The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is pleased to bring Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny, created and performed by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, Canada, to the August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA this May. Part of the Citizens Bank Children’s Theater Series, Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny will be performed from May 12-15, 2016. This event is also being presented as part of the 30th annual EQT Children’s Theater Festival, taking place in downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, May 12-15, 2016. All are welcome to attend!
Tickets for Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny start at $9 and are available at www.TrustArts.org, by phone at 412-456-6666, in person at the Box Office at Theatre Square, 655 Penn Avenue, and at each show venue. Performances of Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny(recommended for ages 3-8, 60 minutes) are Thursday, May 12 at 10:15 a.m.; Friday, May 13 at 12:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.; Saturday, May 14 at 10:00 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.*; Sunday, May 15 at 10:00 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. *The performance on Saturday, May 14 at 11:45 a.m.is sensory-friendly.
Based on two of the 20th Century’s best-known children’s books, Mermaid Theatre’s staged adaptation of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd’s work will bring a new sense of appreciation to the stories that have delighted several generations.
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 tales feature endearing rabbit characters, the soothing rhythms of bunny banter and dream-like imagery never that fail to infuse young readers with a reassuring sense of security. Alison Mayes, Winnipeg Free Press raves that “This entrancingly beautiful, masterfully designed production will touch anyone who appreciates theatrical excellence.”
A former teacher, Margaret Wise Brownbelieved 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 aged two to five, however Brown took on the challenge. Her collaboration with Clement Hurd, artist and illustrator of Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny, allowed for the creation of two of the most enduring and beloved children’s books of all time. Clement Hurd, aYale University graduate, studied painting in Paris in the 1930s with Fernand Léger and others. His engaging semi-abstract style became world-famous with the publication in 1942 of The Runaway Bunny and Goodnight Moon in 1947.
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is a theatre group known for incorporating innovative puppetry, striking scenic effects, and evocative original music into their work to provide very young audiences with an effortless introduction to the performing arts and the excitement of reading. Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny features these same elements. In this production, Mermaid takes Hurd’s iconic illustrations and reproduces them in three dimensions with amazing accuracy. In addition, audience members will experience the black light of Goodnight Moon that allows the painted set and characters to glow vividly while the three black-clad puppeteers disappear into the background. In contrast, The Runaway Bunny is told in a more traditional puppet-theatre style with the puppeteers in view.
Founded in 1972, Mermaid Theatre’s unique adaptations of children's literature have delighted more than five million young people in sixteen countries on four continents. Based in Windsor, a small rural town in Nova Scotia’s Avon Region, the company performs for more than 300,000 spectators annually, and currently ranks among North America’s most active touring organizations.
In recent years, Mermaid has earned international acclaim for its unique interpretations of the works of Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar), Leo Lionni (Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch) and Sam McBratney (Guess How Much I Love You).
For more information about Mermaid Theatre visit: http://mermaidtheatre.ca/.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents a variety of family programming including the following series and festival. For more information please visitwww.TrustArts.org.
Children’s Theater Series, Bridge Theater Series & Children’s Theater Festival
The Children’s Theater Series, Bridge Theater Series and Children’s Theater Festival, a division of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, opens the door for children to experience professional performing arts programming which inspires, challenges, educates, and stimulates respect for and an understanding of all cultures in an entertaining and enlightening way.
The Citizens Bank Children’s Theater Series (now in its 46th season, 2015-2016), introduces children to the arts early in life sparking their interest and appreciation so they continue to enjoy and support the arts as they grow up.
The EQT Bridge Theater Series (now in its inaugural season, 2015-2016), for ages 7 and up, expands upon the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s mission of bringing artistic opportunities to children of all ages through culturally diverse performances that will continue to engage young audiences through participation, encouragement of and respect for their creative ideas and develop their interest in the arts. For more information, visit TrustArts.org/kids.
The EQT Children’s Theater Festival (celebrating its 30th year in 2016) is one of only four international children’s theater festivals in the nation. The festival is known for performances and area premieres from artists around the world, free outdoor arts, music and installations, and unique free hands-on activities for any age. The festival welcomes everyone to participate in the educational and cultural experiences that bring people together while enjoying elements of fun and surprise.
For the third year, the EQT Foundation, the charitable affiliation of EQT Corporation, will serve as the lead and title sponsor of the Children’s Theater Festival. Established in 2003, the EQT Foundation provides educational opportunities for children, as well as adults, values the development of livable communities, and is committed to the preservation of natural resources. The EQT Foundation prides itself on being a responsible corporate citizen and invests in programs that promote an understanding of culture and heritage.
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts. www.TrustArts.org
