There is Nothing Wimpy About Diary of a Wimpy Kid at The Levoy Theatre

by Deitra Oliver with Guests: Jude (Age 12) and Kendrick (Age 9)

Middle school isn’t for the faint of heart. Things like popularity, the Cheese Touch, and the numbers 6 and 7 reign supreme in the hallowed halls of every middle school.  My personal recollections of my time there, honestly not that long ago, are fuzzy at best. Since I am not the most reliable source on all things middle school, I brought my nephews, Jude and Kendrick, along with me to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid at The Levoy Theatre, and I am so glad I did. Directed by Caitlin Geisser, with assistant directors Alex Manzo and Andrea Ellis, this is one of my favorite productions so far this year. 

Watching it with my nephews helped me to connect with them in new ways. As an adult, it is easy to forget how serious everything is at that age. We tend to write it off as we grow and change, but middle school is a formative period in our lives. We begin to define who we are and how we want to be seen. We learn how to make friends and how to deal with bullies. We find things we are passionate about and start to work on our crafts. We are silly, we are wild, we are sad, we are happy, we are full of life and feelings. It is a crazy time, but it is so much fun, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical at the Levoy Theatre perfectly captures its essence. 

This was my first time at the Levoy Theatre, and my nephews and I were all very impressed. According to both of them, it is a “pretty fancy theatre”. The lobby was beautifully decorated with balloons and decorative bunting that looked like composition notebooks and school supplies. There were even selfie spots set up with props. I believe some of this signage and decor was done by Danny Van Meter of Upper Room Creations. My nephews were very impressed, especially when they caught sight of the concession setup. The candy and treat options were seemingly endless, but we settled on soft pretzels, Swedish Fish, and Sour Patch Kids. 

The interior of the theater was quite impressive. I have been to a lot of community theaters, but this was the most well-outfitted and best-designed theater I have visited outside of Broadway. It is readily apparent that great pride is taken in the space.  The theatre has 696 seats with orchestra and balcony seating available. I will say that I did not find the seats the most comfortable and would advise larger-bodied or taller patrons to look for end-of-row seating. You will be able to stretch your legs more and not feel so cramped. 

If you have read any of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, you may be familiar with the artwork found throughout them. The set design and construction by Cody Geisser reflected this art style throughout. Framing the stage in layers are wings decorated to look like the pages of Greg Heffley’s (the protagonist) diary. There are also backdrop frames with a similar design. It looks crisp and clean and perfectly sets the stage for the show. Geisser also made excellent use of the theater's fly system to create smooth and effective scene transitions. 

Working in tandem with the set design were the props, which were done by the Wimpy Kid Staff.   I loved the attention to detail. The overall design elements of the artwork on the stage are also reflected in the props. I enjoyed the different placements of the popularity rankings numbers. For all of us, one of our favorite moments was the song “All About the Mom Bucks”. It literally rained fake money throughout the theater. Jude and Kendrick were very excited to walk away with some Mom Bucks of their own. Kendrick even tried to tip our waitress with one after the show. 

One of the most fun parts for me was during “All About the Mom Bucks”, when they made a Hamilton reference, with the Schuyler sisters and Alexander Hamilton driving by in a Bugatti. Which brings me to the costume design for this show. There is no reference in the program for costuming, but the choices were phenomenal. The costumes made it clear the role each student played at the school. They were all brightly colored, stylish, and popped onstage. Additionally, the cohesiveness of the chosen hairstyles was an excellent choice. 

Lighting by Rin Kaltwasser played a big role in the show. During scenes like “Animal Heart,” the lighting transformed the stage into a concert arena. Lighting was used to highlight specific scenes or characters with great effect. There were some minor issues with a blacklight sequence that made it difficult to see the characters onstage, but I think that it came down to the theater being a bit too bright. 

This show had many moving parts and transitions, and Stage Managers Alex Manzo and Angela Ridgeway, along with assistant stage manager Jessica Wise, did an excellent job of ensuring everything kept moving. They were working with a cast of 43 people, 40 of whom were youths, so I can imagine they had their hands full. Impressively, this show moved like a professional production. Much credit can be given to the crew working behind the scenes, ensuring every stage setup was done quickly and efficiently. Jamir Dixon, Reilly Gibbons, Kate Hathaway, Elena Marcato, Jason Reynolds, Finnley Rogers, and Zoe Wells worked together like a well-oiled machine.  

Music Director Ally Chappius brought out the best in the performers. Individual solos and group numbers were all well executed, with great harmonies and strong vocals. They opted for tracks rather than a live orchestra, and it worked well for the timing and energy of the show. Chappius also allowed many members of the ensemble cast to have moments to shine vocally, with featured solos by Angelina Heuser, Arabella Pacitto, Lily Eisenhardt, Tenleigh Crawford, and Violet Knapp. Sound design by Curtis Matias and Sound Assistant Donna Terry helped the show to maintain its flow and energy. Choreography by co-choreographers Caitlin Geisser and Julianna Giordano, with help from dance captain Adrianne Castro was precise and exciting. As both a participant in and attendee of many community theater productions, I was very impressed by the professional-looking choreography presented by the young performers. This is a great testament to the team that worked with them. 

The production team all worked together to make this an excellent production and to allow the cast to really shine. From the opening sequence, where we meet Greg Heffley, played by Trey Johnson and James Sullivan, you are taken back to the halls of middle school. The Levoy Theatre presented the 60-minute edition of the show, with a 15-minute intermission, which was just right for anyone who brought younger children to see the production. During the opening number, “The Middle of It All (Part 1) we are introduced to Greg’s family. Alicia Ellis as Mom, Shane Horn as Dad, Collin Baker as Rodrick, Greg’s older brother and frontman for his band Loded Diper, and Gavin Michael Molter as Manny, the youngest member of the Heffley family. My nephew Jude immediately said, “Wow, that’s Rodrick! Where’s Loded Diper?”  

We saw the Sunday matinee performance featuring James Sullivan as Greg Heffley. My nephews and I were impressed by his vocal talent, poise, and comedic timing. He was captivating throughout and performed with the skill of someone who has been doing this for a long time. He never missed a beat or a note. 

Carter McCulley, who plays Rowley Jefferson, Greg’s best friend, though Greg would beg to differ, delivered a strong and engaging performance. He was instantly likable with his first introduction, wearing the poncho, and continued to be an engaging and entertaining presence throughout. Sullivan and McCulley had great chemistry as two friends navigating the world of middle school. Greg is on a mission to become popular no matter what, while Rowley is more secure and happy to listen to his favorite pop star, Joshie, played by Mason Hemphill, and to just be himself. The show takes you on their journey through the first year of middle school, with all its ups and downs. As we follow them through the year, we get to meet many of their classmates along the way. 

Greg compares himself to Bryce Anderson, played by Gavin Bartelt, the “most popular kid in school.” He exudes the kind of cool energy that draws the attention of his classmates. Jealousy eats at Greg, and he longs to achieve that level of popularity. Greg has friends, but none of them seem to live up to his hopes for middle school. Harrison Simon plays Charlie Davis, a friend of both Greg and Rowley. And there is Lionel James played by Noah Lieske, who sits behind Greg in class, and Chris Hosey, played by Christian Cameron Robinson, who sits in front of Greg. 

In “The Middle of It All (Part 2)” we are introduced to Fregley, played brilliantly by Talia Burton. Fregley is one of the least popular students at the school, due to their eccentric behavior, and I thoroughly enjoyed Burton’s portrayal.  One of the funniest songs is “The Cheese Touch”, which featured Lennon Shea Thurlow as Claire. Thurlow did a great job delivering the necessary levels of ick and warning when explaining the lore of the Cheese Touch; it’s kind of like cooties for the older readers of this review. We also meet the class bully, Duane Higgins, played by Harper Youmans, and the 8^th graders played by Tommy DeGeorge and Hance Youmans JR. during this number.

In Greg’s quest for popularity, he decides to run for class treasurer. It’s not reaching too high in his mind, and therefore, he should be able to get the spot, moving his popularity ranking up. Unfortunately, things do not go according to plan, and Greg winds up running against Patty Farrell, who outsmarts and outworks him, played with spot-on delivery and characterization by Harper Walker Wiley. Wiley is joined by Arden Cha as Pauline and Magnolia Jacobs as Yvette. Together they form an iconic trio that pays homage to Heathers, Mean Girls, or even the Powerpuff Girls, especially with the costuming choices. They were all so sensational, and it was fun to see them making appearances together throughout the show. 

Greg does not win the election and finds his popularity has taken an even greater dip. When he hears an announcement by the Vice Principal, played by Devion Watson, he decides to join the school newspaper as a cartoonist. Watson does double duty as Mr. Underwood and honestly made us laugh every time he came out to make an announcement. He delivered strong “Bueller” energy.

Greg and Rowley end up in a fight, and Rowley uses Greg’s comic idea to take the position of cartoonist for the school paper. Greg doubles down, but nothing he tries works out for him.  As Greg’s popularity continues to tank and his friendship with Rowley is on the rocks, he decides to hang out with Fregley. “The Fregley Song,” featuring both Burton and Hannah D’Aquila as Fregley’s Mom, is a comedic tour de force. Their high energy and awkward intensity made you want to immediately leave their home. It was a lot of fun. 

Another standout number is “Animal Heart”, performed by Mason Hemphill as Joshie. This nightmare sequence gives us a look at the inner workings of Greg’s mind. He is stressed and overly concerned about what other people think about him. This song was my personal favorite and has been on repeat in my car.  

Greg and Rowley’s battle of wills comes to a head in “The Fight,” and Greg is forced to choose between popularity and his friend. When Rowley is forced by the 8^th graders to touch the disgusting cheese, Greg steps in and saves him from the curse of the Cheese Touch by throwing it away. Their friendship is rekindled, and Greg learns that his low popularity rating isn’t the most important thing. 

Filling the halls of the school with vibrant energy, excellent vocals, and outstanding choreography are the rest of the ensemble cast. Jayda Ashley, Harper Anne Gray, Allie Barden, Jacquelyn Casiano, Sophia Cayer-Johnson, Elijah Flores, Emma Hathaway, River Lieske, Rose Micciche, Katherine Peek, Eriana Perez, Ajae Quinones, Kaylee Ridgeway, Giovanna Rifice, Lydia Snyder, and Claire Wilson. Every cast and ensemble member did an excellent job in this production. It was a joy to watch young actors deliver high-level performances with such skill and poise. Jude and Kendrick both enjoyed watching you and wanted me to make sure to say that you ALL did a “GREAT JOB!” 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid at The Levoy Theatre was an amazing experience, and great entertainment for the whole family. Unfortunately, the show is wrapped, but I will be on the lookout for future productions there, if this show is any indication of the quality they bring. 

Check out the online program here- https://levoy.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Diary-of-a-Wimpy-Kid-Digital-Program-compressed.pdf

Find other great shows at The Levoy Theatre here- https://levoy.net/