New & Upcoming Tours

Touring 2023 / 2024

US/CANADA - 23/24

It’s Okay to Be Different - Stories by Todd Parr

(Windsor, NS) Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia will mark its 50th season with the first staged adaptation of three favorite contemporary storybooks. Directed to very young audiences, the hour-long production entitled, It’s Okay to Be Different – Stories by Todd Parr will be launched in 2022-2023.

Todd Parr is the author and illustrator of more than 71 books for children, including the New York Times bestsellers: The I Love You Book, The Earth Book, and The Thankful Book. His books are available in over forty countries throughout the world. He was the cocreator of the 3X EMMY-Nominated children's television show ToddWorld™, and he has created several short films for Sesame Street. His work is published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group.

It’s Okay to Be Different - Stories by Todd Parr; Director / Production Designer - Jim Morrow; Composer - Asif Illyas;

US/CANADA 23/24 & Hong Kong 2024*

The Rainbow Fish

“The sparkling story that became an international publishing phenomenon!” Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s elegant new show, The Rainbow Fish, will include an original stage adaptation of Marcus Pfister’s colorful story as well two of the author’s companion tales, Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea and Opposites

The first of three tales introduces the most beautiful fish in the sea, whose scales shimmer in all the colours of the rainbow. He is admired – and resented - by the entire underwater world, until a clever octopus advises him to give each fish one of his scales. Further adventures follow as The Rainbow Fish finds the courage to explore the great unknown deep sea, discovering a new world with wonderful sights and friendly creatures of all shapes, sizes and colours who are eager to make his acquaintance. The underworld wonderland is the setting for an introduction to the concept of opposites. As a fitting finale, the story ends with the most satisfying opposite of all—give and take—as Rainbow Fish shares one of his shining scales with a friend.

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister™ ©1992 NorthSouth Books, Inc. Licensed by RJM Licensing, Inc.

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister; Director / Production Designer - Jim Morrow; Composer - Steven Naylor; Narration - Laura Benanti & Linda Wonneberger; Scenic Painter - Sarah Haydon Roy; Associate Designers - Deborah MacLean & Struan Robertson; Photo Credit - Michael Venn

US/Canada 2024/25

Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny

Few writers have been as attuned to the concerns and emotions of childhood as Margaret Wise Brown (1910–1952). Brown, a former teacher, believed that very young children could be fascinated by the simple pleasures of the world around them. Few had previously attempted to write specifically for children aged two to five, and Brown created some of the most enduring and beloved children’s books of all time as well as developed the concept of the first durable board book. Clement Hurd (1908–1988) graduated from Yale University and studied painting in Paris in the 1930s with Fernand Léger and others. His engaging semi-abstract style became world-famous with the publication in 1942 of The Runaway Bunny and Goodnight Moon in 1947 - collaborations with Brown that became two of the 20th Century’s best-known children’s books.

Goodnight Moon is a celebration of familiar nighttime rituals, while The Runaway Bunny’s pretend tale of leaving home evokes reassuring responses from his loving mum. Both tales feature endearing rabbit characters, and the soothing rhythms of bunny banter and dream-like imagery never fail to infuse young readers with a reassuring sense of security. Mermaid’s staged adaptation will bring a new sense of appreciation to stories that have delighted several generations.

Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown; Director / Production Designer - Jim Morrow; Composer - Steven Naylor; Narration - Deb Allen; Scenic Painter - Sarah Haydon Roy
Associate Designers - Deborah MacLean; Photo Credit - Michael Venn.

SINGAPORE, US/CANADA (previous tour)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Classics

North American Tour Update: Due to the ongoing threat of the novel coronavirus and unforeseen touring uncertainties during the pandemic, the spring 2022 live tour of The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites is cancelled but is available virtually.

While we were hopeful the situation would substantially improve, and the virus would subside to a more manageable level through vaccination efforts, as of today, we do not have the overwhelming confidence needed for the live tour to proceed, as planned.

Mermaid Theatre’s lively new compilation captures the magic of three Eric Carle classics. The hour-long triple-bill follows the adventures of The Very Hungry Caterpillar as he eats his way through an amazing variety of foods on his path to

becoming a beautiful butterfly. The Mixed-Up Chameleon is bored with his life as he sits about changing colour all day until he takes a trip to the zoo. His hilarious attempts to emulate the beautiful animals he sees conclude with his discovery that there is value in his own unique self. The story of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Did you See? has helped hundreds of thousands of toddlers to identify colours and creatures. Capturing the rhythmic text and beautiful tissue-paper collage illustrations of the classic picture book, Mermaid's adaption generates fresh appreciation of an endearing cast of characters.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Classics; Director / Production Designer - Jim Morrow; Composer - Steven Naylor; Narration - Richard Donat & Gordon Pinsent; Scenic Painter - Sarah Haydon Roy; Associate Designers - Deborah MacLean & Struan Robertson

US/Canada (previous tour)

Guess How Much I Love You & I Love My Little Storybook

"If you're searching for a feel-good bedtime book, look no further." - Publisher's Weekly Little Nutbrown Hare loves Big Nutbrown Hare as far as he can reach and as high as he can hop. But Big Nutbrown Hare loves him as far as his long arms can reach and as high as his strong legs can hop. And so it continues... Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia adapts Guess How Much I Love You, the award-winning classic from author Sam McBratney and illustrator Anita Jeram. In I Love My Little Storybook, an eager little bunny lies on the grass and opens his book, and within moments, the story he's reading comes alive in fascinating detail. From illustrator Anita Jeram comes this endearing celebration of the joy of reading. Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia presents Guess How Much I Love You & I Love My Little Storybook, narrated by Beau Bridges.

Guess How Much I Love You & I Love My Little Storybook by Sam McBratney; Illustrations by Anita Jeram;Director / Production Designer - Jim Morrow; Composer - Steven Naylor; Narration - Beau Bridges; Scenic Painter - Sarah Haydon Roy; Associate Designers - Deborah MacLean & Struan Robertson; Photo Credit: Margo Ellen Gesser

Available for Touring

Swimmy

Leo Lionni's exquisite collage works are ideally suited for Mermaid’s unique approach to stage adaptation. The three Caldecott Honor books Mermaid has chosen for its tribute, SWIMMY, FREDERICK and INCH BY INCH, are among Lionni’s most beloved works. Their images are strikingly beautiful, and their texts are whimsical yet wistful. Swimmy is a tiny insignificant fish in the vast ocean who uses ingenuity to fend off danger. Frederick, a mouse who is a poet from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail, makes everyday life an artful experience. The story of Inch by Inch features a lovable inchworm who is very proud of his facility for measuring absolutely everything, including a robin's tail, a flamingo's neck, a toucan's beak, a heron's legs, and a nightingale's song. All these creatures provide wonderful scope for translation to puppet theatre through the gentle storytelling style which has brought international acclaim to Mermaid Theatre.

Swimmy by Leo Lionni; Director / Production Designer - Jim Morrow; Composer - Steven Naylor; Narration - Richard Donat; Scenic Painter - Sarah Haydon Roy; Associate Designers - Deborah MacLean

Based upon the books published by Knopf:Inch by Inch © 1960 by Leo Lionni © renewed 1988 by Leo Lionni; Frederick © 1967 by Leo Lionni © renewed 1995 by Leo Lionni; Swimmy © 1963 by Leo Lionni © renewed 1991 by Leo Lionni; All rights reserve.

PAST TOUR

Treasured Stories

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s acclaimed composite of storybook favorites will enjoy widespread touring in 2016-2017. First premiered in 2011, Brown Bear, Brown Bear and other Treasured Stories by Eric Carle brings together old favorites and new friends. The hour-long production showcases the imaginative blend of innovative puppetry and striking scenic effects that has won international acclaim for the Nova Scotia-based theatre.

To date some 400 performances have been applauded by close to 250,000 spectators across North America and Singapore.The Very Hungry Caterpillar joins a whimsical menagerie drawn from the pages of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?  Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, the story was written and illustrated by Carle and Bill Martin, Jr., and has served to introduce generations of toddlers to the delights of identifying colours and objects. The heartwarming father-and daughter quest for an unusual plaything, Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me offers a splendid introduction to the wonderment of the lunar cycle.

 Brown Bear, Brown Bear and other Treasured Stories by Eric Carle; Director / Production Designer - Jim Morrow; Composer - Steven Naylor; Narration - Richard Donat & Andrea Lee Norwood; Scenic Painter - Sarah Haydon Roy; Associate Designers - Deborah MacLean & Struan Robertson; Photo Credit; Margo Ellen Gesser