Enchantment Theatre Company, in collaboration with the Estate of Beatrix Potter and Penguin Books UK, brings her captivating stories to life. Using fantastic masks, whimsical puppets, gorgeous scenery and original music, the magical, marvelous world of Beatrix Potter comes alive on stage.
Peter Rabbit™ Tales will be available for touring through December 2021.
Named one of DCMetroTheaterArts’ Best of 2015 in Theater in The Philadelphia Area!
"The result is a masterful fusion of engaging storytelling with the performing and visual arts, which appeals to all of the senses, stimulates intuitive thinking, and captivates adults and children alike." - DCMetro TheaterArts
"The Enchantment Theatre Company’s production of Peter Rabbit Tales has captured the essence of Beatrix Potter’s work through their careful study of both the text of the original tales and research into our Beatrix Potter illustration archive. Through a well-crafted script, dynamic choreography and simple but effective staging, the show makes for an absorbing and enjoyable experience for all. We are delighted to endorse this excellent production." - Ronnie Fairweather, Creative Director, Penguin Books UK
“Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were – Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter….” These famous opening lines of The Tale of Peter Rabbit have enchanted young audiences for over one hundred years with the exploits of a charming hero, who, going against his mother’s wishes, has adventures (and misadventures) in Mr. McGregor’s garden. Beatrix Potter created an instant classic with the little blue-coated rabbit who we recognize as both boy and rabbit, wild and civilized, and who has become an icon of childhood since he first hopped out of the pages of a story book and into children’s hearts. Now Enchantment Theatre Company is delighted to collaborate with the Estate of Beatrix Potter and Penguin Books UK to present the authorized theatrical version of Peter Rabbit Tales.
Meet Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny, Beatrix Potter’s beloved characters, as they escape from Mr. McGregor, outfox Mr. Tod and rescue the Flopsy Bunnies from the disagreeable badger, Tommy Brock.
When Benjamin’s children disappear, he goes to his cousin, Peter Rabbit, to help him find the bunnies. But Peter thinks he’s had quite enough of adventure, remembering his youthful escapades in Mr. McGregor’s garden. As the cousins reminisce about their past adventures, their friends - Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Jemima Puddle-duck and Thomasina Tittlemouse - gather to encourage Peter on this one last quest.
Over 171,000 children and families attended PRT in over 100 cities across the US inthe 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
"Completely entrancing, charming, surprising and fanciful" - Pam Weisberg, Catskill Mtn Foundation, Hunter, NY
"The set was so smart, the masks were beautiful, the music evocative & the cast superb" - Angelina Arts Alliance, Lufkin, TX
“I tremendously admire the poetry of Miss Potter’s art as she develops this fantastic, realistic, truthful story.” - Maurice Sendak, from Caldecott & Co.
“It is an imaginary tale for children that leaves no doubt that such a rabbit as Peter exists in nature now, and has existed in nature forever.”
-- Linda Lear, from “Beatrix Potter, The extraordinary life of a Victorian genius”
EDUCATIONAL LOBBY DISPLAY
In anticipation of the 150th birthday anniversary celebration of Beatrix Potter Enchantment Theatre Company is preparing a special educational lobby display that will travel with the Peter Rabbit Tales production. The display will include photographs of Ms. Potter with her actual real life animal friends as well as facsimiles of her artwork showing her original renderings of the characters that will be seen onstage. We will highlight the many ways Ms. Potter was a person ahead of her time as author, illustrator, natural scientist, conservationist, businesswoman, philanthropist, and emancipated woman. The display will tie in with our educational study guide and online materials for families.
All production photos © Mark Garvin
By arrangement with Frederick Warne & Co.• © F Warne & Co., 2018
ENCHANTMENT THEATRE COMPANY (PRODUCER) - Enchantment Theatre Company has produced original theater for school groups and families since 2000 when it was established as a non-profit arts organization in Philadelphia. The company presents only original work based on classic stories from children's literature, using its signature blend of masked actors, pantomime, magic, large-scale puppets, and original music. Building on the more than 35 years of theatrical experience of its artistic directors, Enchantment has quickly become known for high quality imaginative productions, not only in its home city but throughout the United States and the Far East.
Enchantment has toured its original productions all over the world, appearing each year in more than 30-40 states. It has performed in such sophisticated urban arts venues as New York’s Lincoln Center, Washington, D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Center, and Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center and Annenberg Center, as well as in small town high school auditoriums and performance tents. The company has also toured the Far East six times, performing in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. Enchantment has shared the stage with more than 65 orchestras nationwide in its special symphonic works that pair great stories with great music for the benefit of school and family audiences.
Enchantment Theatre Company is a non-profit arts organization resident in Philadelphia. They have been guided by their mission: to create original theater for young audiences and families. They accomplish this through the imaginative telling of stories that inspire, challenge and enrich their audience, on stage and in the classroom. All of Enchantment’s productions are original adaptations of new and classic fables, myths and legends, combined with original music. Drawing on great theatrical traditions from around the world—from the Bunraku theater of Japan, to the shadow puppets of Indonesia, to commedia dell’arte—Enchantment weaves these together in compelling productions of beauty and inspiration. They employ a unique combination of art forms to tell our stories: masked actors, magic and illusion, puppets (often life-size) and mime, all set to classical or original music.
Story adaptation by Jennifer and Landis Smith and Leslie Reidel, Artistic Directors of Enchantment Theatre Company
Lively musical score by Charles Gilbert, composer of The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon
Award winning production design by C. David Russell, Designer for Enchantment’s classic, The Velveteen Rabbit
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
Literature; Visual Arts and Drawing; Performing Arts: Theater, Music, Dance; Language Arts: Reading and Creative Writing as storytelling with a focus on the concepts of imagination, creativity and problem-solving.
PUBLIC AUDIENCE: All Ages
SCHOOL TIME AUDIENCE: Grades Pre-K – 4th; Ages 3 - 9
BOOKS:
TV:
"The result is a masterful fusion of engaging storytelling with the performing and visual arts, which appeals to all of the senses, stimulates intuitive thinking, and captivates adults and children alike." - DCMetro TheaterArts
"Everything about this world-class production is inventive and endearing; it fully captures the spirit of the beloved stories, the essence of childhood, and the imagination of the audience, both young and old." - Phindie.com
"The entire play is narrated by a beautiful voice so that it makes everyone in the audience feel as if a Peter Rabbit book has dropped to the floor, popped open, and came to life in front of us." - HipsterHenry.com
"As always, Enchantment Theatre was efficient and professional, your personnel charming, and the performance reflected your name . . . enchanting." - Laura Clavio, Purdue Convocations, West Lafayette, IN
" . . . stellar show. I am always impressed by the quality of [the Enchantment Theatre] productions and the beautiful and creative storytelling." - Allison Rachele Bayles, Berkshire Theatre Group, Pittsfield, MA