Top row, from left: Rakeem Lawrence, Susannah McLeod, Mercedes Perez. Second row: Marco Robinson, Sean Scrutchins and Maggie Tisdale.

Cast of area favorites will bring beloved bedtime story to life for 42,000 area youth

The Denver Center’s rapidly expanding Theatre for Young Audiences program has announced the full cast and creative team for Goodnight Moon, a musical adaptation of the classic 1947 children’s book written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. For the past 72 years, families around the world have made Goodnight Moon a part of their bedtime ritual. As the clock strikes seven o’clock, the final waking moments of Bunny’s day are filled with kittens and mittens, bears and chairs, a red balloon, a quiet old lady and – of course – the moon.

Marco Robinson in DCPA Cabaret’s recent production of ‘Xanadu.’ Photo by Emily Lozow.

The Denver Center’s production, presented in full partnership with the design team from the DCPA Theatre Company, will include music and dance. Here is the all-local cast:

• Rakeem Lawrence (Bite Size: Toxoplasmosis, DCPA Off-Center) as Bunny
• Marco Robinson (Xanadu, DCPA Cabaret; A Christmas Carol, DCPA Theatre Company) as Dog/Tooth Fairy/Bear
• Susannah McLeod (Sunday in the Park with George, Arvada Center) as Mouse/Cow/Bear
• Mercedes Perez (Life is a Dream, The Winter’s Tale and A Christmas Carol, DCPA Theatre Company) as Old Lady/Dish/Bear
• Maggie Tisdale (Sister Act the Musical and Junie B. Jones, Arvada Center) as Understudy
• Sean Scrutchins (A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Henry V, Colorado Shakespeare Festival) as Understudy

This presentation of Goodnight Moon was adapted by former longtime Denver Center Literary Associate Chad Henry and will be directed by Allison Watrous, the DCPA’s Executive Director of Education and Community Engagement. The creative team includes:

• Lisa Orzolek (Scenic Designer, Upcoming: DCPA’s A Doll’s House)
• Kevin Copenhaver (Costume Designer, Upcoming: DCPA’s Twelfth Night)
• Charles MacLeod (Lighting Designer, DCPA’s Sweat)
• Jason Ducat (Sound Designer, DCPA Education’s Corduroy)
• Grady Soapes, CSA (Casting and Choreography, DCPA’s Anna Karenina)
• Robyn Yamada (Music Direction, DCPA Education’s The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats)
• Rachel Ducat (Stage Manager, DCPA Education’s The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats)
• Rick Mireles (Assistant Stage Manager)

Theatre for Young Audiences stagings are tailored for pre-kindergarten through second-grade audiences, many attending live theatre for the first time. DCPA Education will stage more than 200 performances of Goodnight Moon from October 4, 2019, through February 16, 2020, in The Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre. In all, more than 42,000 tickets will be available for Goodnight Moon, with 25,600 of those specifically set aside for school groups and student matinees.

“Theatre for Young Audiences provides opportunities for our youngest audience members to experience live theatre for the first time,” Watrous said. “Arts education allows children to connect their experiences to stories on stage and participate in activities designed to engage their imagination, critical thinking and socio-emotional intelligence.”

School groups are encouraged to participate in a no-cost, post-show workshop with DCPA Teaching Artists to give students an opportunity to explore themes and elements of the production.

Goodnight Moon

• Book, music and lyrics by Chad Henry, adapted from the book by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd
• Dates: October 4, 2019, through February 16, 2020
• Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre
• Tailored for pre-kindergarten through second-grade audiences
• There will be sensory-friendly performance on October 6
• Weekday student performances will be $10 and weekend performances will be $16-$20
• Scholarships will be available for student groups
• Tickets: Call 303-839-4100 or
  
  BUY TICKETS

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

Video bonus: Director Allison Watrous and Actor Rakeem Lawrence

Video by DCPA Video Producer David Lenk and Senior Arts Journalist John Moore.