Kit Runge, left, as Ben, Marcus Terrell Smith as Sam, and Jody Mullen as Rocks, in a scene called "Dirty Filthy" in "Bark! The Musical," being staged at the Beowulf Alley Theatre.

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If Snoopy were a theater patron, he would have given kudos to a new musical about singing and dancing dogs.

After all, the sax-playing pup often daydreamed outrageous adventures atop his doghouse.

Why wouldn't he give two enthusiastic paws up to other dogs who do the same?

OK, so maybe we're giving too much credit to the cartoon beagle, but what else can one do after seeing a cleverly written story and well-staged production about six dogs told from a canine point of view?

In "Bark! The Musical," which opened last week at the Beowulf Alley Theatre, audiences will hear the stories of Rocks, Ben, Sam, Boo, Chanel and Goldie, a pack of dogs left in a "doggie day care" who act out their secret fantasies and dish about their lives.

Penned by Los Angeles composer David Troy Francis, "Bark!" features clever musical numbers ranging from ballads and the blues to gospel and hip-hop.

The 90-minute Arizona Onstage Productions musical delivers a fun show by a cast of talented actors who make audiences smile with their performances.

It's no wonder that "Bark!" has found critical favor around the country and with Tucson audiences.

It was a favorite in Chicago, Memphis, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Calif., and Portland, Ore.

Word of mouth about the Tucson show has led to sold-out performances for this weekend.

That demand has led to an additional show scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday.

If you can't snatch tickets for the local production, you have another — though more expensive — option: "Bark!" is scheduled to open in November Off-Broadway in New York.

Arizona Onstage's producer-director Kevin Johnson keeps this production moving and lets the cast members work their magic.

Without elaborate sets, fancy costumes and make-up effects, it's left up to the cast members to deliver their entertaining roles as dogs, and they do this with ease and aplomb.

You forget they're human beings jumping around a simple stage and instead are caught up in a world where mutts can rap, sing alluring arias and have daydreams about being Brazilian bombshell Carmen Miranda.

The cast is stellar, with Jody Mullen as the young pup Rocks, Kit Runge as the old dog Ben, Stephanie Sikes as the pampered pooch Chanel, and Shayna Vercillo as the scampish Boo.

Standout performances were given by actors Marcus Terrell Smith and Elizabeth Cracchiolo.

As the stud dog "Sam," Smith enchants the audience with the haunting ballad "Terrier From Mars," and gets folks clapping along with the "M-U-T-T Rap."

Cracchiolo brings a bit of New York attitude and a subtle sense of humor to her middle-age character "Goldie," and gives a fantastic performance during "Howling Just to Scare Away the Blues."

Her silly outfit also draws a few smiles (try keeping a straight face with the six nipples down her brown sweater).

The entire cast delivers tender moments during the final songs, "A Grassy Field" and "Life Should Be Simple," which brought dozens of audience members to tears during opening night last week.

And there, perhaps, lies the secret to this smart, funny and heartwarming show — it's a seemingly simple tale that delivers outstanding music, laughs and tears while wagging with energy and a lot of heart.