Emerald City Theatre opens Chicago Premiere of Mo Willems’ acclaimed

Press Contact: Eleanor Hyde

Phone: 773.529.2690 x823

Email: ehyde@emeraldcitytheatre.com

Emerald City Theatre opens Chicago Premiere of Mo Willems’ acclaimed

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

CHICAGO – Emerald City Theatre continues its 17th season with the opening of Mo Willems’ Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical adapted from the celebrated picture book by the author himself. Knuffle Bunny was toured nationally by The Kennedy Center and will make its Chicago premiere at Emerald City. It will play at the Apollo Theatre, located at 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., from October 6-January 6, 2013, with an invited press opening on Saturday, October 6 at 1pm.

In a world where a trip to the Laundromat threatens to separate Trixie from her beloved bunny, a girl needs a hero to help - Dad. Can Trixie’s parents break the code in time to rescue Knuffle Bunny? This nationally acclaimed musical written by Mo Willems brings a small heroine with big problems to the Emerald City stage.

After the great success of Emerald City’s adaption of Mo Willems’ Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, the company is excited to return to the author’s canon. Mo Willems is a three-time Caldecott Honor-winning Dinosaur (for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny, and Knuffle Bunny Too). He also won two Geisel Medals for There Is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outside?, and a Geisel Honor for We Are in a Book! His books are perennial New York Times bestsellers, including Knuffle Bunny Free and Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator! Before he turned to making picture books, Mo was a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he won six Emmys.

While a family errand goes unexpectedly wrong, Trixie will share a story about trusting family and friends. This theme serves as the main educational focus for the production accessing a life skill that is relevant to early learners and their grownups. A preshow activity in the lobby and the unique Parent Guide in every production’s Playbill let families connect with the show and the story’s Theme throughout their experience. Knuffle Bunny will explore what it means to be trustworthy and reliable for the people who matter most.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

October 6-January 6, 2013

Invited Press Opening: Saturday, October 6 at 1pm

Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems

Music by Michael Silversher

Directed by Job Christenson

Tickets: Starting at $13 for kids and $16 for adults

Location: Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave.

About Emerald City Theatre

Named the 2009 and 2010 Nickelodeon Parents’ Pick Award for Best Theater Group for Kids, Emerald City creates theatre experiences that inspire early learners through play. Emerald City Theatre is one of Chicago's most attended non-profit theaters with an annual programing reach of nearly 100,000 between its performances at Apollo Theater, The Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, regional tours, and educational programming. Emerald City is proud to be the home of 28 world premiere productions. Emerald City employs nearly 100 of Chicago's top artistic and teaching talents to bring magical, interactive productions and programs that entertain children and their grown-ups to all parts of Chicagoland. The company's year-round programming includes live productions at the Apollo Theater and The Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, theatre class offerings, summer theatre camps, an extensive touring program, and literacy initiatives.

Emerald City continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Executive Director Karen Cardarelli, Producing Artistic Director Ernie Nolan, Managing Director Gillian Gorra, and a sixteen-member Board of Directors. Emerald City is a non-profit company, supported by Beermann Swerdlove, Chicago Community Trust, Deloitte, Illinois Arts Council, Katten, KPMG, BeechTree Partners, La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Winston & Strawn, The MacArthur Fund for the Arts and Culture, National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Work Fund, and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.

Emerald City's Lincoln Park performance home is the Apollo Theater, located at 2540 N. Lincoln Ave. Subscriptions are on sale now for the 2012-2013 Season. Single ticket prices begin at $16 for adults and $13 for children. A limited number of $10 tickets are available for each performance. Single tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Apollo Theater Box Office at 773-935-6100.

The 2012-2013 Mainstage Season includes Alice in Wonderland, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat, and The Frog Price Continued.

For more information, visit www.EmeraldCityTheatre.com

2936 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago 60657 | P 773.529.2690 | F 773.529.2693

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