Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
presents
Eric Carle's
The Very Hungry Caterpillar &
Other Eric Carle Favorites
Fall 2009

Writer: Eric Carle
Director/Production Designer: Jim Morrow
Composer: Steven Naylor
Narrator (English Version): Gordon Pinsent
Narrator (French Version): Jean-François Casabonne
Performers: John Allen MacLean, Mary Rebecca Russell
Stage Manager: Patti Neice

About The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites:
On tour continuously since 1999, Mermaid’s compilations of five Eric Carle stories have generated remarkable statistics and earned considerable praise from audiences on several continents. Featuring innovative black-light puppetry and evocative original music, the fifty-minute production includes three beloved stories: THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, LITTLE CLOUD and THE MIXED UP CHAMELEON.

To date more than 1800 performances have been presented to more than 1,300,000 spectators throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Singapore, Japan, Holland, Vietnam, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong. To date, presentations have been offered in Dutch, English, Spanish, Japanese and Korean, with French to follow in the Fall of 2009.

About Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
Based in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Mermaid Theatre's unique adaptations of children's literature have delighted more than four million young people on four continents. Founded in 1972, the company ranks among North America's most respected theatres for the young, and has won widespread recognition for its important ambassadorial role. Mermaid regularly crosses North America, and has represented Canada in Japan, Mexico, Australia, England, Northern Ireland, Holland, Scotland, Wales, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam. Mermaid has earned Export Excellence Awards from both Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada (2001, 2005) in recognition for contributions to culture and the economy, and in 2008 received the Crystal Ambassador Award by the Tourism Industry of Nova Scotia. The company performs for 200,000 spectators annually, and is currently one of Canada’s most active touring organizations.

Eric Carle, Writer
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 lives in Northhampton, MA.

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.

Gordon Pinsent, Narrator
Born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, Gordon is an actor, director, writer and singer of great versatility, and one of Canada's most beloved artists. His work for more than three decades in theatre, film, radio and television has earned him international recognition, as well as honorary doctorates from three universities. In 1999 he was named a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country's highest award of merit.

Jean-François Casabonne, French-Language Narrator
Jean is an active participant in Montreal’s vibrant theatre scene, having appeared in some fifty productions offered by Théâtre de Quat’Sous, Espace GO), Théâtre de l 'Opsis, Théâtre Il va sans dire, and Théâtre du Nouveau Monde among others. Recent television engagements have included roles in Fêtes fatales, La grande expedition, Emma and Le bleu du ciel, the latest series from Victor-Lévy Beaulieu His film appearances include La beauté de Pandore (dir. C. Binamé), Nelligan (dir. R. Favreau) and Les noces de papier (dir. M. Brault).

About the Company:

Patti Neice, Stage Manager
Patti was born in Stratford, ON, and received her technical training at Sheridan College. She’s worked for numerous Canadian theatre companies, including Theatre Beyond Words, Drayton Entertainment, Theatre North West, Ship’s Company Theatre, Mulgrave Road Theatre, Victoria Playhouse Petrolia and The Company Theatre, she has traveled to Singapore and South Korea with Mermaid. Patti joined Mermaid Theatre in January 2008.

Mary Rebecca Russell, Performer
Mary Rebecca is a native of Newfoundland and is based in St. John’s. She graduated from Dalhousie University with a B.A. Combined Honours in Music and Theatre, and undertook specialized training with the Mermaid Institute of Puppetry Arts ANIMOTION program. Mary Rebecca has performed with many professional and community theatres in Atlantic Canada, including Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, the Norstead Theatre Festival, the Gros Morne Theatre Festival and Neptune Theatre. Directing credits include young people's productions of with Timber Lake Camp in New York. This is Mary Rebecca’s first tour with Mermaid Theatre.

John Allen MacLean, Performer
John Allen moved to Halifax, NS from his native Prince Edward Island after completing his B.A. (Psychology) and B.Ed. degrees at UPEI. He has since performed at the Halifax Feast, Neptune Theatre, Festival Antigonish and Live Bait Theatre. His screen credits include Emily of New Moon, Street Cents and Liocracy, as well as the CBS movie Catch a Falling Star. John Allen has been touring with this production since September 2005.

Mermaid Theatre staff:
Artistic Director: Jim Morrow
Managing Director: Sara Lee Lewis
Director of Youtheatre: Christopher Heide
Assistant to the Managing Director: Lisa Gleave

Institute of Puppetry Arts Director:  Jesse MacLean
Administrator: Cathy White
Office/Tour Manager: Karen Gasser
Artistic Consultant for Music and Sound Design: Steven Naylor
Production Manager: Deborah MacLean
Shop Manager: Jonathan Ford
Technical Director: Micheal Jamieson

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is represented
by Kids’ Entertainment Inc.
For booking information, please contact them at:
19 Charlotte Street, Suite 404, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 2H5
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 BON 2T0
Tel: 902 798 5841
Fax: 902 798 3311
email: puppets@mermaidtheatre.ns.ca
website: www.mermaidtheatre.ns.ca

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Copyright 1960 and 1987 by Eric Carle.
All Rights Reserved., Published by Philomel Books.
Little Cloud by Eric Carle. Copyright 1996 by Eric Carle
All Rights Reserved. Published by Philomel Books.
The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle. Copyright 1975 by Eric Carle
All Rights Reserved. Published by HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia gratefully acknowledges the support of the
Canada Council for the Arts, and the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism,
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.