Fidgety Performance Archives 2008-2023

08/15/2025

Hi, everybody! It’s Matt Jenson, the writer/director of Fidgety Fairy Tales. It’s been a little minute! Fidgety Fairy Tales ended in 2023 after 500 performances with hundreds of super talented youth over fifteen years. I won't be posting here anymore, but I’m leaving this page up because it’s a great archive for everyone who participated over the years.

I continue to create performances that help children and families have conversations about mental health and neurodivergence. Please join me on my new page, Matt Jenson Arts, on Facebook and Instagram. The link is in the comments below.

I’m currently working with the wonderful artists at Speaking Out Collective creating and performing touring interactive puppet shows about anxiety, adhd, autism and more. We have auditions coming up soon for paid performance opportunities for actors ages 13-18.

I’m also writing and illustrating a series of children’s books called “Faun and Daisy - Tales of Autistic Friends.” I’d love for you to join me for the next chapter of my creative journey!

It was such an honor and a joy to have had fifteen wonderful years working with the Fidgety actors and their families and to have connected with so many amazing schools, libraries, organizations and audience members through Minnesota. Keep in touch!

All the best,
Matt

PS - If you would like to stay connected to the organization that produced Fidgety Fairy Tales, Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health, you can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.

05/23/2023

Introducing...Early Fidgety Fairy Tales, a new interactive performance format designed for our youngest audiences! We're using familiar preschool songs to introduce developmentally appropriate concepts about mental health and neurodiversity.

"Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" is a story about the attachment cycle between child and caregiver. Papa Rocket is getting Little Rocket ready for her first solo mission to space. He gives her the freedom and tools to go out and explore, and Little Rocket knows she can always come back to him.

In the photo: Kallie, Ladan, and John perform "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" for a parent and child class at Normandy Park Early Childhood Center in White Bear Lake.

05/02/2023

Performing today and tomorrow in Staples, MN. Thanks to Staples Motley Beyond Poverty for hosting school and community performances!

04/12/2023

Having fun this morning before our performances of Three Little Pigs at Chatsfield Elementary in Bell Plaine, MN

03/26/2023

03/24/2023

Four free performances of Three Little Pigs on Saturday, April 1 at Dreamland Arts in St. Paul. We're going to be filming the shows, and we'd love to have the audience filled with a crowd to cheer them on!

For more info and to reserve tickets: www.macmh.org/fidgety

12/19/2022

Auditions Update: Auditions that were originally scheduled for December 19 and 20 have been postponed until early January. More information coming soon!

12/09/2022

It's been a whirlwind week of touring performances! 8 shows in 6 days in Bayfield, St. Paul, Silver Bay, Two Harbors and Hibbing. The actors did an amazing job bringing the show to life!

A big shoutout to our drivers/chaperones Adara, Claire, Dan, Mark and Rhonda. We couldn't have done it without all of your help and safe driving through snowstorms!

Special thanks to the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation and Rachel Bougalis at North Homes for making these performances possible.

12/02/2022

We'll be performing on Tuesday, December 6 at the High School Auditorium in Two Harbors. If you're in the area, come join us at 6 PM for free pizza, a great show at 6:30 PM and a drawing for gift cards! Reserve your seats at www.macmh.org/tickets

11/29/2022

AUDITIONS UPDATE: Auditions have been postponed until early January. More information coming soon

Send a message to learn more

11/21/2022

Do you work with a school or a nonprofit organization that serves children and families? We're excited to be offering 25 micro-grants to support in-house productions of a Fidgety Fairy Tales script! Awards will range from $750 - $1,000. Learn more and apply: https://macmh.org/.../fidgety-fairy-tales-microgrants/
Image Description: Fidgety Fairy Tales the Mental Health Musicals logo next to picture of two actors dressed as Mary and Little Lamb. The text reads: Apply for a micro-grant to stage your own version of a Fidgety Fairy Tales musical.

Do you work with a school or a nonprofit organization that serves children and families? We're excited to be offering 25 micro-grants to support in-house productions of a Fidgety Fairy Tales script! Awards will range from $750 - $1,000. Learn more and apply: https://macmh.org/programs/fidgety/fidgety-fairy-tales-microgrants/

Image Description: Fidgety Fairy Tales the Mental Health Musicals logo next to picture of two actors dressed as Mary and Little Lamb. The text reads: Apply for a micro-grant to stage your own version of a Fidgety Fairy Tales musical.