Playbill
October 1-18
Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.
Run Time: 85 minutes with no intermission
ARTISTS
Director – Casey Sams
Scenic Designer – Arianna “Skye” Reid
Costume Designer – Amelia Strahan
Lighting Designer – Dallas J. (DJ) Cook
Sound & Projection Designer – Chance Beck
Props Designer – Rachel Winenger
Voice & Text Director – Keith Allen Davis, Jr
Music Coordinator – Terry D. Alford
Stage Manager – Erica Zacharias
Artistic Director – Kenneth Martin
Managing Director – Tom Cervone
Production Manager – Susan L. McMillan
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If you are reading this, it means you were once a child. Maybe it was yesterday, a few years ago, or many decades past, but whenever it was, you are part of the audience that Theatre for Young Audiences is created to serve.
When we hear that a play is intended for young audiences, we might worry that will mean the story will be childish or that the plot will be overly simple or that the actors will talk down to the audience. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, like all good theatre, is a play about big issues like love and loss, life and death. We often think about these issues as adult issues, but kids experience them, too.
TYA isn’t only for kids. It is also for kids. It is theatre for kids, the adults that bring those kids to the theatre, and anyone who was once a kid. That this story of Edward Tulane is told in a way that speaks to children means it can speak to all of us.
If you are reading this, I hope you and your inner child find fun and delight in our play!
The Author
Photo by Catherine Smith
Kate DiCamillo’s writing journey has truly been a remarkable one. She grew up in Florida and moved to Minnesota in her 20s, where homesickness and a bitter winter led her to write Because of Winn-Dixie—her first published novel, which became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. The Tiger Rising, her second novel, was also set in Florida and went on to become a National Book Award finalist. Since then, the best-selling author has explored settings as varied as a medieval castle, a magician’s theatre and the bustling streets of Memphis, while continuing to enjoy great success, winning two Newbery Medals and being named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. In Raymie Nightingale, DiCamillo’s latest novel, she returns to her roots, once more setting the story in the Central Florida of her childhood. Like Raymie Clarke, the hero of this novel, DiCamillo grew up in a small southern town in the ’70s with a single mother, and she, too, entered a Little Miss contest and attempted to learn to twirl a baton. But while Raymie’s story is inspired by the author’s own life, DiCamillo has transformed these seeds of truth into fiction—and in doing so has captured a more universal truth. No matter where her books are set, their themes of hope and belief amid impossible circumstances and their messages of shared humanity and connectedness have resonated with readers of all ages around the world. In her instant #1 New York Times bestseller The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, a haughty china rabbit undergoes a profound transformation after finding himself facedown on the ocean floor—lost and waiting to be found. The Tale of Despereaux, the Newbery Medal–winning novel that later inspired an animated adventure from Universal Pictures, stars a tiny mouse with exceptionally large ears who is driven by love to become an unlikely hero. The Magician’s Elephant, an acclaimed and exquisitely paced fable, dares to ask the question, “What if?” DiCamillo’s second Newbery Medal winner, Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures was released in 2013 to great acclaim, garnering five-starred reviews and an instant spot on the NewYork Times bestseller list. Born in Philadelphia but raised in the South, DiCamillo now lives in Minneapolis.
The Playwright
Photo by: Tim Trumble
Dwayne Hartford (playwright) grew up in the small town of Smithfield, Maine. He spent his childhood heavily involved in performing arts, which gave him a passion for theatre. Hartford got a BFA from Boston Conservatory, and began a successful career as a playwright and director. He spent 36 years as the artistic director of the Herberger Theatre Center, a company that specializes in theatre for young audiences. He has also written multiple plays for young audiences, including The Color of Stars and The Imaginators. His plays The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Eric and Elliot won the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance of Theatre & Education. He currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his dog, Henry.
What made you want to go into Costume Design?
I came to costume design through a love of theatre and sewing. In high school, I acted in the school plays and took sewing classes—I even made my own prom dress! When I got to college and discovered that I could blend my two interests, it all clicked into place.
What time period does this play take place in? And how does this impact your process for creating costumes for the show?
The script suggests that the play’s events begin in the mid-1920s and carry us forward, likely ending in the mid-late 1940s. The book that the play is based on includes almost no details of the year. Our team chose to set our production slightly earlier—mid-1910s through early 1940s—because that period better matched our interpretation of the play. Time period greatly impacts costume design, because fashion changes so frequently and it is a signal to audiences of when we are in time. My challenge in this play was to choose costumes that could move through all the time periods of the play. I designed some pieces to be clear indicators of a certain time period, such as Society Lady’s hat or Marlene the Waitress’ apron. While other pieces are more vague and therefore translate better from period to period, like Man’s railroad stripe suit.
What makes The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane costuming unique?
The most unique thing about the costuming is obviously the rabbit costumes. I’ve never designed clothes on such a small scale! Most of the fabrics and notions we as costumers work with have to be larger than life in order to be seen from the back of a large theatre, so finding such small options was tricky. He certainly turned out cute as a button though!
What has it been like working on this production as an MFA Graduate student?
This is my first show as a Graduate student! The process has been full of learning curves and exciting new things. I’ve never had the support of a full professional costume shop before, so it has been amazing having talented artists bring my designs to life. On the flip side, I am having to learn to relinquish some control since I am used to doing everything myself. Overall, it has been a great first design experience at UTK.
Is there a favorite costume in the show? If so, why and what makes it special?
It may be the obvious answer, but of course it is the rabbit costumes! The rabbit rental package came with all of Edward’s outfits, but a few did not fit the world of our production. I was thrilled to get to design two new outfits for Edward! The shop built his first look with the green velvet jacket, as well as his blue pinstripe suit. They are both so adorable, but the green one is my favorite, especially because the Musician has a matching outfit!
What do you hope audiences will take away from this production?
My hope is that audiences leave the theatre feeling hopeful and with more appreciation for the people who touch their lives.
Anything else you would like to add?
There is a repeating motif throughout Edward’s story which has been carried into the designs. Keep your eyes peeled for stars in the actor’s costumes, and Edward’s!
Casey Sams (Director) Casey is a Professor and Associate Department Head for UT Theatre and a member of the Clarence Brown Company. She has directed and/or choreographed 30+ productions for the CBT, including Sense and Sensibility, Failure: A Love Story, Peter and the Starcatcher, A Year with Frog and Toad, The Who’s Tommy, and The Moors. Regional credits include The Guthrie Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Roundhouse Theatre, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, PlayMakers Repertory, Vermont Stage, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Great River Shakespeare Festival, and North Carolina Stage, among others. Her Undergraduate and Graduate degrees are both from Penn State, she is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, and is an Education Advocate with Theatrical Intimacy Educators.
Arianna “Skye” Reid (Scenic Designer) is a Scenic Designer based in Central Florida. She is graduating with a bachelor’s in Theatre Technology and Design with a minor in Art from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. Recently, she Scenic and Props designed Little Women at River & Rail Theatre. She has also worked as a Props Artisan in several productions at the Clarence Brown Theatre, as well as a Scenic artist and technician for the theme park, Busch Gardens, and for several other theaters in the TN area. She believes that immersive storytelling, bringing impossible worlds to life, through scenic design can inspire joy, hope, and a belief that the impossible can become possible through art, science, and community coming together to make magic a reality. Because that hope is what art did for her, she wants her designs to inspire the same for others. While currently participating in an internship at Walt Disney World, she is so excited to have gotten to be a part of bringing the whimsical but also grounded world of Edward Tulane to life and can’t wait for you to see the show! Learn more here.
Amelia Strahan (Costume Designer) Amelia is a first-year Costume Design MFA student at the University of Tennessee. She spent the past decade working as a freelance designer and technician in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her designs graced the stage at many Milwaukee theatres including Summit Players Theatre, Vanguard Milwaukee, Next Act Theatre, Florentine Opera Company, Marquette University, and Milwaukee Repertory Theater. For the past two seasons she served as Assistant Costume Director at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Amelia’s work as a designer is driven by her passion for storytelling and the belief that a strong designer is a well-rounded theatre artist. When not in the theater, Amelia can be found exploring local coffee shops, thrifting for vintage treasures, or shopping for vegetables (that will inevitably rot in her fridge) at the farmer’s market. View her work at ameliastrahan.com or on Instagram @a.k.strahan
Dallas J. (DJ) Cook (Lighting Designer) is a first-year Lighting Design MFA student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Originally from North Carolina, he received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Previous design credits include Hairspray (Matthews Playhouse), Much Ado About Nothing (The Naples Players), Rent (The Naples Players Academy of Dramatic Arts), Cats (The Naples Players Academy of Dramatic Arts), and Measure for Measure (UNC Charlotte). He is excited to join the Clarence Brown Theatre family! You can view more of his work at www.djcooklighting.com or on Instagram @djcooklighting
Chance Beck (Sound and Projection Designer) is a third-year Sound & Media Design Graduate Student at UT. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is their fourth show here at the Clarence Brown Theatre. Chance has previously worked on You Can’t Take It With You, The Harvest, and Failure: A Love Story here at the Clarence Brown Theatre and with the local Tennessee theatre company River & Rail on It’s A Wonderful Life. They come from the University of Southern Mississippi, where they achieved their BFA in Theatre Design & Technology. They are beyond excited to bring this beautiful show to life and have greatly enjoyed the collaborative process with the other incredible artists on this production.
Rachel Winenger (Props Designer) is thrilled to be Props Director for The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at the Clarence Brown Lab Theatre. She recently completed a BA in Theatre at the University of Tennessee after completing an Associates of Arts degree at Pellissippi State. Some of her favorite shows she’s been a part of include recent productions at the Clarence Brown Theatre, such as Sense and Sensibility (SM), Play That Goes Wrong (ASM), Knoxville (ASM), and Kinky Boots (Props). Upcoming works include props directing for the Clarence Brown Lab Theatre’s production of Indoor Cats. She is so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful creative team and theatrical community.
Keith Allen Davis, Jr. (Voice and Text Director) is an actor, writer, musician, and director from Meridian, Mississippi. He is currently pursuing his MFA in Acting at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from Alabama State University. His stage credits include Leland in Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alabama State University; Tim Allgood in Noises Off and Professor Bhaer/Knight in Little Women at New Stage Theatre; and Fish in The Royale and Philpot/Grimgrind in A Christmas Carol at Clarence Brown Theatre. In addition to performing, Keith wrote for and co-directed Montgomery, Alabama’s presentation of The Walk (Little Amal), the worldwide public art festival, in 2023. Follow his acting and music on Instagram: @keithallendavisjr and @thebabyboykeith.
Terry D. Alford (Music Director) is excited to be celebrating his 21th year at the Clarence Brown Theatre. As well as being a director and musical director for CBT, Terry is also a Teaching Professor in the Department of Theatre and teaches Musical Theatre Performance, Musical Theatre History, Honor’s Introduction to the Theatre and Acting. Prior to joining the UT faculty, Mr. Alford held the position of Director of Musical Theatre at The Universities of Tulsa, and the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. He has worked professionally as a performer, director, musical director, and composer at theaters across the country, including the California Theatre Center, Madison Repertory, Omaha Playhouse, Augusta Barn, Fireside Theatre, Light Opera of Oklahoma, Knoxville Children’s Theatre, Oak Ridge Playhouse, Foothills Players and the Clarence Brown Theatre. Terry has directed or musically directed numerous productions and has created scores for four original musicals and a variety of chamber and vocal music as well as incidental music for many CBT Productions. He is a member of the Clarence Brown Theatre Company and regularly directs and musically directs for the CBT. Favorite CBT directing credits include, Assassins, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, South Pacific, and A Shanya Maidel. Terry is the director of the CBT Summer Acting Workshop for High School Students and serves as co-facilitator of Outreach and Education hosting Theatre Tours and Talk Backs
Erica Zacharias ( Stage Manager) is a fourth-year Theatre major at UT and the Stage Manager for The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Previous work at the Clarence Brown include ASM roles on You Can’t Take It With You, Cabaret, Sense and Sensibility, Failure: A Love Story, and more! She would like to thank her family and especially her mom for being the best friend and supporter she could ever ask for. This is a beautiful story about learning to love and Erica dedicates this show to everyone who has loved and supported her through the years. She hopes you enjoy this story as much as she enjoyed bringing it to life!
Kenneth Martin (Artistic Director/Department Head) comes from the University of Missouri, at Kansas City, where he was the Patricia Mcllrath Endowed Professor and Chair of the Theatre Division. His career in academia also included nearly 18 years serving as chair of the theat departments across the USA. Ken is also a scenic designer and member of United Scenic Artists, his designs have been seen at theatres across the country including Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Florida Repertory Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, The New Theatre, Ohio Light Opera, Cleveland Ensemble Theatre, Ocean State Theatre and many others. He has also designed shows for many colleges and universities including Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Coastal Carolina University, Cuyahoga Community College, and The Ohio State University. Martin has actively served his profession as a respondent for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, as a consultant for several regional theaters and through active participation in organizations like the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Educational Theatre Association and the Southeastern Theatre Conference.
Tom Cervone (Managing Director) Tom is grateful and honored to serve the Clarence Brown Theatre as Managing Director. Cervone has also served as executive director for both Dogwood Arts and the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation, but the CBT/UTK Theatre Department is Tom’s administrative and artistic home. Cervone is a long-time board member of the WordPlayers and continues to evangelize on behalf of the art and culture community locally and nationally. Tom received the Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Service to the University in 2010. Cervone holds his undergraduate degree in Theatre from West Liberty University in West Virginia and a Master of Fine Arts and an MBA from UT. He is a graduate of and was selected as the Class Representative of the Leadership Knoxville class of 2011. Cervone was inducted into his undergraduate alma mater’s class of 2015 Wall of Honor and was appointed by the Governor of WV in 2021 to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of WLU.
Susan L. McMillan (Production Manager) is in her thirteenth year at the CBT and UT Department of Theatre. In addition, she teaches Stage Management. Prior, Susan was the Production Manager and Stage Management Instructor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Susan is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, and was a Stage Manager at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for 18 years. Additionally, she has stage managed at the Guthrie Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Portland Center Stage, PCPA, Rogue Valley Opera, Portland Civic Theatre, and the Kennedy Center. Susan graduated from Oregon State University with 2 Bachelor of Science Degrees (Biochemistry/Biophysics and Biology), and a Minor in Theatre Arts. She is incredibly grateful for all the opportunities and adventures along the way, her amazing colleagues, the love and support of her family and friends, and for Molly (woof)! Her work continues to be dedicated to her forever missed and beloved mother. And as Jim Edmondson always said – love is the bridge.
The Cast
Maddison Goerg – The Traveler (Pellegrina, Society
…Lady, Lolly, Watchman, Old Lady,
…Lucius Clark, Marlene)
Hayden Springer – The Musician (Edward)
Mia Eller – Woman (Abilene, Nellie,
…Lucy the Dog, Star 1, Sarah Ruth,
…Old Doll, Shopper)
Jackson Neilson – Man 1 (Abilene’s Father,
…Amos, Lawrence, Bull, Star 2, Neal)
Ava “Raine” Jensen – Man 2 (Martin, Margory,
…Jack, Hobos, Doll, Bryce)
Mia Eller – Woman (Abilene, Nellie, Lucy the Dog, Star 1, Sarah Ruth, Old Doll, Shopper) is a senior at UTK with a double major in Theatre and History. This is her third show with the Clarence Brown Theatre— you may have also seen her in The Moors (u/s Marjory) or Failure: A Love Story (Nelly Fail). She would like to thank her friends, family, and professors for giving her every opportunity to grow in her craft, and she would like to give a special thanks to Casey Sams for trusting her to help bring a third show come to life. This is a very special story for Mia, and she cannot wait to share it with you!
Maddison Goerg – The Traveler (Pellegrina, Society Lady, Lolly, Watchman, Old Lady, Lucius Clark, Marlene) is ecstatic to be back on stage, this show being her first within the Lab Theatre! Recent stage credits include A Christmas Carol (Fan) and Museum (Françoise, Ada, Lillian). Maddi is beyond excited to share the wonderful tale of Edward Tulane and hopes you enjoy it as much as she does being in it. She gives a big thank you to Casey Sams for taking a chance on her! Read more books and love one another!
Ava “Raine” Jensen – Man 2 (Martin, Margory, Jack, Hobos, Doll, Bryce) is so excited to be a part of a second CBT production after being a part of Inherit the Wind (Howard). Enjoy the show!
Jackson Neilson – Man 1 (Abilene’s Father, Amos, Lawrence, Bull, Star 2, Neal) is currently enrolled as a senior here at UT as a Theatre major with a concentration in Acting, and a minor in Musical Theatre. Prior credits include Cabaret (Ensemble, Onstage Accordion Player), A Christmas Carol (Young Scrooge, Topper, Peter Cratchit, Twyce), Inherit The Wind (Puppeteer), The Play That Goes Wrong (Cornley Crew, U/S Dennis), and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Sweeney Todd).
Hayden Springer – The Musician (Edward) is a junior at the University of Tennessee and is grateful and excited to be working alongside many talented and dedicated artists in Edward Tulane! This is Hayden’s debut show at the Clarence Brown Lab Theatre; although he has worked on numerous productions as a light board and spotlight operator and electrician. Hayden would like to thank all those who helped him along the way including friends, family, and mentors in the Theatre Department here at UT. Go Vols!
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