The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales at the Arden Theatre

The Arden Chidlren's Theatre invites families into a hilariously twisted world where classic fairy tales don’t go quite as expected in its next production of the 2025/26 season, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. Based on the beloved book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, adapted by John Glore, the production brings the book’s fractured fairy tales to life for kids and adults alike. Directed by Steve Pacek, the production runs on the Arden’s Arcadia stage with previews starting April 8, opening night on April 18, with performances running through May 31.

In this laugh-out-loud production, the imaginative set design transforms the theatre into a whimsical funhouse filled with playful surprises. Classic fairy tales get scrambled and turned upside down. The Ugly Duckling doesn’t become a beautiful swan, but a Really Ugly Duck. A Princess kisses a frog and ends up with a mouthful of slime. Familiar characters wander in and out of the wrong stories, narrators lose control of the plot, and the title character himself, a very smelly cheese, tries to steal the spotlight. The Stinky Cheese Man is perfect for kids ages five and up.

“We just want audiences to come into the theater, escape the world for a little while, and laugh,” said director Steve Pacek. “The Stinky Cheese Man takes stories you think you know and flips them completely upside down in the most wild, weird, and joyful way.”

Pacek has a long history with Arden Children’s Theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes, performing in productions such as If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and A Year with Frog and Toad. Most recently, Pacek co-directed the Arden’s smash-hit production of RENT on the mainstage. The production features an all–Philadelphia-based cast, showcasing some of the region’s most dynamic talent. Among them is Matteo Scammell, who returns to the stage after his standout performance in Arden Children’s Theatre’s production of The BFG (The Big Friendly Giant). Lee Minora also joins the cast, following her memorable turn as Smee, Captain Hook’s right-hand man, in Arden Children’s Theatre’s magical 2024 production of Peter Pan.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales begins April 8, opens April 18, and runs through May 31. Single ticket prices vary by performance and start at $35. Tickets are available online at www.ardentheatre.org, by phone at 215.922.1122, or at the box office at Arden Theatre Company (40 N. 2nd Street). 

Special performances and events include: 
Smart Caption Glasses | Beginning Saturday, April 25, 2026
Wearable, customizable closed-captioning glasses are available to reserve for performances. 
Click here to learn more.

American Sign Language (ASL) Shadow Interpretation I Friday, May 15, at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday, May 16, at 4:00 p.m. 
ASL Interpretation where signers follow/”shadow” cast movement.

Student Matinees I Available Weekdays at 10:30 a.m.through May 31. 
Want to bring a school group? Click HERE.

Accessibility
The Arden is fully accessible and proudly named a Keystone of Accessibility by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Accessibility resources include assistive listening devices, sensory processing tools, smart caption glasses, large-print programs, and more. Learn more at www.ardentheatre.org.

About Arden Theatre Company
Arden Theatre Company, founded in 1988, is a professional theatre company in Old City, dedicated to bringing to life great stories by great storytellers on the stage, in the classroom, and in the community. To date, the Arden has produced 46 World Premieres. The Arden has developed four distinct educational programs: Arden for All, our in-school arts education program for elementary level students; Arden Drama School, our on-site, tuition-based theatre classes for pre-K through 12th-grade students; Teen Arden, our theatre enrichment program for high school students; and the Arden Professional Apprentice program, a rigorous training program for young theatre professionals.