With the Coronivirus Epidemic, theaters across the world have had to shut down. This has led to many people who are involved in stage performances, like actors, costume designers, producers, writers, and more, to no longer have an outlet for their creativity, momentarily. However, like everyone else, they have had access to the internet, and probably a little too much free time. So what is a better way to spend that free time than writing a musical based on the 2007, animated movie, Ratatouille.

Ratatouille follows the story of the rat, Remy. His one dream is to become a fantastic chef. But he has one major problem. He’s a rat. Despite this, he moves to Paris in an attempt to achieve his dream. There he meets the helpless boy, Linguini. Teaming up the pair decide to work together and test their skills in the kitchen and blossoming friendship.

It all began with 26-year-old Emily Jacobsen. Back In August, she had read an article about a “Ratatouille” based ride that is scheduled to open next year at Walt Disney World in Florida. That idea then stuck with her, because as she was cleaning out her apartment later that day, she began humming a tune about Remy. Being a schoolteacher, Disney fanatic, and theater lover, Jacobsen then decided to record what “she describes as ‘a love ballad’ for the rat — ‘Remy, the ratatouille / The rat of all my dreams / I praise you, my ratatouille / May the world remember your name’” (New York Times).

From there, she posted the video to the popular social media app, TikTok. The internet ate up the idea, and the Ratatouille musical was born. Now, people have created songs, dances, makeup looks, set designs, puppets, and Playbill programs (New York Times). There has been no actual organization to forming of the musical, but so far, everything seems to be working out as the meme grows larger and larger. 

Ratatouille: The Musical has grown so large in popularity, that it even has it’s own Wikipedia page. Gen-Z has played a major role in this by spreading the word about Remy and urging people to get involved. Using TikTok as their main platform, Gen-Z took the inspiration granted to them from one short video and used it to motivate themselves, and those around them to create something remarkable. 

Amateurs and professionals alike have all contributed to the development of the play. Professional puppet designer (work included in both “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “The Pee-Wee Herman Show”) explained in an interview with the New York Times that he does not want to limit himself. He then went on to explain that he has thoroughly enjoyed working on this project, adding, “We just fell in love with this, and we don’t want anyone to stop us.”

Christopher Routh, someone who has used boxes and legos to create elaborate miniature set designs explained how, “It’s such an incredible trend on how our community can come together like this and create a musical out of nowhere,” (New York Times).

In such hard times, it truly is amazing to be able to see the community come together and work towards one, universal goal. Even if it may be a musical dedicated to the lovable and incredibly talented rat, Remy.