Scooby-Doo comes to life on-stage at the Show Me Center

Scooby-Doo, where are you? He and the gang are coming to Cape Girardeau. Life Like Touring and Warner Bros. Studios are bringing the Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries show to the Show Me Center on May 2.

Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, Velma and Scooby have been called to Cape Girardeau to solve a mystery concerning a trouble-making ghost who's haunting a local theater. According to lifeliketouring.com, the show will be filled with fun new characters, songs and outrageous antics.

Life Like Touring has been writing and producing family live theatre shows for over 10 years. The company is Australian-based and has performed shows all over the globe. Within the United States, the Scooby-Doo Musical Mystery will be touring from March to June from coast to coast. Countries it has toured include India, New Zealand, South Africa, Egypt, Asia, Russia and Spain. Life Like Touring produces shows from big-name brands such as Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Studios and Disney/Pixar.

The Scooby-Doo franchise has been on television since 1969. So while the show is mostly aimed toward children of younger ages, it is possible that anyone who grew up watching the wacky cartoon will enjoy it.

The Show Me Center's marketing director Josh Hanlon said that even traditional Southeast Missouri State University students can benefit from the live-action theatre performance.

Students who are in the music or acting department will be able to see what an experienced and successful touring group looks like. Students with children can also take advantage of this opportunity.

"Kid shows are always a hit here," Hanlon said. The Show Me Center recently had a show about classic fairy-tales including "Snow White", "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Beauty and the Beast". "To me, the difference between Scooby-Doo and [Disney princess] shows is that Scooby-Doo appeals to both boys and girls." Hanlon also said that while most children shows are for toddler-aged kids, the Scooby-Doo musical can entertain children up to 10 years old.

Hanlon said that the Show Me Center decided to bring the Scooby-Doo Musical Mystery to campus because it would bring the success and revenue of a children's show, however it would also bring something much different than the stage has seen before. "It's not our standard Disney show," Hanlon said.

The Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mystery will be at 7 p.m. on May 2 at the Show Me Center. The doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets for the show are on-sale now at the Show Me Center box office and start at $17.50. VIP tickets cost $59.50 and include the best seats in the house, a pre-show meet & greet with Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. Gang and a Scooby-Doo goody bag. Premium tickets cost $49.50 and include premium seating and a goody bag. Tickets can also be bought online or by calling the Show Me Center. The first 100 Southeast students to purchase tickets will receive $15 off. Students must have a valid ID and must purchase their tickets at the Show Me Center box office.