The Coterie & UMKC Theatre Begin a Miraculous Journey with EDWARD TULANE Tonight

The Coterie and UMKC Theatre present The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, a drama adapted from the beloved young adult novel by Kate DiCamillo, author of the best-selling books "Because of Winn-Dixie" and "The Tale of Despereaux." Directed by David P. Saar, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane will be performed live on stage tonight, January 27-March 1, 2015.

ABOUT THE PLAY

Edward Tulane is a three-foot tall toy rabbit, beautifully made, with a wardrobe of exquisite clothes. Though he's made of china and can't move, he can certainly think. And despite being much loved, he doesn't love anyone but himself. On a cruise ship, Edward is thrown overboard by mean boys, thus beginning an unexpected journey that carries him through many years to different owners. Edward, the china rabbit. discovers that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.

The play, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, is adapted from the popular young adult novel by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press, 2006). The book was the winner of the Boston Globe Horn Book Award, a nominee for the Quills Award, and named one of the "Top 100 Chapter Books" of all time by School Library Journal. DiCamillo is also the author of Because of Winn-Dixie (a Newbery Honor book), The Tale of Despereaux (2003 Newbery Medal winner), and A Tiger Rising (a National Book Award finalist), among others. Her most recent book, Flora & Ulysses, was published in September 2013 and was a New York Times best-seller.

The stage adaptation of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane made its premiere at Childsplay (Tempe, AZ) in 2013. The critically-acclaimed production was adapted by Childsplay's resident playwright Dwayne Hartford and directed by Childsplay's founding artistic director, David P. Saar. "Everyone at Childsplay fell in love with Edward. The entire company committed two years to its adaptation and development," says Saar, who will also direct the production at The Coterie. "I was immediately excited when asked if I'd direct the show again for The Coterie. I loved the personal challenge of re-imagining the production with Kansas City actors. It's an achingly beautiful story that just has to be shared."

Reviews of Childsplay's premiere production uniformly praised its ability to capture the charm of the original, calling it "heartwarming and uplifting... David Saar's brilliance and sensitivity infuse his direction of Dwayne Hartford's enchanting and inspirational play" (BroadwayWorld.Com) and "by turns hilarious and heart-wrenching, with an imaginative staging that lives up to the show's magical moniker.... Edward Tulane is a triumph." (AZCentral.com). "This tale of a china rabbit doll who learns to love will touch your heart... [and] stay with you... Edward Tulane is a celebration of the magic of theatre and the wonder of life." (TalkinBroadway.com).

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane will be most appreciated by adults, teens and youth aged nine or older. The production is funded in part by the Missouri Arts Council, ArtsKC Fund, and Theater League.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

The cast of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane features Joseph Fournier (as The Musician), as well as UMKC graduate acting students Emily Nan Phillips (as The Traveler), Nicole Marie Green (as The Woman), and Spencer Christensen (as The Man). The artistic and production company includes David P. Saar (director), Kyle Sorrell (composer/music director), Trevor Frederiksen (set designer), Art Kent (resident lighting designer), Marc Vital (costume designer), Jason Bauer (sound designer), Alex LeFrance (properties designer), William J. Christie (resident production stage manager), Logan Schoenbaechler (technical director), April Brewer and Chloé N. Robbins-Anderson (production assistant/deck managers), Adam Terry (assistant technical director), Tyler Wilson (assistant costume designer), Bret Engle (properties assistant), and Scott Hobart (resident technical director).

ABOUT THE CO-PRODUCTION

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane will be presented as a co-production between The Coterie and UMKC Theatre, a collaborative relationship that has become an annual tradition for The Coterie since it began in 1992, with The Red Badge of Courage and continued most recently with Afflicted: Daughters of Salem in January 2014. Originally founded as a program that offered MFA actors the chance to work alongside established theatre professionals, the co-productions have since grown to feature both student actors as well as MFA designers and coaches from nearly every area of UMKC's Department of Theatre. The Coterie is proud to continue its long-standing relationship with UMKC Theatre, which benefits up-and-coming young professionals by providing practical, professional work experience, both on stage and behind the scenes.

SHOW DATES, TIMES & TICKETS

The Coterie, now in its 36th Season and named "One of the Five Best Theaters for Young Audiences in the U.S." by TIME magazine, will perform The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane January 27-March 1, 2015, in The Coterie Theatre, located on level one of Crown Center Shops in Kansas City, MO.

Individual Tickets: Tickets are $10.00 for youth under 18, students, and seniors age 60 and older; and $15.00 for adults.

Group Pricing: The Coterie offers groups of 20 or more a special preview rate of $5.00 per person the first week of the run, January 27-February 2, 2015. After preview week, groups pay only $5.50 per person on weekdays and $6.50 per person on weekends (Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays).

Subscriptions: In lieu of season subscriptions, The Coterie offers the Spotlight Club Pass, which works like season tickets without committing to a set schedule. Spotlight Club members pay $90.00 for a flexible pass that includes 10 tickets - a savings of 40% off individual ticket prices - that can be used for any show or combination of shows in the 2014/2015 Season.

All tickets and Spotlight Club Passes are on sale now and may be purchased by calling The Coterie's box office at (816) 474-6552, dropping by the box office on level one of the Crown Center Shops, or by visiting www.thecoterie.org.

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