This season we are thrilled to launch an exciting new series designed specifically for children – Visiting Artists Series Jr. – made possible by a generous donation in memory of Sharon La Macchia. The season begins with the Fall launch of a new storybook, Thunder in the Theatre by Sheri Mabry, which is designed to help children understand and enjoy their first live theatre performance.
Mr. Hatch lives a colorless, ordered life. He goes to work at the shoelace factory, eats his lunch alone, reads the paper and then goes to bed… early. Until, one Valentine’s Day he receives the biggest surprise of his life, a candy-filled heart with a note that whispers "Somebody loves you." After that, Mr. Hatch’s world is turned upside down, and he begins to make friends and enjoy all the fun parts of life that he once ignored. Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch is a heartwarming puppet play that examines the effect that kindness can have on a dreary existence.
Goodnight Moon is a "back-light" 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 Theatre’s staged adaptation brings a new sense of appreciation to stories that have delighted several generations.