It’s safe to say BALLS The Monster-Catchin’ Musical Comédy will be back following its return engagement over the summer. This show—sometimes referred to online as Balls Monster Catchin Musical for search ease—blends Pokémon-inspired parody, campy fun, and full-on musical theatre energy. Created by Brandon Zelman and Harrison Bryan, it’s become a cult hit! With a cast that knows exactly how to play to the fans, it’s less Sesame Street and more Fraggle Rock meets Saturday morning cartoons. When the latter half bursts with Collectabuddies moments, the passion is unmistakable—and I’m sure Satoshi Tajiri, the franchise’s creator, would love it too. I’d even like to see the show perform in Japan, Pokémon’s birthplace.
Failing that, there’s always Bellevue, Washington—home to The Pokémon Company International HQ. The most likely option? A streaming release. This quirky show premiered April 18–19, 2025, at Caveat on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and returned over the summer, charming both nerds and theatre fans.
This homebrew production isn’t a Broadway spectacle—and it doesn’t pretend to be. If that’s what you want, try Stranger Things: The First Shadow or Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Honestly, I’d love to spend a weekend in Manhattan just to catch all three—I haven’t heard of either coming to the Pacific Northwest anytime soon. When a show is close by, I go. I’ve done it before—when Evil Dead the Musical toured, there wasn’t a single showing anywhere near my hometown (Victoria, BC—the joys of living on an island). So I crossed the border to Seattle’s Lower East Side just to catch it. I got a splash-zone seat, was absolutely slathered in stage blood, and scored a selfie with the lead—who, I swear, had Bruce Campbell’s exact chin.
That same travel-for-theatre impulse kicked in while watching BALLS. The script is packed with clever nods for long-time Pokémon fans, while still being accessible to anyone who’s never touched a Game Boy. It’s a joyful, irreverent romp that, for once, isn’t about Ash Ketchum. Instead, we follow a Gary-like wannabe (Teresa Attridge), whose name changes in every performance, and the Professor (Stuart Zagnit—the same voice actor from the English dub) as they search for purpose.
Along the way, they meet puppet monsters who sing about life’s joys rather than waiting to be captured for sport. Battles are fought with cards, true to many monster-hunting games, and yes—Zagnit can sing. Many Pokémon voice actors have stage experience, including Rachael Lillis and Eric Stuart, making them perfect future guest stars. Veronica Taylor (the voice of Ash) appeared in the recording I watched.
Nostalgia is baked into the design, from blocky Game Boy-inspired sets to lightweight staging that could easily tour—and even sell as souvenirs. With its Fringe-theatre scale, low overhead, and reliance on projected slides, it’s exactly as big as it needs to be. I’ll say it: this show deserves to travel. Too often, niche productions stay in big cities and vanish. A good recording would preserve it for future fans, provided the producers market it instead of letting it fade.
If there’s a flaw, it’s that the plot leans more on the Professor than the Gary-type’s growth. Still, their journey through a world of singing, dancing Collectabuddies feels less like the work it draws inspiration from.
Pokémon has always been about adventure. This show deserves one of its own—on tour, in cities big and small—so more fans can join the journey.
Pop culture and theatre lovers should keep an eye out for this production. If it rolls into your town, or even close to it, this is one adventure worth embarking on. It captures the spirit of exploration perfectly under the thin veil of parody. It even winks at other fandoms, with nods to games like Yu-Gi-Oh! that made me grin. Seeing a different version of the Turtle Squad had me giggling; that was the episode that sold me on the franchise. The ‘cool factor’ is real, and the drama can be as absorbing as The Dark Crystal. The puppets prove you don’t need massive budgets for believability. Anyone who grew up on Shari Lewis’ act with Lamb Chop will love this show to bits.
If this adventure comes your way, don’t wait for it to evolve—catch it while you can.
4 Stars out of 5
TL;DR:
- Parody — A fresh, clever twist on the aspects of the trading card game phenemenon that’s recognizable for fans and newcomers alike.
- Engaging Live Puppetry — Creative puppets bring the “Collectabuddies” to life with charm and humour.
- Energetic Performances — Teresa Attridge and Stuart Zagnit lead a cast full of passion and talent.
- Nostalgic Design — Game Boy-inspired sets and low-budget charm give it a distinct, memorable style.
- Audience Participation — Interactive moments make every show a unique experience.
and there’s this Sizzle Reel from Balls Monster Catchin Musical that shows the energy!
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