Children and families invited to journey with ‘Edward Tulane’

EVANSTON - “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” the epic adventures of a china rabbit snatched from the arms of the little girl who adores him, opens the sixth season of Imagine U.

The production is being presented for a limited two-week run from Feb. 3 to 12 at the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts’ Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theater, 1949 Campus Drive, Evanston. (Due to construction, a temporary entrance to the theater is located at 10 Arts Circle Drive, in the Marjorie Ward Marshall Dance Center.)

“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” is adapted for the stage by Dwayne Hartford from Kate DiCamillo’s award-winning book and directed by master storyteller and Northwestern associate professor of theater Rives Collins (“The Hundred Dresses” and “James and the Giant Peach”).

Edward Tulane, an elegant rabbit plucked suddenly from his comfortable existence, begins an arduous quest to find his way back home. Throughout his journey he touches the lives of everyone he meets. Performed in the round by five actors and puppets, the intimate staging and timeless theme about being loved and learning to love in return will delight audiences of all ages.

Now in its sixth year, the popular Imagine U series continues to engage children and their families with imaginative productions of beloved children’s stories. Performances include an opportunity for children to meet cast members after the show and take home a program filled with production-related activities. Past shows have included “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley,” “James and the Giant Peach” (Chicago premiere), “A Year with Frog and Toad,” “Charlotte’s Web” and many more.

“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” opens at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3. Curtain times are 7 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $10 for the general public and $6-$8 for children and students. Tickets and more information is available on the Wirtz Center website, by phone at 847-491-7282 or by visiting the box office in the Barber Theater lobby at 30 Arts Circle Drive on the Evanston campus.

The Wirtz Center is a member of the Northwestern Arts Circle, which brings together film, humanities, literary arts, music, theatre, dance and visual arts. Search for events across all artistic disciplines at Northwestern Arts Circle.