The 101 Dalmatians Musical
The 101 Dalmatians Musical is a family-friendly show based on Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians. It follows Pongo and Missus as they search London for their 15 stolen puppies, who Cruella De Vil wants to turn into fur coats.
Produced by Luis Alvarez and directed by Jerry Zaks, with music by Dennis DeYoung and lyrics by DeYoung and B. T. McNicholl (who wrote the book), the musical isn’t part of Disney’s films, though it shares the same story. The production is known for its on-stage Dalmatian cast—15 real dogs trained for theatre—plus human actors on 15-inch stilts to appear taller, with puppies played by child actors. The dogs were handled by Joel Slaven, and after the run they were put up for adoption.
The show premiered in October 2009 in Minneapolis after a Mexico workshop and toured the United States in 2010. Rachel York starred as Cruella De Vil, later replaced by Sara Gettelfinger in January 2010. The tour ended on April 18, 2010 at Madison Square Garden.
Critics praised York’s Cruella and the clever use of stilts and live dogs, along with the lively design and family appeal. Some reviews noted plot filler and songs that were fun but not especially memorable.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:28 (CET).