‘Click, Clack, Boo! A Tricky Treat’: Barnyard Animals Celebrate Halloween

CHICAGO—An adorable musical adaptation of the children’s book that is a charming yet silly, “Click, Clack, Boo! A Tricky Treat” is an ideal show for young children ages 5 and up.  Now in production at the Lifeline Theatre in Chicago, the show has engaging performers, melodious songs, and family-friendly humor that will have adults giggling alongside the tots.

The musical is based on the book of the same title by Doreen Cronin, and has been adapted for the stage by James R. Grote with music and lyrics by George Howe.

No Halloween!

The story follows Farmer Brown, who doesn’t like Halloween. “Witches give him nightmares. Pirates give him shivers. Jack-o-lanterns flicker spooky shadows on the wall,” he says. He dislikes the holiday so much that upon its arrival, he draws the shades, puts on his pajamas, climbs into bed, and hides underneath a blanket that covers him from head to toe.

However, his barnyard friends—Duck, Pig, Cow, and Hen—love Halloween and are eager to celebrate it. They want to throw a party complete with apple-bobbing, overflowing candy bowls, and a costume contest. But to do so, they have to cure Farmer Brown’s fear and change his mind about Halloween. They decide to use clever tricks to get him in the mood to enjoy the holiday.

While the barnyard animals are creating their Halloween costumes and preparing their party, Father Brown has gone to bed to hide under the covers. He hasn’t even fallen asleep when he hears some creaky, creepy, spooky sounds and then tapping at his door. He climbs out of bed to find out what’s going on and finds an invitation to the party nailed to his door.

He sneaks over to the barn, only to be surprised by the barnyard crew. They persuade him that he should relax and allow a few jitters into his life: a little scare can be big fun.

Totally Fun

Under Amanda Link’s fine and often humorous direction, the 60-minute show moves at a fast pace so that kids’ attention doesn’t waver. The visuals of the show are a cartoonish riot. The technicolor costumes by Annabella Mumma are imaginative and creative—after all, making a person look like a hen or a pig is quite an achievement!

The lighting by Diane D. Fairchild is deliciously creepy, and the sound design by Emily Hayman is haunting; it’s important for the little ones to hear the creaking of old wooden boards on the front porch and the crunching of footsteps on autumn leaves.

The gaiety is infectious; the actors seem to be having a ball with their parts. Peter Briceno Gertas is a hoot as the scared-of-his-own-shadow Farmer Brown. Tyler Meyer has a good time as Duck, Felicia Niebel as Pig, Niklei Prodes as Cow, and Laura Quinones as Hen.

The musical’s theme is about how taking time out for a bit of enjoyment with friends can be exciting even for someone who is a little scared. Its songs that have a rhythmic beat such as ”Click, Clack, Boo!,” but the moral of the show is expressed in the song “You Can’t Tell Me,” which the ensemble of barnyard animals performs. It sends the message that anyone can be anything they want to be.

At the show I attended, the kids were wide-eyed as they watched the animal characters from the popular book “Click, Clack, Boo! A Tricky Treat” come alive on stage. Their parents and family members also seemed to be enjoying the show, but they looked especially entranced watching the children squealing with delight and laughter every time one of the actors spoke with animated animal sounds. A perfect little musical for the family.

‘Click, Clack, Boo! A Tricky Treat’
Lifeline Theatre
6912 North Glenwood Ave., Chicago
Tickets: 773-761-4477 or LifeLineTheatre.com
Runs: 60 minutes (no intermission)
Closes: Nov. 2, 2025

What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to features@epochtimes.nyc