Dancing roosters and lonely fireflies: Picture Book Theatre performs Saturdays at the Eric Carle

By JENNIFER HESHION Bulletin Contributing Writer

Published on October 17, 2008

Puppets, dancing and learning, oh my!

Beginning next week, Picture Book Theatre in Amherst will unveil a fall series of dance-theater productions at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. The 45-minute family program, presented twice each Saturday through November, will bring to colorful life two books by local children's book author Eric Carle - "Rooster's Off to See the World," first published in 1972 and "The Very Lonely Firefly," published in 1995. In conjunction with the show, the museum is exhibiting Carle's original artwork for both stories in the art gallery.

Picture Book Theatre was founded in 2006 by Therese Brady Donohue following her retirement from Amherst Ballet, which she founded and directed for 34 years. The theater company specializes in dance- theater adaptations of picture book stories to entertain and teach children basic math and literacy skills along the way.

Using the vivid images from the world of Carle's books, and in consultation with the Eric Carle Studio in Northampton, Donohue creates all of the choreography, costumes, puppets, and sets for each show, a yearlong process.

"You look at the paintings and try to figure out how to transfer those to people," she said. "It's getting what is in my brain on paper."

Since the museum's grand opening in November, 2002, Donohue has created several adaptations of Carle and others' works, beginning with the original 2003 production of "The Very Lonely Firefly" and including last year's presentation of Leo Lionni's story "Tico and the Golden Wings." For the latter show she received a Gold Star Award from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for excellence in community arts and culture.

The hard work has not been lost on audiences, who generally fill the theater for every performance. "Many kids come back and see it two or three times," Donohue said, "sometimes even in the same day."

With music by Karen A. Tarlow, narration by Nick Clark and Walter Carroll, puppeteers and dancers from Amherst Ballet, "Rooster's Off to See the World" tells the tale of a rooster's travels and the friends he meets along the way. Carle wrote the story as a counting exercise for children. Following his example, Donohue has recreated the counting picture blocks that appear in the book as the rooster makes new friends. During the show, the counting blocks will appear onstage to encourage kids to count along with the entrances and departures of the characters. With the help of local sponsors, the theater company has acquired 600 copies of "Rooster's Off to See the World," which will be given out to families in attendance.

The second half of the program, "The Very Lonely Firefly," is about a lightning bug that doesn't know where he belongs in the world and seeks out other of his ilk for companionship. In the book, Carle used text bubbles to help tell the story. For the show, Donohue has created text bubbles to be held by puppeteers, hoping the children will read aloud as they appear.

Donohue was well known for her creation of fanciful costumes for her Amherst Ballet productions, but masks, puppets and puppeteers are new with Picture Book Theatre. The fireflies in "The Very Lonely&" are puppets with battery-operated lightbulbs hidden in their tails. In "Rooster&," puppeteers clad in black shuffle along onstage wearing turtle puppets on their feet like oversized slippers.

Donohue said the reactions of the children to what they see onstage is more rewarding to her because she knows that they can relate her work to Carle's books. And as for learning reading and arithmetic from a dancing rooster, "It comes alive for them and makes a greater impact on their lives," she said. "It's the best retirement I could ask for."

Picture Book Theater performances will be held Saturdays at 2 and 3 p.m. on Oct. 25, Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 at the museum at 125 West Bay Road in Amherst. There will be an additional show at 1 p.m on Nov. 22. All tickets are $5 and may be purchased in advance at the museum reception desk or by calling (413) 658-1126. The ticket price for the performance does not include museum admission.