Mermaid Theatre’s Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny to come to Smothers Theatre
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s enchanting production of Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny will come to Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Saturday, October 22, at 11 AM and 1 PM.
Adapted from Margaret Wise Brown’s 60-year-old classic children’s book, 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 mother. Both stories feature endearing animal puppets, stunning scenic effects, and evocative music that have earned international recognition for Mermaid Theatre. The hour-long staged adaptation brings a fresh appreciation of the stories and images that have delighted several generations.
Attending guests can also enjoy Family Art Day activities hosted by Pepperdine University from 10 AM to 1 PM. This free event is open to the public and features hands-on art projects, backstage tours, as well as tours of the Frederick R. Weisman Museum on campus. Mermaid Theatre also encourages audience members to ask questions and see the puppets up close during a Q&A session after the performance.
Few writers have been as attuned to the concerns and emotions of childhood as Margaret Wise Brown. A former teacher, Brown believed that very young children could be fascinated by the simple pleasures of the world around them. Not many authors 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.
Illustrator Clement Hurd worked closely with Brown on her books. He graduated from Yale University and studied painting in Paris in the 1930s with Fernand Léger, among 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.
Founded in 1972, Mermaid Theatre’s unique adaptations of children’s literature have delighted more than five million young people in 16 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).
Ticket prices range between $10 and $15 and are required for attendance. For additional information about the performance, and to purchase tickets, visit the Center for the Arts page on the Pepperdine University website.