Composer Behind Songs in ‘Wild Kratts,’ ‘PJ Masks,’ and Other Iconic Children’s TV Shows Brings New Musical to San Diego

By Jacob Kamaras

LA JOLLA, California — The co-creator of the songs for some of the most popular children’s shows on television is bringing a new musical to San Diego.

Actually, it’s a musical about putting on a musical.

Ensemble: The Musical — which will be performed live for the first time at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center from February 17-19 — follows the cast, parents, and owners, Hank and Julia, of the small-town theater company “Truly Talented Theater.” While facing financial ruin and an uncertain future, Hank, who has secretly written an original play, tries to get his project on stage by any means necessary. The teens are conniving, the mothers are overbearing, and the two leads don’t belong. And with a Broadway producer coming to opening night, “everything is on the line and there’s no looking back now,” states a description of the show.

The music in Ensemble represents the latest work of Toronto-based composer and songwriter Paul Koffman, who along with Tim Foy has written the music for successful children’s TV shows including “Wild Kratts,” “Bob the Builder,” “Donkey Kong,” “Zoboomafoo,” “PJ Masks,” and more. Koffman and Foy are the co-founders of Pure West Music, which has received a Gemini nomination for their work on the CBC series “Our Hero” and Grammy consideration for “Wild Kratts.”

But for Koffman, Ensemble is a family affair. His daughter Emily Koffman, who has worked in the entertainment industry, and son-in-law Benjamin Monts, a playwright, live in San Diego and brainstormed the concept for the show during a visit to Toronto four years ago (before they were married).

“It just exploded in the room. We jumped on it,” Paul Koffman tells San Diego Jewish World.

The entire family, also including Paul’s wife Cheryl Koffman, collaborated on the lyrics for Ensemble. Paul wrote the music and Ben wrote the script, as well as a book on which the play is based. Viewers can expect to hear songs such as the anti-Disney-themed “Eternal Love,” in which a prince wins the hand of a princess but then regrets it when he discovers that she’s a troll, and “The Trees,” when trees come alive and dance on stage.

“It’s just a lot of fun and farcical stuff,” Paul Koffman says.

He emphasizes the belief of the show’s creators that in our lifetime, we’ve seen a handful of musicals that speak to a generation — and that Ensemble could be that next “teen dramedy” with catchy songs; relatable characters; and a fun, heartwarming story that’s both entertaining and appealing to a wide audience.

The family worked on the songs in 2018 and 2019, and they were targeting Broadway for the musical before the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the live theater sector. They explored the possibility of making Ensemble into a movie for streaming services, but it was “always meant to be a piece of live theater,” says Koffman. The family now hopes that the 75-minute-long show’s initial “musical showcase” in San Diego will be a prelude to its appearance on larger stages.

“There’s nothing preachy about the show—it’s pure entertainment,” Koffman says.

The composer grew up in a Jewish household where music was always prominently featured. His late uncle, Moe Koffman, was a well-known Canadian jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer, and arranger.

Paul Koffman says his music is also continuously inspired by a sense of humor that he gleaned in part from the famed Jewish comedians that he has adored over the years.

“Almost every Christmas carol that you can mention was written by a Jew,” he quips, adding that he has an affinity for the Ashkenazi Jewish genre of klezmer music.

Ensemble will be performed at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center on Friday, February 17, and Saturday, February 18, from 8-9:30 p.m., as well as on Sunday, February 19, from 2-3:30 p.m. Tickets are available at https://ensemblethemusical.ticketleap.com/. The show can also be followed on Instagram and TikTok.

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Jacob Kamaras is editor and publisher of San Diego Jewish World.