The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia comes to the Quick Center for the Arts with two children's classics | Press Releases

Innovative puppetry enhances Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny

The internationally acclaimed children's theater company, the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia travels to Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts to perform two beloved classic children's tales, "Goodnight Moon" and "The Runaway Bunny" on Sunday, March 21 at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. There will be ArtsBound performances on Monday, March 22 at 10:00 a.m. and noon. The ArtsBound Schoolday Series is sponsored in part by the Herman Goldman Foundation and the Fairfield County Community Foundation. Tickets for the Sunday series are $15 for adults and $12 for children. The ArtsBound Series tickets are $7. This presentation is part of the Arts & Minds season.

The Mermaid Theatre presents this innovative double-bill-adaptation of Margaret Wise Brown's and Clement Hurd's beloved bedtime classics using the unique skills of veteran puppeteers, evocative original music and the striking scenic effects for which this highly praised company has become known over thirty-seven seasons.

Image: Runaway Bunny "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 tales 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, suitable for grades pre-K-2, will bring a new sense of appreciation to stories that have delighted several generations.

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.

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 in 1942 of " The Runaway Bunny" and " Goodnight Moon " in 1947 - collaborations with Brown that became two of the 20th Century's best-known children's books.

Tickets are available at fairfield.edu/quick or contact the Quick Center Box Office at (203) 254-4010 for more information. The toll free number is 1-877-ARTS-396. For the ArtsBound performances, Outreach Program Study Guides are available at the Quick Center website. Special offers and discounts are available through the Quick Center's e-mail list. Join, by contacting boxoffice@quickcenter.com . And become a fan of the Quick Center for the Arts on Facebook! Keep up-to-date with the latest performance news, plus special offers and discounts! Find the Quick Center at www.facebook.com/FairfieldQuickCenter.

Directions: Fairfield University is located off I-95, exit 22 at 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.