Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Brings 'THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR' to Smothers Theatre Today

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites comes to Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu today, October 18, at 11 a.m. The show is recommended for children ages 3-8 and their families.

Tickets, priced starting at $12 for adults and $10 for youth 17 and under and for full-time Pepperdine students, are available now by calling (310) 506-4522 or online at http://arts.pepperdine.edu/. More information: http://mermaidtheatre.ca/

There will be a free, open to the public Family Art Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. before and after the performance, featuring hands-on art projects and Weisman Museum tours. For this Family Art Day, the Center for the Arts is teaming up with The Big Draw LA, during which children and their families will participate in a large collaborative drawing based on Eric Carle's stories and characters. For more information on The Big Draw LA visit http://thebigdrawla.org/.

Three beloved stories by Eric Carle, award-winning children's book illustrator and author, are retold on stage through the magic of black light, evocative music, stunning visual effects, and fanciful, innovative puppets. Included is the wonderful story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar which follows the adventures of a very tiny and very hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through an amazing variety of foods on his path to becoming a beautiful butterfly. In Little Cloud, high up in the sky, a cloud playfully transforms himself into various creatures, including a sheep, and an airplane, a shark and more. In The Mixed-Up Chameleon, a chameleon is bored with his life, sitting about predictably changing color all day. Following an adventurous trip to the zoo, he attempts to emulate the beautiful animals he sees before coming to the conclusion that there is value in his own unique self.

Adapted, designed and directed by Jim Morrow, with music by Steven Naylor and narration by Gordon Pinsent, the hour-long production features the imaginative approach to storytelling through theatre that has earned international recognition for Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. Audiences familiar with Mermaid's earlier adaptations of Eric Carle's books can expect the same attention to detail that has won international acclaim for the company.

In 2014, the production celebrated its fifteenth year of continuous touring and welcomed its two millionth spectator. To date over 3000 performances have been presented in thirteen countries. Presentations have been offered in Dutch, English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and French.

Founded in 1972, Mermaid Theatre's unique adaptations of children's literature have delighted more than five million young people in sixteen countries on four continents. Based in Windsor, a small rural town in Nova Scotia's Avon Region, the company performs for more than 300,000 spectators annually, and currently ranks among North America's most active touring organizations. Closer to home, Mermaid offers instruction at all levels through its Institute of Puppetry Arts, welcomes artists-in-residence through its Theatre Loft, provides a unique outreach program for adolescents through the Youtheatre, and offers a vibrant performing arts series at MIPAC (the Mermaid Imperial Performing Arts Centre).

The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University provides high-quality activities for over 50,000 people from 664 zip codes annually through performances, rehearsals, museum exhibitions, and master classes. Located on Pepperdine's breathtaking Malibu campus overlooking the Pacific, the center serves as a hub for the arts, uniquely linking professional guest artists with Pepperdine students as well as patrons from surrounding Southern California communities. Facilities include the 450-seat Smothers Theatre, the 118-seat Raitt Recital Hall, the "black box" Helen E. Lindhurst Theatre, and the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art.

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