A new original musical by Danielle Wirsansky and Shannon Wolf, developed through Florida State University’s White Mouse Productions, has been published by Next Stage Press, one of the largest independent play script publishers in the United States: “Moo Deng vs. Pesto: The Musical!”
To celebrate, the local writing and composing team will be hosting a book signing at Common Ground Books in Tallahassee from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, April 19. Some of the original cast and crew will be performing select musical numbers from the show.
There will be themed coloring sheets, with audience members determining whether Team Pesto or Team Moo Deng takes the cake. Scripts will be available for purchase and signing by cast members and the writer-composer team. During the signing, Toasty Taiyaki will be selling their signature delicious taiyaki, and Common Ground Books will be open for business as usual with LGBT+ and banned book stickers, art, and literary finds for sale.
“Moo Deng Vs. Pesto: The Musical!” ” is a quirky show that tells the soulful story of Moo Deng the (viral) baby hippo’s sparkling rise to fame, and her dastardly struggle with the fickleness of fortune. Throughout the musical, she yearns for acceptance and admiration, and with the feisty Pesto the Penguin’s help, she learns how to love and accept herself as she is.
Wirsansky and Wolf wrote the story and music with young audiences in mind, but the story about a lovable, yet self-conscious hippo and her battles with self-worth, popularity, and body image resonate with audiences of all ages.
The show was first produced in Tallahassee by White Mouse Productions at the Florida State University’s Spring Fringe festival, hosted by the School of Theatre, in 2025, which celebrates new and innovative theatre work by and for students. The cast and crew then traveled to Atlanta,in June 2025 for the Atlanta Fringe Festival, which features original theatre pieces.
“This musical began right here in Tallahassee,” said Wirsansky. “It means so much to be able to celebrate its publication with the community that supported it from the very beginning.”
This year, the musical was selected for publication by Next Stage Press, a leading independent publisher of plays and musicals. The publication marks an exciting milestone for White Mouse Productions, as one of its original works now has the opportunity to reach theaters far beyond its first productions. It also opens the door for licensing, allowing theatres around the country and beyond to produce the musical.
Wirsansky and Wolf have collaborated on several original musicals, including “The Secrets We Keep,” which was produced by White Mouse Productions and went from its Tallahassee premiere to Off-Broadway in 2024, as well as “Annexed, Where the Snow Falls Red,” and “Moo Deng vs. Pesto: The Musical.”
Wirsansky is an award-winning playwright whose work ranges from historically grounded drama to bold new musicals. Her plays have been performed Off-Broadway and at festivals across the United States and internationally, including the Orlando and Atlanta Fringe Festivals, the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City, and Ireland’s first LGBTQ+ Theatre Festival in Sligo. She is the founder of White Mouse Productions and serves as the Dramatists Guild Representative for North Florida.
Wolf is a composer and lyricist from Tampa. In addition to collaborating with Wirsansky on multiple original musicals,she music directed and performed piano for productions at Florida State University and Off-Broadway.
If you go
What: Book signing for “Moo Deng vs. Pesto: The Musical!”
When: 4-6 p.m. Sunday, April 19
Where: Common Ground Books in Tallahassee, 1102 S. Adams St.
Details: nextstagepress.com
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: ‘Moo Deng’ musical script returns to Tallahassee for book signing
Reporting by Bella Ellec, Special to the Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
