Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
presents
GOODNIGHT MOON & THE RUNAWAY BUNNY
2015-16 U.S./Canada Tour
Stories by Margaret Wise Brown
Pictures by Clement Hurd
Adapted by Jim Morrow
Director/Production Designer: Jim Morrow
Composer: Steven Naylor
Narrator: Deborah Allen
Narrator [Spanish Version]: Marco Ledezma
[Note: Spanish narration credit is not required for English-language performances]
Stage Manager: Sylvia Bell
Performers: Jonny Thompson, Hilary Adams, Michael Venn
Associate Designers: Jonathan Ford, Deborah MacLean
Video Design: Windoverdaun Films
Animation: Bob Williams
Pre-show video images courtesy of Andrew Dill, Avard Woolaver and the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency
About Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
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. Closer to home, Mermaid offers instruction at all
levels through its Institute of Puppetry Arts, welcomes artists-in-residence through its Theatre Loft, provides a
unique outreach program for adolescents through the Youtheatre, and offers a vibrant performing arts series at
MIPAC (the Mermaid Imperial Performing Arts Centre).
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, and
the soothing rhythms of bunny banter and dream-like imagery never fail to infuse young readers with a
reassuring sense of security. Mermaid’s staged 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 aged two to five, and
Brown created some of the most enduring and beloved children’s books of all time as well as 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.
About the Creative Team
Jim Morrow, Director/Production Designer
Jim creates puppets for stage, television and film. He's directed numerous
shows for the Theatre, including
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Stella, Queen of the Snow; The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites; Guess How Much I Love You
& I Love My Little Storybook; Swimmy, Frederick, and Inch by Inch; as well as designed many others. A gifted
performer, Jim has toured extensively in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan. He serves
as director of puppetry for Symphony Nova Scotia's production of The Nutcracker, and frequently conducts
master classes in puppetry in North America and abroad. Jim is Mermaid Theatre’s Artistic Director.
Steven Naylor, Composer
Steven has created the music for more than a dozen Mermaid shows, including Stella, Queen of the Snow; Guess
How Much I Love You & I Love My Little Storybook; Swimmy, Frederick, and Inch by Inch; The Very Hungry
Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites 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 electroacoustic concert music. Steven
is Mermaid Theatre's Artistic Advisor for Music and Sound Design.
About the Company
Deborah Allen, Narrator
Deborah began her theatrical career in Halifax, NS as Neptune Theatre’s first apprentice in 1965. Since then she
has made a successful career as an actor, director, producer, radio broadcaster and voice specialist. Deb toured
with Mermaid Theatre’s production of The Journey in 1974, which played to First Nations communities
throughout Nova Scotia. Since that time she has had extensive experience in theatre, film, television and radio.
Deb has lent her voice to countless documentaries for the National Film Board, TVO, commercials and museum
installations. Among her very favorite narrations would have to be for those little people in her family.
Marco Ledezma, Narrator [Spanish Version]
A graduate of the National Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico City (Theatrical Arts), Marco Ledezma has appeared as
a performer in a number of productions staged at internationally renowned festivals such as the Cervantino and
the Festival of Mexico City among others. He immigrated to Canada in 1992, where he works as an actor in film,
theatre and television, and specializes in all facets of dubbing. He is currently the major Spanish-language
dubbing director in his home city of Montreal. To keep fit mentally and physically, Marco continues to take
courses related to his profession and regularly practices both summer and winter sports. Marco’s narration for
Mermaid’s LA ORUGA MUY HAMBRIENTA (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) has been enjoyed by audiences in both
Mexico and the USA.
Sylvia Bell, Stage Manager
Sylvia is a graduate of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook, NL, where she received a Bachelor of Fine
Arts in Theatre Production in 2007. She’s much in demand as a stage manager, technical director and
production coordinator for film, television and theatre, and has shared her craft with companies throughout the
region including Mulgrave Road Theatre, Home First Productions, Eastern Front Theatre, Off the Leash Creative,
LunaSea Theatre, Forerunner Playwrights Theatre, and Frankie Productions. Sylvia was the recipient of the
Robert E. Merritt Award for Stage Management in 2010, and joined Mermaid Theatre in 2015.
Jonny Thompson, Performer
Jonny was raised in St. Mary’s, ON. After relocating to Halifax, Jonny graduated from the Theatre Program of
Dalhousie University in 2011. Since then, Jonny has preformed in a number of stage productions in Nova Scotia,
including working with Frankie Productions and Two Planks and A Passion Theatre. Jonny completed training
with Mermaid Institute of Puppetry Arts in 2011 and continues to develop his work as a writer and director. He
joined the company as a touring performer in the fall of 2012.
Hilary Adams, Performer
Hilary is a recent graduate of the Dalhousie acting program and Mermaid’s professional training program for
puppetry, ANIMOTION. Her theatre credits include work with Shakespeare by the Sea, DalTheatre, Atlantic
Fringe, and Two Planks and a Passion. Hilary joined Mermaid in 2014, touring their curriculum-based show Code
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Green: Enhancing Awareness of Species at Risk to Nova Scotia elementary schools.
Michael Venn, Performer
Michael is a graduate of the Sir Wilfred Grenfell College theatre program in Corner Brook, NL. It was there that
he earned the Andre Noble Award for outstanding achievement as well as a BFA in Acting. Always striving to
improve his craft, Michael went on to train as a circus performer at the Academy of Circus Arts in the UK and has
entertained audiences all over England, Italy, Canada and the U.S. Michael completed Mermaid Theatre's
Institute of Puppetry Arts training program in 2015 and joined the company as a touring performer shortly
thereafter.
Adapted with permission
Goodnight Moon Copyright © 1947 by Harper & Row. Text copyright © renewed 1975 by Roberta Brown Rauch.
Illustrations © renewed 1975 by Edith Hurd, Clement Hurd, John Thacher Hurd and George Hellyer, as Trustees of the Edith
& Clement Hurd 1982 Trust.
The Runaway Bunny Copyright © 1942 by Harper & Row Publishers. Text copyright renewed 1970 by Roberta Brown
Rauch. Illustrations copyright © 1972 by Edith T. Hurd, Clement Hurd, John Thacher Hurd, and George Hellyer as Trustees of
the Edith and Clement Hurd 1982 Trust.
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and Arts Nova
Scotia. Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and engages
professional Artists who are members of Canadian Actors' Equity Association under the terms of the Canadian Theatre
Agreement.
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is represented by
KIDS’ ENTERTAINMENT
460 College Street, Suite 202
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6G 1A1
Tel: (416) 971 4836
Fax: (416) 971 4841
email: info@kidsentertainment.net
website: www.kidsentertainment.net
For general information, please contact
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
P.O. Box 2697
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada B0N 2T0
Tel: (902) 798 5841
Fax: (902) 798 3311
email: puppets@mermaidtheatre.ca
website: mermaidtheatre.ca
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Staff
Artistic Director: Jim Morrow
General Manager: Lisa Gleave
Public Affairs Consultant: Sara Lee Lewis
Administrator: Cathy White
Office & Tour Coordinator: Jason Tucker
Production Manager: Deborah MacLean
Production Associate: Struan Robertson
Artistic Advisor for Music and Sound Design: Steven Naylor
Technical Director: Michael Jamieson
Youtheatre Coordinator: Kaleigh Heide
Scenic Painter: Sarah Haydon Roy
Seamstress: Sarah Harvey Hart
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