I remember when my daughter was a child, curled up on her frilly canopy bed, reading Goodnight Moon night after night.
The classic American children's book by Margaret Wise Brown was first published in 1947 and has been read by millions of parents as a bedtime story ever since. It tells the story of a little bunny, tucked away in bed saying "Goodnight" to everything around him, from the clock and his socks to the mittens and kittens, and of course the moon.
My daughter may be too big for bedtime stories now, but for parents of young children, don't miss the chance to take your kids to the ZACH Theatre production of Goodnight Moon, running through March 23. There are puppets and dancing bears, all under a constellation night sky setting. What more could be asked for in the realm of delighting children?
ZACH has adapted the beloved Margaret Wise Brown book, with its illustrations by Clement Hurd, and brought it to life as a lively musical about children's imaginations at bedtime. Bunny’s room magically comes alive with stunning puppetry designed by Taylor Harrison, tap dancing bears and even a trip through the night sky with a constellation light show.
The production features an all-star cast including Jill Blackwood, Amy Downing, Frank Nappi and Biscuit Brothers member Jerome Schoolar.
“Goodnight Moon is one of the most elaborate productions ZACH has done for young people," says ZACH’s Education Director Nat Miller. "It is a book that spans generations, and we are all excited for families to see it brought to life on our stage. The whole set comes alive with puppetry and spectacle.
"I saw the production at the Seattle Children’s Theatre, where it was developed, and it was magical. More than 9,000 pre-k through second grade students will be attending ZACH’s production of Goodnight Moon, many of them seeing theatre for the very first time. I think this show will not only engage them, but also get them hooked as patrons of theatre and the arts and be an enjoyable experience for parents and teachers as well.”
The production is part of ZACH's Youth Theatre program, which is also offering Spring Break classes for kindergarten through sixth graders. Age five/kindergarten can participate in the Fairy Tale Players, where students jump inside their favorite fairy tales using art projects, creative movement and imaginative play, to explore new possibilities within well-loved stories. Families and friends are invited on the last day of class to see an original tall tale created by the students.
For students in grades one through six, the Movie Magic class will enable them to actually make a movie. Students will rotate through a series of classes in Improv, Design and Acting for the Camera as they prepare to make a world premiere short film to be shared on the last day of class. Youth Theatre also offers summer camps, special shows for families (such as Goodnight Moon) and field trip opportunities for students to experience live theatre with educational content.
Performances of Goodnight Moon will be held on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. through March 23, on ZACH’s intimate Kleberg Stage, 1421 West Riverside Drive. The show is suitable for children age three and up. Children's tickets are $14 and adult tickets are $16. To order tickets call 512-476-0541 ext. 1 or visit www.zachtheatre.org.
