Photos: First Look at THE STORY OF VELVETEEN RABBIT at Bergen County Players

Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America's foremost community theater groups, will continue its 90th season with the return of a treasured holiday season tradition: the annual BCP family show. THE STORY OF VELVETEEN RABBIT, a musical based on the classic book by Margery Williams, plays December 3 through December 18 at the Little Firehouse Theatre, 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell.

Check out photos from the production below!

Adapted by playwright Anita Larsen and composer/lyricist Bill Francoeur from Williams' book, THE STORY OF VELVETEEN RABBIT runs approximately 70 minutes. Direction is by Bunny Mateosian with musical direction by Steve Bell and choreography by Diana Baer. Audience members will have the opportunity to meet the cast and get autographs following each performance.

When a stuffed velveteen rabbit arrives in a little girl's nursery, all the toys snub her except for the wise old skin horse, who explains how toys can become real through a child's love. After the girl's china dog goes missing, the rabbit finds herself in the girl's arms, and eventually, in her heart. Will the velveteen rabbit become real? Audiences will find out in THE STORY OF VELVETEEN RABBIT, a delightful musical for the whole family about the transformative power of love.

The classic book The Velveteen Rabbit has delighted generations of children and adults alike, and has remained in print since its publication in 1922. BCP is proud to celebrate the book's centennial as Margery Williams' immortal story leaps from the page to the Little Firehouse Theatre stage, which transforms into an enchanting nursery full of toys and a forest where wild rabbits hop and cavort with dancing trees and a magical fairy.

Director Bunny Mateosian, who hails from Closter, says of her choice to helm the show, "Our theater, our patrons, and our country have been through some very difficult years with COVID-19 and related health issues. I wanted to do something different than the usual 'fairy tale' production this year, and I searched for a musical version of The Velveteen Rabbit." Mateosian continues, "I was so excited to find this joyful, heart-warming, delightful version of the book, which can be enjoyed by all generations. I hope that audiences will find the magic of this story charming and memorable."

The talented cast of THE STORY OF VELVETEEN RABBIT includes a mix of familiar faces and newcomers to BCP. The title character is played by Marisa Dolkart Herling, with Reginald Bennett Jr. as her stalwart friend, the Skin Horse, and Ava Dina Stampone as Andrea, the little girl whose love turns the velveteen rabbit real. The main nursery toys are portrayed by Yaritza Camarano as the Model Boat, Heather Cozine as the Train Engine, and Julia Morriss as Timothy Lion.

Grace M. Callahan appears as the Nursery Magic Fairy, with Debbie Buchsbaum as Nana, Nicole Henry as Mother, and Michael Del Valleas Uncle Brad. Rounding out the cast are Mohammad Abulaimoun, Lucienda Camarano, Patrick Dwyer, Catherine Gallagher, Rob Kopil, Giuliana Stampone, and Larry Wilbur.

The production team is comprised of Bunny Mateosian (Director), Diana Baer (Choreographer), Steve Bell (Musical Director), Michele Roth (Producer), Katie Lupfer (Assistant to the Director), Geri Berhain (Stage Manager), Laura Dinoia (Properties), Michael Smith (Set Design), Lauren Zenreich (Set Décor), Lynne Lupfer and Terri Caust (Costumes), Alan Seward (Lighting Design), Sandra Conklin (Lighting Operator), Jim Lupfer (Sound Design), Barry Reed (Sound Operator), Karen Markle (crew), and Jill Hendrickson (dresser).

Bergen County Players strongly encourages its patrons to be vaccinated for Covid-19 but will not require proof of vaccination in order to enter the building. The use of face coverings/masks is also very strongly recommended. Reminders of that recommendation will be visible throughout the facility and stated by our Front-of-House staff before each event.

All performances take place at The Little Firehouse Theatre at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, home to the Bergen County Players since 1949. Performance times are Fridays at 7:30pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm and 3:30pm.

Tickets for THE STORY OF VELVETEEN RABBIT are $15 for all performances. Tickets can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200 or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours. Visa, Master Card, and American Express are accepted.

The Bergen County Players, Inc. is a non-Equity, non-profit community theater company dedicated to presenting quality productions for the enrichment of the community.

Photo Credit: Mike Smith

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