UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 2
September 12, 1996
'Velveteen Rabbit' to open new Junior Series

     Theatreworks USA, America's foremost professional theatre
for young and family audiences, will present an original
adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit at 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 29,
in Mitchell Hall.
     The performance is the first offering in the new Junior
Series being presented as part of the UD Performing Arts Series.
Brunch is available at the Blue & Gold Club prior to the show.
     Menu highlights will include eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs,
sausage and bacon, hash browns, pancakes, cream chipped beef,
assorted pastries and beverage.
     The Theatreworks musical adaptation of Margery Williams'
1922 classic tells the tale of a boy named Steve and the toy
rabbit on which he lavishes attention. When Steve is taken ill
with scarlet fever, his family, fearing contamination, insists
that most of Steve's belongings-including his beloved rabbit-be
destroyed. In the dramatic resolution of the story, both the
Velveteen Rabbit and Steve are changed by their circumstances
and, most importantly, by each other's love.
     In this adaptation, however, Steve has been given an older
brother, Ben, who is more interested in his girlfriend and his
skateboard than his uncool little brother.
     And, while it is the work of magic fairies that rescues the
Velveteen Rabbit in the original book, in the play, the rabbit
must call upon the magic that's inside himself to resolve his
problems.
     Book and lyrics for The Velveteen Rabbit were written by
James Still, whose award-winning plays have been performed
throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. In addition to many
other projects, he is currently writing a Nickelodeon series
produced by Maurice Sendak.
     Jimmy Roberts, the composer, has had his songs featured in
several off-Broadway productions and was the pianist for the New
York productions of The Fantasticks and They're Playing Our Song.
     Theatreworks USA has helped launch the careers of such
performers as Henry Winkler, Academy Award-winner F. Murray
Abraham and four-time Tony Award-winning director Jerry Zaks.
     Individual tickets for the performance are $10 for the
general public, $8 for UD faculty, staff and alumni and $5 for
students and children. With brunch, tickets are $20 for the
general public, $18 for UD faculty, staff and alumni and $10-$15
for students and children. Children ages 5-11 can eat for $5 at
the Blue & Gold Club and children under age 5 eat for free.
     For information, call UD1-HENS. 
                                                     -Beth Thomas