Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
presents
A BROWN BEAR, A MOON & A CATERPILLAR: Treasured Stories by Eric Carle
2011/2012

Author/Illustrator: Eric Carle
Author: Bill Martin, Jr (Brown Bear, Brown Bear)
Director/Production Designer: Jim Morrow
Composer: Steven Naylor
Narrator: Richard Donat
Additional Narration: Andrea Norwood
Additional Narration: The children of Hantsport School, Nova Scotia
Stage Manager: Christine Oakey
Performers: Dan Bates, Sarah Jean Begin
Associate Designers: Deborah MacLean, Struan Robertson
Video Design: Windoverdaun Films
Animation: Bob Williams

About Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia ranks among North America’s most respected theatres for the young, and plays an important ambassadorial role for Nova Scotia and for Canada. The company regularly crosses the continent, and has represented Canada in the United States, Japan, Mexico, Australia, England, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Holland, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan. Mermaid Theatre has earned Export Excellence awards from both the Governments of Canada and of Nova Scotia. Based in the Town of Windsor, Mermaid has performed for more than 4.5 million spectators on four continents. The company was founded in 1972.

About our Production
On the road continuously since 1999, Mermaid's The Very Hungry Caterpillar (a component of assorted compilations with four other Eric Carle stories) has generated remarkable statistics and earned considerable praise from audiences on several continents. Close to 1,500,000 spectators in twelve countries have applauded the ravenous green fellow.

First published in 1967, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was written by Bill Martin, Jr and illustrated by Eric Carle, and has served to help hundreds of thousands of toddlers to associate colors and meanings to objects. Capturing the rhythmic text and beautiful tissue-paper collage illustrations of the classic picture book, Mermaid's adaption generates fresh appreciation of the endearing cast of characters. Regarded as one of Eric Carle's most imaginatively-designed works, Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me, has been delighting young audience since its publication in 1986. Mermaid's version mirrors the book's stunning illustrations, drawn in thick, brilliant brushstrokes of blues and greens and dazzling reds. An unusual quest for a unique plaything - the moon - offers a splendid introduction to the wonderment of the lunar cycle.

Eric Carle, Author
Eric Carle, internationally acclaimed author and designer, has written and illustrated more than seventy books for young children. Born in Syracuse, NY, he spent his youth in Germany where he studied fine art in Stuttgart prior to returning to the US in 1952 to work as a graphic designer for The New York Times and later as art director of an international advertising agency. His delightful books, which combine stunning collage artwork with an imaginative approach to learning, have sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. Eric Carle maintains a studio in Northhampton, MA.

About the Creative Team

Jim Morrow, Director/Production Designer
Jim creates puppets for stage, television and film. He's directed numerous shows for the Theatre, including Very Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites, Guess How Much I Love You, I Love My Little Storybook, Swimmy, Frederick, Inch by Inch, Goodnight Moon, The Runaway Bunny as well as designed many others. A gifted performer, Jim has toured extensively in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan. He serves as director of puppetry for Symphony Nova Scotia's production of The Nutcracker, and frequently conducts master classes in puppetry in North America and abroad. Jim is Mermaid Theatre’s Artistic Director.

Steven Naylor, Composer
Steven has created the music for more than a dozen Mermaid shows, including Very Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites, Guess How Much I Love You , I Love My Little Storybook, Swimmy, Frederick, Inch by Inch, Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. His many other professional activities include original film and television scores; contemporary music and 'musique actuelle' performance; university teaching and curriculum development; and a long-term international involvement with electroacoustic concert music. Steven is Mermaid Theatre's Artistic Consultant for Music and Sound Design.

Richard Donat, Narrator
Richard Donat was born in Kentville, NS. He studied acting at the University of British Columbia and at the National Theatre School in Montreal, graduating from the latter in 1967. He appeared at Centaur Theatre in Montreal prior to accepting roles throughout Canada, including at Neptune Theatre and Neptune’s Second Stage, and at the Chester Summer Theatre which he helped to establish. Highlights of his career include a Dora Mavor Moore award, and performing in the widely acclaimed production of Hosanna. He earned the Montreal English Critics Circle Award for directing The Drawer Boy at Centaur Theatre and Wade In the Water at Black Theatre Workshop. Since returning to Nova Scotia in 1990 he has appeared at Neptune Theatre and was a ‘regular’ in the TV series Emily of New Moon and Blackfly,and on the CBC radio mystery series Clean Sweep. He served as narrator for the shipwreck diving series Oceans of Mystery and The Sea Hunters. He has received Nova Scotia's Merritt Award for best supporting actor, and was chosen as reader for the audio book version of Joyce Barkhouse's award-winning story for young audiences, Pit Pony. He was the reader as well for the audio book Rockbound by Frank Parker Day. Richard currently plays Vince in the science fiction television series Haven, which is filmed in Nova Scotia.

Andrea Norwood, Additional Narration
Andrea attended her first theatre classes in her home city of Dartmouth, NS at the age of twelve, and is a graduate of Neptune Theatre School's Pre-Professional Training Program. In 2007, she earned Nova Scotia’s acclaimed Merritt Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Helen Keller in Neptune Theatre’s production of The Miracle Worker, and has performed on many stages across NS. She has toured as a puppeteer with Mermaid since 2008.

Christine Oakey, Stage Manager
Christine is a graduate of the University of King’s College in Halifax and the National Theatre School of Canada. She’s served as stage manager with Atlantic Canada’s major theatres, including for Two Planks and a Passion, Theatre New Brunswick, Mulgrave Road Theatre, Eastern Front Theatre, Zuppa Circus and Neptune Theatre. Christine has worked in Edmonton, Blyth and Toronto as well as at the prestigious Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. She also works as a venue manager for Sundance Film Festival, Hot Docs, the Toronto International Film Festival and the popular BuskerFest in Toronto. Christine first joined the company in 1997.

Dan Bates, Performer
Dan was born in Wolfville, NS. A stint at the University of Waterloo saw him narrowly avoid a career as a biochemist as he headed farther west to study theatre at Studio 58 in Vancouver. Training with the Mermaid Institute of Puppetry Arts ANIMOTION program followed. He's worked with a number of theatre companies and festivals across Canada including Family Life Theatre, Sault Theatre Workshop, and the PUSH Festival in Vancouver. Dan joined the distinguished roster of Caterpillar performers in the 2010/2011 season.

Sarah Jean Begin, Performer
Sarah Jean was born and raised in Halifax, NS. While a student at Acadia University she got her first taste of puppetry when she built and operated a wooden puppet. She undertook specialized training through the Mermaid Institute of Puppetry Arts' ANIMOTION program, and went on to graduate with a BA in Theatre Studies. She joined Mermaid Theatre in the Fall of 2011.

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is represented by
KIDS’ ENTERTAINMENT
For booking information, please contact them at:
500 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 808
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6C 1A8
Tel: (416) 971 4836
Fax: (416) 971 4841
email: info@kidsentertainment.net
website: www.kidsentertainment.net

For general information, please contact
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
P.O. Box 2697
Windsor, Nova Scotia Canada B0N 2T0
Tel: (902) 798 5841 Fax: (902) 798 3311
email: puppets@mermaidtheatre.ns.ca
website: www.mermaidtheatre.ns.ca

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Staff
Artistic Director: Jim Morrow
Managing Director: Sara Lee Lewis
General Manager and MIPAC Coordinator: Lisa Gleave
Artistic Consultant for Music and Sound Design: Steven Naylor
Logistics Coordinator: Peter F. Smith
Director of Youtheatre: Christopher Heide
Administrator: Cathy White
Administrative Assistant: Jason Tucker
Production Manager: Deborah MacLean
Production Associate: Struan Robertson
Technical Director: Michael Jamieson
Scenic Painter: Sarah Haydon Roy

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage. Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is a member of the Professional Theatre Association of Canadian Theatres and engages professional Artists who are members of Canadian Actors' Equity Association under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.; illustrations by Eric Carle. Copyright © 1967 by Bill Martin Jr. Illustrations Copyright © 1992 by Eric Carle. All Rights Reserved. Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle. Copyright © 1986 by Eric Carle. All Rights Reserved. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Copyright © 1969 and 1987 by Eric Carle. All Rights Reserved. Published by Philomel Books.

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