM, featuring a live reading of The Very Hungry Caterpillar book, plus a free copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the first 20 guests.
As with every mainstage production at Magik, the organization offers several special performances, including: Sensory Friendly, Pay What You Wish, ASL Interpreted and Educator Appreciation Day. Magik also offers Military and First Responder discounts. Backstage tours and birthday packages are available as add-on experiences with ticket purchase. For tickets and more information, visit magiktheatre.org/veryhungrycaterpillar.
MAGIK THEATRE
A professional theatre for young audiences established in 1994, Magik Theatre’s mission is to create theatrical experiences that ignite imagination, spark curiosity, inspire empathy, and foster a lifetime love of learning in young people. For more information, visit magiktheatre.org, or Facebook and Instagram @TheMagikTheatre.
