Writing Musical Theater with Lauren Gunderson and Kait Kerrigan

The Questioneers have arrived at the New Victory Theater!

When Miss Greer’s class gets stranded, who will save the day? Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Iggy Peck: The Questioneers! Based on the bestselling STEM-centric book series by Andrea Beaty, this original musical from TheaterWorksUSA sees everyone’s favorite kid engineer, scientist and architect tackle big problems with ingenuity, cooperation and adult encouragement.

Did you know that Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Iggy Peck: The Questioneers was brought to the stage by a powerhouse creative team?

• Bookwriter Lauren Gunderson is one of the most produced living playwrights in the United States.
• Lyricist Kait Kerrigan recently made her Broadway debut writing the book for the musical adaptation of The Great Gatsby and wrote the book and additional lyrics for The Heart, which began performances Off-Broadway in Fall 2026.
• Composer Bree Lowdermilk won the Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater for her show Red.

We spoke with Gunderson and Kerrigan to learn more about their writing processes, adapting picture books for the stage and their advice for the next generation of theatermakers.

Beginning the Adaptation Process

For both Gunderson and Kerrigan, the adaptation process starts with questions. Kerrigan asks herself why she’s adapting the story into a musical specifically: “Does it have music in the DNA of the story? If not, what makes music enter the story? What song moments are the tentpoles of the story? Are there phrases in the original text that should be pulled as anchors for song hooks? Are there moments that scream out to be sung that then tell us about how music functions in this world?”

When Gunderson is writing, she pays attention to “all the points of risk and decision,” asking herself: “When are these students making an active choice, discovering the answer, standing up for themselves, helping each other, risking something for the group?” Those moments always result in “the best and most active scenes and moments for the stage.”

Adapting The Questioneers Book Series

Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Iggy Peck: The Questioneers takes three separate picture books and combines them into one musical story. That’s no easy feat! “We needed to condense all three stories into one plot without losing the fun, wonderful character complexities of each Questioneer,” Gunderson says. “We made sure to highlight Iggy, Ada and Rosie both at home as well as in the classroom, which gave us a private window into their lives. And Kait and Bree's gorgeous songs give us a gorgeous window into their hearts.”

“We wanted to make sure the songs felt like they had the vivid detail and exuberance of the illustrations and also allow the characters, who were so beautiful and poetic in the rhymed text of the book, to come to life on stage,” adds Kerrigan. “Also, it probably doesn't come as a surprise that figuring out how to make a real live bridge out of shoelaces, school supplies and undies was a bit of a head scratcher.”

But the best part? The collaboration. “I love working with Lauren Gunderson and Bree Lowdermilk. They are both exuberant, joyful writers who make me laugh and pull at my heartstrings,” says Kerrigan. “We all have kids, and it was so thrilling to make something that all our kids would be able to enjoy and understand what their mom does at work.” 

Tips for the Next Generation of Theatermakers

When asked what advice they have for young playwrights, Gunderson and Kerrigan agree: just do it! “Write about characters with big personalities who want big things and then go for it!” suggests Gunderson.

“Get to work! Grab your friends and start making theater,” Kerrigan says. “My kids make amazing shows right in our living room! I did the same thing as a kid.”

Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Iggy Peck: The Questioneers runs at the New Victory Theater through October 25.

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