George is at it again, and this time his curiosity takes him all the way to Rome. When his good friend Chef Pisghetti learns his little restaurant might close for good, George hatches a plan to enter the Golden Meatball Contest and save the day. What follows is a romp full of mischief, mishaps, and the kind of well-meaning chaos that only a small monkey in a big yellow hat can create.

Staged in Reynolds Hall, the production makes good use of the venue's grand scale, with a full orchestra pit bringing the score to life beneath a set that shifts from a cozy neighborhood trattoria to the bustling streets of Rome. The 2,050-seat theater, with its sweeping balconies, gives families plenty of room to settle in for an afternoon of live theater built around a character generations of kids have grown up with.

Expect songs, puppetry, and plenty of visual gags aimed at younger audiences, along with a story that sneaks in some gentle lessons about friendship and problem-solving between the laughs. It's the kind of show where parents who grew up with the books and cartoons might find themselves just as charmed as the kids sitting next to them.