Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of Lost Toys

Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of Lost Toys is the 1^st stage show adaption of Dora the Explorer.

The tour began at the Palace Theatre in Louisville, Kentucky on April 4, 2003, and concluded at the Convention Center in Bakersfield, California on September 3 of the same year. In 2004, the live show toured again. In 2009, a revival of Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of Lost Toys began. Unlike the original 2003 show, the 2009 version has been shown worldwide including the Resorts World Genting at Malaysia and Canada. Additionally, the 2009 show added Diego to the character cast.

Characters

• Dora
• Boots
• Backpack
• Map
• Swiper
• Fiesta Trio
• Diego (2009 version)
• Baby Jaguar (2009 version)
• Benny
• Isa
• Tico
• Azul
• Roberto
• Blue Star
• Red Star
• Yellow Star

Summary

In the live performance of "Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of Lost Toys," Dora and her monkey friend Boots embark on a quest to find Dora's missing teddy bear. With the audience's help, they navigate through various challenges, jungles, and puzzles to reach the City of Lost Toys. Along the way, they meet and receive assistance from colorful characters like Benny the Bull, Isa the Iguana, Tico the Squirrel, and Azul the Blue Train. However, they must also be wary of the mischievous Swiper the Fox, who aims to reach the city first. Through teamwork, problem-solving, and interactive engagement with the audience, Dora and Boots successfully locate the City of Lost Toys, reunite with their missing teddy bear, and celebrate their adventure with a joyous song.

Plot

"Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of Lost Toys" unfolds as a magnificent stage spectacle, captivating the audience with its vibrant characters and enchanting narrative. The story commences with Dora, the intrepid young explorer, realizing that her cherished teddy bear has gone missing. Distraught but determined, she teams up with her loyal companion, Boots the monkey, to embark on an epic quest to locate the elusive City of Lost Toys. The stakes are high, and the clock is ticking as they set forth on a journey filled with challenges and mysteries waiting to be unraveled.

As Dora and Boots traverse through dense jungles and navigate treacherous terrains, they are not alone in their adventure. The audience becomes an integral part of their expedition, assisting them in solving puzzles, deciphering clues, and making crucial decisions. The interactive nature of the show imbues it with a sense of collective excitement, as children and families engage wholeheartedly in the quest, singing along to catchy tunes and dancing to rhythmic beats that punctuate their odyssey.

Along the way, Dora and Boots encounter a delightful ensemble of characters, each contributing uniquely to their mission. Benny the Bull, Isa the Iguana, Tico the Squirrel, and Azul the Blue Train are among the colorful personalities that aid them in their quest. These characters, brought to life with captivating performances and intricate costumes, enrich the narrative tapestry and underscore the themes of friendship, cooperation, and perseverance that resonate throughout the story.

However, every adventure has its adversaries, and Dora and Boots must remain vigilant, especially with the mischievous Swiper the Fox lurking nearby. Unlike his animated counterpart, Swiper plays a more pivotal role in the live show, driven by his own motivations to reach the City of Lost Toys first. His antics add a layer of suspense and urgency to the plot, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats as they eagerly anticipate his next move.

The production design of the live show is nothing short of spectacular, with intricately designed sets that transport the audience from the lush jungles to the mystical City of Lost Toys. The choreography is energetic and dynamic, complementing the narrative pace and ensuring a visually engaging experience. Special mention must be made of Backpack and Map, whose roles in the live performance are reimagined to facilitate Dora's journey, providing her with essential tools and guidance at pivotal moments.

As the story reaches its climax, the audience's anticipation reaches a fever pitch. Dora and Boots, with the invaluable assistance of their newfound friends, finally reach the City of Lost Toys. The moment is both triumphant and poignant, as they are reunited with the missing teddy bear and other lost toys. The atmosphere is electric, culminating in the joyous "We Did It!" song that celebrates their collective achievement and underscores the show's empowering message.

In a heartwarming finale, Dora and Boots are joined by Diego and Baby Jaguar, marking a joyous reunion that brings their adventure full circle. The characters come together on stage, basking in the glow of their shared triumph and the enduring bonds of friendship that have been forged along the way. As the curtain falls, the audience is left with a profound sense of fulfillment, having been part of an unforgettable journey that exemplifies the spirit of exploration, discovery, and camaraderie.

Original 2003 version

Act 2

Swiper found his glove and his grandma’s blanket.

Songs

Original 2003 version

1. Dora the Explorer Theme Song
2. I Can't Find My Teddy Bear
3. You'll Find Your Teddy Bear
4. I'm The Map
5. Travel Song
6. Lost City Travel Song
7. We'll Find a Way
8. Backpack, Backpack!
9. (Some unknown song that was snug while Dora and Boots were sailing across the ocean)
10. We're Going Home, Vamos A Casa!
11. We Did It!

2009 version

1. Dora the Explorer Theme Song
2. I Can't Find My Teddy Bear
3. You'll Find Your Teddy Bear
4. I'm The Map
5. Travel Song
6. Lost City Travel Song
7. Star Catching Song
8. Dancing With the Stars
9. The Number Pyramid (song)
10. Go, Diego, Go! Theme Song
11. Listen To the Animals
12. We'll Find a Way
13. Backpack, Backpack!
14. (Some unknown song that was snug while Dora and Boots were sailing across the ocean)
15. We're Going Home, Vamos A Casa!
16. We Did It!
17. Get On Your Feet! (US only)

Places on this Live Show

1. Number Pyramid
2. Mixed-Up Jungle
3. Ocean
4. Lost City

2009 Tour Dates

• February 13-15 - Philadelphia, PA - Susquehanna Bank Center
• February 25 - March 1 - Baltimore, MD - The Hippodrome
• March 6-8 - Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theater
• March 17-18 - Omaha, NE - Orpheum, NE - Orpheum Theater
• March 20-22 - Pittsburgh, PA - Benedum Center
• March 26-29 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
• April 1-5 - Washington D.C. - Warner Theatre
• April 8-12 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
• April 21-22 - Saginaw, MI - Temple Theatre
• April 24-26 - Cleveland, OH - Civic Center
• May 7-10 - Boston, MA - Boston Opera House
• May 15-17 - Minneapolis, MN - State Theatre
• June 5-7 - Denver, CO - Buell Theatre
• June 9-10 - Birmingham, AL - BJCC
• June 12-14 - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theatre
• June 19-21 - Columbus, OH - Palace Theatre
• June 26-28 - Cincinnati, OH - Aronoff Theatre

Gallery

The at the Radio City Music Hall on April 12, 2009.

Trivia

• There are some differences from the live show to the actual episode.
  • Diego (already mentioned) Baby Jaguar (2009 version only), Roberto the Robot, The Big Red Chicken, Baby Blue Bird, and Senor Toucan appear in the live show after being absent in the original episode. The latter three characters appear as puppets in the beginning.
  • Swiper has a more major role in the live show compared to the episode. He's also not on his good side throughout the live show unlike the episode since he's trying to get to The City of Lost Toys first to swipe all the toys. However, when he found "his" blankie, he eventually goes to his good side.
  • Swiper also doesn't lose a glove either unlike in the episode.
  • Benny, Isa, Tico, and Azul get their missing toys back at The Lost City in the live show, while in the episode, they magically go back from The Lost City to their respective owners.
  • Additionally, in the episode, Tico and Isa lost their keys and wheels respectively, but in the live show, they lost a soccer ball and a full scooter.
  • The shortcut is found in The Number Pyramid in the live show, while in the episode, it’s found outside.
  • In the episode, Boots got his blankie back at The Lost City. However, in the live show, Swiper was the one to get the blankie back.
  • There is a scene where Dora and Boots have to go across an ocean to get to The City of Lost Toys that's not in the episode.
  • Dora uses Backpack in the stage show in order to get something she and Boots can use to get the boat to cross the water, unlike in the episode where she doesn't use her at all.
  • In the Number Pyramid, the Screen is absent in the live show and is replaced with three people in suits of the numbers one, two, and three.
  • Woo-Hoo Star isn't in the live show, but handouts of him are given out to the audience to use during the show.
  • In the 2009 version in the US only, Map is referred as a female compared to the actual series where he's referred as a male.
    • This marks the first time that Map is female outside the Russian, Ukrainian and Greek dubs of the show.
• The international version uses performers in full body mascot suits instead of them wearing costumes resembling their clothing in the US version.
• In the international live shows, aside from Dora, Boots and Diego, all the other characters present have different voice actors from the actual show.
• In the international live shows, the Favorite Parts segment comes before the We Did It! song unlike in a typical Dora episode and the US show.
• The moment with Diego and Baby Jaguar reuniting with Dora and her friends at the end comes after the We Did It! song in the US show, while in the international shows they come before the We Did It! song. In the Latin America and Brazil adaptation however, they are already at The Lost City.