A new musical version of Goodnight Moon like you've never seen before has launched the 2011-2012 season for Chicago Children's Theatre (CCT), Chicago's #1 presenter of top-quality professional children's theater.
And one thing is certain, Chicago Children's Theatre's technicolor take on Margaret Wise Brown's beloved bedtime tale is an "eyes wide open" show for audiences of all ages. Catchy songs performed by live musicians, delightful choreography, a colorful set that replicates Clement Hurd's vivid book illustrations and the humorous antics of one very nocturnal bunny all play a part in CCT's family-friendly celebration of one of the most iconic children's books of all time. Watch as Bunny's room magically comes alive as he dances and sings his way to sweet dreams through nursery rhyme scenes with dancing bears with chairs, the Cat and the Fiddle, the Cow Jumping Over the Moon and even a trip through the night sky with dancing constellations.
The show's lead creative team includes David Kersnar (director), a founding member of Lookingglass Theatre, where his directing credits include The Last Act of Lilka Kadison and the critically-acclaimed musicals Brundibar and Sita Ram. Mark Messing (music arrangements), current musical director of the Chicago-based circus punk marching band Mucca Pazza and former music director for Redmoon Theatre, has crafted snappy new arrangements for CCT's production. The original book, music and lyrics are by Chad Henry.
Some of Chicago's top professional theater artists are on the Goodnight Moon The Musical creative team, including Andra Velis Simon (music director), Tommy Rapley (choreography), Rick Simms (sound design), Jacqueline and Richard Penrod (set design), Sarah Hughey (light design) Alison Siple (costume design), and Jesse Gafney (prop design). The cast features Alex Goodrich as Bunny, Sara Sevigny as Old Lady, Becky Poole as Mouse, and Aaron Holland in multiple roles.
Chicago Children's Theatre's Goodnight Moon The Musical is filling the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater 299-seat mainstage with joy and laughter now through December 23, 2011. Single tickets ($26 children; $36 adults) as well as Flex Passes offering a 20% discount on Chicago Children's Theatre's 2011-2012 season are on sale now at chicagochildrenstheatre.org. Phone and in-person sales are via the Victory Gardens Box Office, 773.871.3000. For group inquiries, contact GroupTix at (773) 327-3778 or visit GroupTix.net.
United is the Chicago Premiere Sponsor of Goodnight Moon The Musical.
Goodnight Moon The Musical performance schedule
Performances are October 27 through December 23: Tuesday through Friday at 10:15 am; Saturday and Sunday at 11 am and 3 pm. Press opening is Sunday, November 6 at 3 pm.
Note: Audiences are encouraged to wear their pajamas to the theater for three added Friday night "Pajama Party", Friday, November 11, December 9 and December 16 at 7 pm. There is no performance on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24.
Victory Gardens is conveniently located in the heart of Lincoln Park at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. Discounted parking is available one block south at Children's Memorial Hospital for all weekend and evening performances (no overnights). Metered and street parking is available, but mind the neighborhood parking restrictions. By CTA train, take the Red, Purple and Brown lines to the Fullerton stop. Walk east on Fullerton to Lincoln, then north 1/2 block to the theater. The #8 Halsted, #11 Lincoln, #37 Sedgwick/Ogden, and #74 Fullerton CTA buses all stop at the corner of Fullerton and Halsted, 1/2 block south of the theater.
More about Goodnight Moon
For more than 60 years, parents and children have read and re-read Goodnight Moon, the beloved tale of a little bunny who just can't go to sleep by Margaret Wise Brown. The book was first published in 1947. By 1990, the total number of copies sold was more than 4 million. The text is a simple poem describing a bunny's bedtime ritual/delay tactic of saying "goodnight" to various objects in the room: a red balloon, a dollhouse, the kittens, etc. One memorable aspect of the book is the wealth of detail in Clement Hurd's illustrations. Although the entire story takes place in a single green-themed room, the careful reader will notice numerous details from page to page, including the progression of the hands on the two clocks from 7 pm to 8:10 pm, a red balloon that disappears and reappears from page to page, and the mouse and young kittens wandering to different places in the room on virtually every page.
Goodnight Moon Pajama Drive
