Synopsis
Edward Tulane is an expensive toy rabbit made of china. He is loved by a little girl named Abilene, but Edward doesn’t care. He is vain and self-centered. He has no interest in anyone other than himself. On an ocean voyage, Edward is accidentally thrown overboard and sinks to the bottom of the sea. So begins his journey—a journey over which he has no control, for he is a toy rabbit. He can neither move nor speak. As years pass by, Edward meets many different people in many different situations: an older grieving couple who find comfort in Edward’s presence, a hobo and his dog who introduce Edward to a whole community of homeless wanderers, 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 Edward an invaluable lesson. Through this miraculous journey, Edward learns what it is to love, what it is to lose that love, and how to find the courage to love again. Based on Kate DiCamillo’s beautiful novel of the same name, the play is a theatrical tour de force for a small ensemble of actors and musicians.
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Details
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Status
In stock
- Type of Show One-act Play
- Product Code MR9000
- Cast Size 4
- Min. Royalty Rate $55/perf
- Cost $10.95
- Approx. Run Time 45 min
Categories
- Target Audience Young Audiences | Middle School | Family (all ages)
- Performing Group High School | College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional Theatre | TYA | Touring Group
- Genre Drama
- ISBN(13) 9781619592667
Customer Reviews
- "We had a great time producing this show. It was received well at our contest and by our audience for our school performance. "
- Review by Cory Mundy, The Christian School at Castle Hills, San Antonio, Texas
- "A wonderful, fun, and heartwarming story for all ages."
- Review by Katie Miller, Roosevelt High School, Lubbock, Texas
Hints, Tips, and Tricks
- "We loved the ensemble structure of this play; we had a class of 10 and this allowed all of the students to have equal stage time and multiple characters. We used our Black Box space in a 3/4 thrust configuration and created an antique shop environment. All of the props that we used, including the multiple Edwards, were "hidden" on the set and actors pulled them out of different places. It made the show flow very smoothly and it looked organic to the audience."
- Tip by Denise Tooch, Marcus High School, Flower Mound, Texas
- "We used a projection screen for telling the princess/warthog story. We also made Lucy the dog a puppet with a puppeteer."
- Tip by Cory Mundy, The Christian School at Castle Hills, San Antonio, Texas
Media Reviews
“Beautifully written story … far more profound exploration of human (and canine) loneliness than you find in most works for children.” —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“This really is the most charming of narratives … you should be able to enjoy some post-show discussion as to why our attachments to our dolls or stuffed animals are so intense.” —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“Beware: You might just fall in love with that elegant, somewhat self-satisfied white porcelain rabbit by the name of Edward Tulane.” —Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
“So captivating—such an enchanting show for every age (whether you happen to be accompanied by children or not).” —Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
“Renders every element of DiCamillo’s book with faithfulness and flair.” —Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
“It comes alive before your very eyes and sweeps you up into the warmth and comfort of its arms.” —Valley Screen and Stage: David Appleford’s Film and Theatre Reviews
“Your heart will both soar with the magic of what great theatre can create—and this is quite simply great theatre—and break with the heartache of loss and loneliness.” —Valley Screen and Stage: David Appleford’s Film and Theatre Reviews
“Hilarious and heart-wrenching. … Edward Tulane is a triumph.” —azcentral.com
“It’s a fine story and one that challenges rather than coddles its audience.” —azcentral.com
“What’s truly wonderful about this adaptation is that it creates a world that couldn’t exist anywhere except on the stage.” —azcentral.com
“A testament to the (non)human spirit … an allegory of survival and hope.” —Chicago Reader
“If you are looking for a safe place to introduce your children to the harder truths of life, then this is a perfect opportunity to start these conversations.” —DC Metro Theatre Arts
“This wonderful story is about the transformative power of love.” —Chicago Critic
“The play was miraculous in that every feasible emotion is felt while watching it!” —Momcapade
“Powerful storytelling. … Parents may want to tuck a tissue in their pockets.” —TheaterJones
“It is almost unbelievable that such an emotionally rich tale, full of heartbreak and loss, could entertain children. But, that is part of the magic of this beautiful story.” —The Column
“If you and your family only see one show this year, make it this one.” —The Column
“A work of magic.” —The Column
“Fully captures the imagination of adults and children alike, sweeping them away on this unforgettable epic journey that is, at times, heartbreaking and—ultimately—incredibly fulfilling.” —The Column
“Hartford treats DiCamillo’s book as delicately as he would … a china rabbit.” —The Column
Production Map
| Location | City | State | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Woodlands College Park High School | The Woodlands | Texas | 2/26/2024 | 3/8/2024 |
| Birmingham Children's Theatre | Birmingham | Alabama | 11/9/2023 | 2/17/2024 |
| Weger Auditorium | Paris | Texas | 3/2/2024 | 5/1/2024 |
| Athens Middle School | Athens | Texas | 12/8/2023 | 12/15/2023 |
| Clifton ISD Performing Arts Building | Clifton | Texas | 12/2/2023 | 12/2/2023 |
| Roy Miller HIgh School and Metro School of Design | Corpus Christi | Texas | 12/6/2023 | 12/18/2023 |
| Cedar Park Middle School | Cedar Park | Texas | 11/14/2023 | 12/2/2023 |
| Carrizo Springs High School | Carrizo Springs | Alabama | 12/2/2023 | 12/2/2023 |
| Rockwall High School | Rockwall | Texas | 4/1/2024 | 4/12/2024 |
| Audie Murphy Middle | Ft Hood | Texas | 1/22/2024 | 2/16/2024 |
| Beresford Elementary - 02 | Beresford | South Dakota | 1/22/2024 | 2/3/2024 |
| Monte Verde High School | Montverde | Florida | 12/1/2023 | 12/1/2023 |
| Hill-Murray School | Maplewood | Minnesota | 1/25/2024 | 2/9/2024 |
| Ysleta High School | El Paso | Texas | 2/26/2024 | 3/23/2024 |
Downloads
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- Your local copy shop should be able to create prints from a file saved to disk. They might even be able to increase the size of the poster for you (although some loss of resolution will occur).
Gallery
Covenant Christian High School, Indianapolis, IN
Roosevelt High School, Lubbock, TX
