Booked & Scene

Happening now at Saunders Castle through August 31, The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks is an immersive experience that blends history, storytelling, music, and projection into one striking hour. Narrated by Tom Hanks himself, the show traces the story of humankind’s journey to the moon, beginning with the Apollo missions and extending into the future of space exploration. You’re not sitting still for this one—instead, the audience is surrounded on all four walls (and the floor) by larger-than-life projections that transport you to the surface of the moon and beyond.

Houston, We Have Emotion
At the heart of this piece is Tom Hanks—not as an actor, but as a space nerd with a deep love for the subject. This project clearly comes from a personal place for him. As he shares the moment of watching the moon landing at age 13, there’s a contagious excitement in his voice. He speaks not just about rockets and missions, but about people—the astronauts who left Earth as ordinary folks and did something extraordinary. In today’s divided and often wildly tense world, hearing Hanks talk about the world coming together because of that “giant leap” was far more emotional than I expected. It’s not just about nostalgia but rather it’s about remembering what’s possible when we move forward together.

To the Moon and Back
The visuals and music are where this show truly lifts off. The original score by Anne Nikitin, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Tom Kelly, is cinematic in the best way. The rocket launch sequence is breathtaking, both visually and sonically. Major credit to Tom Hackley’s sound design, which somehow makes you feel like you’re there on the launchpad. The footage, all real and remastered from NASA archives, spans the full moon mission timeline and is projected floor-to-ceiling across the space. It’s awe-inspiring without being overwhelming, and it gives you the sense of being both a witness and a participant to the first mission to the moon.

Gravity? Never Heard of Her
What gives this experience its spark is the sense of pure joy woven throughout. The highlight isn’t just the science—it’s the stolen moments of play the astronauts had once they landed. We see them toss paper, hop in their moon boots, and take in the quiet majesty of standing on another planet. These clips don’t just show us what happened, they ask us to feel it. It’s rare to find a show that balances the enormity of space travel with the small, giddy moments of human wonder and whimsy. 

A Space to Explore
Unlike most theater, The Moonwalkers encourages you to move around and see the story from different angles, literally. Whether you’re lying on your back to feel like you’re floating on the moon or climbing to the top platform for a cosmic view, the experience welcomes movement and exploration throughout. It’s family-friendly, engaging, and offers a little something for everyone: I’d definitely recommend a fun photo op with a life-size lunar module replica. Before this mission ends, make the trek to Saunders Castle. You’ve got until August 31 to catch it, after that, it’s off to another planet.

📸: Justin Sutcliffe