Children's book to come alive with Cardinal Stage Company

Those who owned a beloved stuffed animal, blanket or toy as a child may relate to Cardinal Stage Company’s newest production.

“Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical” will premiere at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center.

The musical will be shown Oct. 6-21 and features Trixie, a young girl whose beloved knuffle bunny has been lost in the neighborhood laundromat.

Tickets cost $18.50 for adults, $10 for children and $12.50 for students.

For the first weekend’s performance, tickets for children 12 and under will be half price. All tickets purchased at the Cardinal box office are $1 off.

The musical, based on Mo Willems’ book “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale,” is part of the Cardinal for Kids series.

“Knuffle,” a Dutch word meaning “hug or “snuggle,” is pronounced “KA-nuff-ul.”

The story memorializes Willems’ daughter’s first words, “knuffle bunny,” as well as his beloved neighborhood in Brooklyn.

Randy White, artistic director at Cardinal, said Cardinal for Kids is one of two series at the company.

“One is our main stage series, our plays for adults,” White said. “The second series, they’re essentially fully produced plays with adult actors but specifically aimed at kids ages 3 to 9.”

Cardinal for Kids began two years ago with the production “If you Give a Mouse a Cookie.”

“Knuffle Bunny,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Charlotte’s Web” comprise this year’s series.
Cardinal performs special matinees for schools. For this production, the company will perform at seven different schools.

“Teachers really know this book,” White said. “Mo Willems is sort of a rock star in the world of children’s literature. Personally, with all the shows we’ve done, I think this show is certainly one of the best in terms of the script and lyrics. It’s really catchy.”

Christine O’Grady, director and choreographer of the musical, has worked with productions such as Broadway’s “Hair,” Surflight’s “Legally Blonde” and Barrington Stage’s “Beauty and the Beast,” among others.

“I’m very excited that Christine O’Grady has joined us here for the first time directing,” White said. “To have her out here working with folks is really exciting.”

Ben Abbott will play the role of “Dad,” Erin Cohenour is “Mom” and IU alumna Charnette Batey has been cast as “Trixie.”

Music for the play is composed by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Michael Silversher.

“Michael Silversher is terrific,” White said. “It’s a great score and I think it’s a really great script.”

— Makenzie Holland