Company of Fools Presents THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE

Company of Fools (COF) will warm up the holiday season and continue its 23rd season of theatre programming with a production of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Dwayne Hartford's adaptation of Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Medal-winning children's novel. Directed by Natalie Battistone, the production will run Dec. 12-30 at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey and is appropriate for audiences of all ages.

Praised by Chicago Critic as "a wonderful story ... about the transformative power of love," The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane tells the tale of an expensive toy rabbit who is adored by a girl named Abilene. But Edward couldn't care less about that - he's vain and self-important. When he is accidentally thrown overboard on an ocean voyage, he finds himself on a miraculous journey, but he can't move or speak - after all, he's a toy rabbit! Along the way, Edward meets a grieving couple who find comfort in his presence, a hobo and his dog, a farmer in need of a scarecrow, a sad little boy and his very ill sister, and finally a doll mender and an old doll who teach him an invaluable lesson - what it is to love, what it is to lose that love, and how to find the courage to love again.

"This beautiful story is told in the tapestry of COF's 'the stories live on' season," said director Natalie Battistone, who is making her COF debut with this production. "It is a poignant and gentle reflection of the heartache we all go through when we are inevitably overtaken by grief, and the beauty of the journey in finding our way back to love."

The play is also a coming-of-age story that touches the hearts of children and adults alike. "Everyone relates to this tale immediately projected life, feelings, love and dreams onto an inanimate object - a figurine, a doll, a stuffed animal, a toy, a pet rock," said Battistone. "At some point in life, everyone develops a special bond with a certain non-speaking creature - someone they can share with completely uninhibited, unencumbered by expectations, without judgement, without fear. And then there's the magic - without a doubt we all fantasize about what "it" thinks. What "it" likes. What "it" dreams ... does it? Could it?"

The audience will be amazed by the transformation of the Liberty Theater stage for this production. "Rather than dig into each vignette in fully-realized fashion, the actors will play out Edward Tulane's journey on the boards of an old theater midway through its renovation," shared Battistone. "Props, costumes, set pieces and lighting instruments are cast about the stage, and part of the magic is seeing the actors discover what they need to create theater right in front of us. We hope the staging will inspire young audience members to go home, grab a flashlight and some fabric and make magic of their own."

COF's production of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane features COF company artists Scott Creighton, David Janeski and Aly Wepplo, along with COF founding member Denise Simone.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is generously sponsored by Marcia and Don Liebich. Generously sponsored by Marcia and Donald Liebich. Student matinees are sponsored by Hailey Rotary Foundation, the Kiwanis Club of Hailey and Wood River Valley Papoose Club.

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