[1][2] The musical was based on the Pokémon anime series, using similar characters, clothing, and story elements.

Approximately 90 minutes in length,[3] the plot follows Ash Ketchum, Misty and Brock as they travel to a contest to win the much sought-after Diamond Badge.

The event turns out to be part of a plan by the evil organization Team Rocket and its diabolical leader Giovanni to take over the world.

[12][13] Footage of the production did not surface until Chris Mitchell, the Production Stage Manager for the US tour, posted videos of the complete performance in Milwaukee's US Cellular Arena (dated December 30, 2000) in seven parts to his personal YouTube channel in 2012[14] and the whole performance in one video in 2016.

Ash declines to join his mother Delia, and Professor Oak to a lecture on sleep disorders among Snorlax, because he has decided to accept the mysterious Gym Leader's challenge.

As he prepares for the journey, Misty chastises him for not taking her to the movies for her birthday as promised three weeks ago.

He orders Team Rocket to capture Ash's Pikachu, because it has Thundershock and Thunder Attack, two techniques that MechaMew2 doesn't have.

In the forest, Brock chases cute girls and Misty laments that Ash is ignoring her in favor of his Pokémon.

Jessie, James and Meowth dig a pitfall trap for Ash and his friends to fall into, but the heroes walk right over it without incident because the Rockets forgot to remove the supports.

In the meantime, Delia and Professor Oak approach the old, run-down building where the Snorlax lecture is supposed to be held.

After Delia confesses that she feels that she is losing touch with her son, the Professor reassures her by saying that things never stay the same for long ("Everything Changes").

Suddenly, several Rocket Grunts rush out of the shadows and surround them, and Giovanni says that the lecture was a trap to lure Professor Oak to them.

Back in the forest, the heroes are lost and alone after Brock earlier threw the map in the river while asking a female trainer for directions.

They try getting help from a deaf trainer with Brock interpreting his signs, who agrees to share his map on the condition that he and the "guy with the goofy smile" have a battle first.

Misty claims the song was Jigglypuff's, and the heroes notice that the deaf trainer kept his end of the deal and left his map for them.

She explains that Giovanni is an old boyfriend from when she was a teenager and used to hang out with a bad crowd, which she put behind her when she met Ash's father.

Realizing Delia has changed, Giovanni tells them that they're here to witness the final battle, as the only attacks left to be learned are Pikachu's electric moves ("You and Me and Pokémon (Reprise)").

He realizes that Pikachu's trainer is necessary to make it battle, so he orders Jessie, James, and Meowth to bring Ash to him.

When Giovanni hears his surname and realizes he's Delia's son, Ash is angered and tells him to leave his mother out of this.

Joyfully reunited with Pikachu, Ash prepares to battle Giovanni and is shocked when he reveals himself to be the Gym Leader from the commercial.

MechaMew2 puts Giovanni in a headlock and prepares to Selfdestruct, telling Mewtwo to take an unconscious Ash somewhere safe.

Just before curtain call, the entire human and Pokémon cast appear and dance, including Giovanni.

If you have a rudimentary knowledge of Pokémon and an enthusiastic underage companion, you'll find that you're having a good time even as your eyes roll towards the projection of Haunter on the ceiling.