Bunnicula PreviewRaleigh Little Theatre Preview Chris Jeffries and Jon Klein turn the vampire-bunny stories Raleigh Little Theatre will stage composer Chris Jeffries and lyricist/librettist Jon Klein’s vampire-rabbit musical, Bunnicula, on Nov. 7-9, 13-16, and 21-23 in its Gaddy-Goodwin Theatre. Based on Deborah and James Howe’s 1979 children’s book Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale Of Mystery and its sequels, Bunnicula premiered at the Seattle Children’s Theatre during its 1996-97 season. RLT associate education director Kathleen Rudolph will direct a cast that includes Brent Wilson as Robert Monroe; Mary Kathryn Walston as his wife, Ann; Nate Sepic and Bailey Hart as their sons Pete and Toby; J. Michael Beech as Harold the devoted family dog; Rebecca Leonard as Chester the Monroes’ conniving literature-loving cat; and puppeteer Geof Shuford as Bunnicula, whom Chester claims is a vampire-rabbit who sucks juice from vegetables. “Raleigh Little Theatre produced Bunnicula in 1999,” recalls director Kathleen Rudolph. “I was not involved in the show, though I brought my children to see it.” She adds, “Bunnicula involves animals, but not in the usual way. The animals believe they are more advanced than the humans. They talk to each other and to the audience. It is a comedy and musical which I love directing.” Rudolph says, “The story is about Robert and Ann Monroe (Brent Wilson and Mary Kathryn Walston) [and] their children Pete and Toby (Nate Sepic and Bailey Hart) ,who live with their dog Harold (Michael Beech) and cat Chester (Rebecca Leonard). The play begins one dark and stormy night when the Monroe’s return from the movies with a rabbit (puppeteer Geof Shuford) that they found in their seats.” She notes, “Bunnicula is played by a puppet, which has many challenges. The rabbit is magical, and so the lights and sound play a huge part in making ‘bunny magic’ for the show. Timing is everything! The play is about a vampire-rabbit and, thus, scary. Our challenge is to not make it so scary that our audience leaves.” In addition to director Kathleen Rudolph, the Bunnicula creative team includes choreographer Julie Mulvihill, musical director Mary Kathryn Walston, technical director Jim Zervas, set designer Rick Young, lighting designer Andy Parks, costume designer Jenny Butler, properties master Mike McGee, sound designer Becca Easley, and stage manager Keith Bugner. Rudolph says, “[Scenic designer Rick Young’s] set is very minimalistic: a chair for Chester, a doggie bed for Harold, and a kitchen table and chairs. We need a lot of space for the dancing and running around that two boys, a dog, a cat, and a bunny do. Everything else is two dimensional.… “Lighting plays a huge part in the show for the dark and stormy parts and the bunny magic!” adds Kathleen Rudolph. “[Lighting designer] Andy [Parks] sets the scenes with lights for just the animals differing from the lights for when the family is in the room.” She adds, “We have decided to set the play in the ‘Leave It to Beaver’ time period [1957-63], so the family is dressed in late 1950s/early 1960s styles. The dog and cat think they are human, so they are not dressed like animals but people -- with only a hint of dog and cat.” Rudolph says, “This cast is so talented. The singing and dancing are very entertaining. And [Bunnicula] is extremely funny -- for adults as well as children.” Raleigh Little Theatre presents Bunnicula Friday, Nov. 7, 14, and 21, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunbday, Nov. 8-9, 15-16, and 22-23, at 1 and 5 p.m.; and Thursday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Gaddy-Goodwin Theatre, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh, NC 27607. $12 ($8 children 12 and under). 919/821-3111 or etix.com. NOTE: All shows are wheelchair accessible. RALEIGH LITTLE THEATRE: http://raleighlittletheatre.org/performances/08-09/bunnicula.html. THE PLAY (Plays for Young Audiences): http://www.playsforyoungaudiences.org/scripts/bunnicula.html. STUDY GUIDE (from the Overture Center for the Arts of Madison, WI): http://www.overturecenter.com/onstage/guides/Bunnicula_SG.pdf WHAT: The TRIANGLE THEATER REVIEW is a FREE weekly e-mail theatrical newsletter, featuring previews and reviews by Robert W. McDowell and reviews by Alan R. Hall and others. (For brief bios of our critics, see the CVNC biographies page.) 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