Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny

The performance will run approximately 60 minutes, with no intermission.

Media Partner: WKAR

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Goodnight Moon is a celebration of familiar nighttime rituals, while The Runaway Bunny's pretend tale of leaving home evokes reassuring responses from his loving mum. Both feature endearing rabbit characters, the soothing rhythms of bunny banter, and dream-like imagery that never fails to infuse young readers with a reassuring sense of security. Mermaid Theatre's stage adaptation brings a new sense of appreciation to stories that have delighted several generations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Few writers have been as attuned to the concerns and emotions of childhood as Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952). Brown, a former teacher, believed that very young children could be fascinated by the simple pleasures of the world around them. Few had previously attempted to write specifically for children, ages two to five, and Brown created some of the most enduring and beloved children's books of all time. Brown also developed the concept of the first durable board book.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Clement Hurd (1908-1988) graduated from Yale University and studied painting in Paris in the 1930s with Fernand Léger and others. His engaging semi-abstract style became world-famous with the publication of The Runaway Bunny in 1942, and Goodnight Moon in 1947—collaborations with Brown that became two of the 20th Century's best-known children's books.

THE CREATIVE TEAM

JIM MORROW, Director/Production Designer

Jim Morrow (he/him) is of euro-settler descent and lives in the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'Kmaw people. He is the Mermaid Theatre's Artistic Director we well as a performer, designer, teacher, mentor, and creator of many of the Mermaid's celebrated productions including: It's OK To Be Different, The Rainbow Fish, Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny, Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See, Guess How Much I Love You and I Love My Little Storybook; and the award-winning productions of Swimmy, Frederick and Inch by Inch, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites. Jim's contributions to the community, both as artist and mentor, have earned him the Nova Scotia government's highest award for artistic achievement, the Portia White Award; a Doctor of Humanities from his Alma Mater, Acadia University; the Order of Nova Scotia; and the International Performing Arts for Youth's, Mickey Minor Award. Jim was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland and lives in Lower Avonport, Nova Scotia.

KATE REDDING, Stage Manager

Kate Reding is a stage and production manager based in Kjipuktuk, Mi'Kma'ki (Halifax, Nova Scotia). She is passionate about theatre for young audiences. One of her earliest theatre memories was watching a Mermaid performance, and she is ecstatic to be back with the company for this production. She recently worked with Canadian Stage, Mermaid Theatre, Theatre Baddeck, Red Sky Performance, Neptune Theatre, Theatre New Brunswick, Tarragon Theatre and Shakespeare by the Sea. Love and thanks to Joe, who makes it all possible.

JOANIE PAPILLON, Puppeteer

Joanie Papillon is a multidisciplinary puppeteer and director from Montreal. Joanie detains a BFA in Puppet Arts from the University of Connecticut, a Pre-Professional Degree in Classics Dance from Ballet Divertimento, and an Enriched Performing Arts Diploma from the Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA). Some of her favorite credits include Voices, Mackenzie Doss; Taurus, Joanie Papillon & the Dramatic Arts Department at UConn; The Smile Club, Trip The Light Fantastic; The Peace Dancer, Puppets for Peace; Rocky Horror Live Show, Atomic Vaudeville; Macbeth and Twelfth Night, Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival. In 2018, Jonanie founded "Meute Monde," a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing innovative multidisciplinary works for young audiences. She has since created six productions and two wandering performances which continuously tour Quebec's towns, schools, daycares, libraries, theatres, and festivals. Joanie is thrilled to be joining the Mermaid Theatre for her first North American tour!

JESSICA MCGLYNN, Puppeteer

Jessica McGlynn (she/they) is a Métis theatre artist based in Treaty 1 Territory, also known as Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg's honors acting program and is very excited to work with Mermaid Theatre and bring the story of Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Rabbit to life on stage. Credits include: Narrow Bridge, Assistant Director, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre; The Secret Garden, Assistant Director, Manitoba Theatre for Young People Musical Theatre Company; Songide-ewin, Sarasvati Productions; Frankenstein, Midsummer Night's Dream, Middletown, University of Winnipeg. Much love to all my family and friends back home!

ASIF ILLYAS, Composer/South Designer

Asif Illyas is a ECMA award-winning veteran of the Canadian music scene, based on the Atlantic Coast in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and currently spends most of his time creating music for film and television. His career spans over 25 years where he fronted Canadian progressive-pop outfit, and East West/Warner Europe recording artists, MIR, touring four continents and producing 4 critically acclaimed albums. He was also guitarist for Cutting Crew during a portion of lead singer Nick Van Eede's solo career during the late 1990s. He's appeared on albums with Sting, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, and performed on stage with Australia's Colin Hay of Men At Work, Paula Cole, and many others. He has composed and arranged for many orchestral charts for symphonies such as VSO, WSO, and SNS across the country in their Pops series'. He was also assistant to the musical direction for David Fosters touring All-Star show, working for artists BabyFace, Lionel Ritchie, Natalie Cole, and Nathan East. Currently his work is in dramatic and documentary score production and has written award-winning scores for feature films such as TIFF and CSA Winner, Weirdos; 2018 breakthrough Horror epic, The Child Remains; Cannes-Winner, Blackbird; and National Film Board's award-winning documentary, The Chocolate Farmer; and other hit documentaries such as Sickboy; HBO's Fanarchy; Bounty—Into The Hurricane; Forever Young; among many others.

STEVEN NAYLOR, Composer/Sound Designer

Steven Naylor created music for more than a dozen Mermaid shows including: The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites; Stella, Queen of the Snow; Swimmy, Frederick, and Inch by Inch; Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny; and many others. His many other professional activities include original film and television scores, contemporary music composition and performance, university teaching and curriculum development, and a long-term international involvement with electro-acoustic concert music. Steven is Mermaid Theatre's Artistic Advisor for Music and Sound Design.

The 4pm performance is a Sensory-Friendly Performance. Wharton Center, in collaboration with a variety of MSU and community partners, provides a supportive and welcoming environment that will make live theatre accessible to those with sensory sensitivities and their families.