KIDS + FAMILIES

The Grand 1894 Opera House’s Serious Fun performing arts season continues Wednesday, January 20, at 10 am with Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny. Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia  presents an innovative double bill adaptation of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd’s beloved bedtime classics, Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny.

Now in its thirty-seventh season, Mermaid Theatre has earned international acclaim for its unique interpretations of the works of Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar ), Leo Lionni (Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch) and Sam McBratney (Guess How Much I Love You). These widely-travelled productions incorporate innovative puppetry, striking scenic effects, and evocative original music to provide very young audiences with an effortless introduction to the performing arts and the excitement of reading.

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.

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 will bring a new sense of appreciation to stories that have delighted several generations.

The Harris L. Kempner Children’s Series at The Grand is supported in part by donations to The Grand’s Permanent Fund in Mr. Kempner’s memory. Additional support is provided by the following: The Anchorage Foundation, Dr. Leon Bromberg Charitable Trust, Harry S. and Isabel C. Cameron Foundation, Comcast Cable, H-E-B, Hotel/Motel Tax Dollars, Robert K. and Marie B. Hutchings Foundation, The Jamail Galveston Foundation, Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund, Robert W. and Pearl Wallis Knox Foundation, Marathon Petroleum Company, The McGovern Foundation, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church Permanent Endowment Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, Saltwater Grill, the Strake Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts and The Wortham Foundation.

Tickets are $9 for children - under 12; school groups $6 with advance reservations; $11 for adults. To purchase tickets and for more information about these productions as well as the 2008-2009 Performing Arts Season, contact The Grand’s box office at 409.765.1894, 800.821.1894, or visit The Grand’s website at www.thegrand.com.  

The Grand 1894 Opera House is located at 2020 Postoffice, in historic downtown Galveston. All major credit cards accepted.