5 Things to Know about University Theatre’s ‘The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane’
by Miguel Gastelum
special to the Munro Review
For more than 60 years, Fresno State’s Department of Theatre and Dance has brought the magic of live theatre to young audiences across the Central Valley. Founded in the late 1960s by Dr. Janet Loring, the department’s Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) program has grown into a beloved tradition, with its annual spring tour reaching nearly two dozen elementary schools and thousands of students each year. Now, that legacy takes center stage in a new way as TYA makes its debut as part of the department’s mainstage season with “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.”
Adapted by Dwayne Hartford from the 2006 fantasy children’s novel by Kate DiCamillo, “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” promises to make a big splash on the University Theatre stage. Supported by Dr. Loring’s legacy, the department is giving TYA’s arrival on the mainstage the proper red-carpet treatment.
The production, directed by J. Daniel Herring, opens Friday, November 13 and runs through November 21 in the John W. Wright Theatre at Fresno State. Here are five things to know about the production:
1. The protagonist doesn’t—or rather, can’t—speak.
One of the most interesting challenges the production faces is bringing its central character, Edward Tulane, to life—he’s just a porcelain rabbit, after all! In DiCamillo’s original novel the reader gets a front row seat to Edward’s thoughts and feelings as his emotional transformation is the central part of the story. Playwright Dwayne Hartford was faced with a unique challenge and concocted a creative solution: the onstage musician also serves as the voice of our protagonist. In Fresno State’s production, two musicians take on the role, providing the musical soundtrack to this miraculous journey while also giving voice to Edward’s thoughts and emotions. It’s a clever theatrical convention that lets the audience experience the rabbit’s journey from his perspective.
2. There isn’t just one Edward Tulane—there are six—and they’re all custom built.
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You won’t likely find a toy rabbit like Edward Tulane at your local toy store, department store, or even your favorite online retailer. That’s because the doll was custom-designed and built specifically for this production. But Edward is not exactly one-of-a-kind, there are actually six Edwards taking the John W. Wright stage, plus a seventh rehearsal doll. The craftsman behind bringing them to life is former Fresno State student Jose Angel Estrada, who worked tirelessly for months designing, redesigning, and building each puppet from scratch. Jose even gave his followers a behind-the-scenes look at the process on his Instagram account.
Building the Edward Tulane dolls was “a challenge worth taking on,” says Estrada. “Hours upon hours of work and care went into each doll from sculpting their faces, creating molds, casting, painting, constructing their bodies, and dressing them. I hope that when they are on stage the audience can see that they are filled with life, wonder, and curiosity.”
Courtesy of University Theatre, Fresno State 3. Not only is this show a Fresno premiere, but it’s also a technical premiere for University Theatre, incorporating new technologies, primarily an LED wall, to the John W. Wright stage.
The arrival of Theatre for Young Audiences on the mainstage deserved to make a splash—and this production does just that. In addition to a custom-built set and handcrafted costumes, “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” incorporates some exciting new technology to the John W. Wright stage, including an LED wall and three projectors. These new technical elements combined with the traditional practical elements help transform the theatre and immerse audiences in the wonderful, adventurous, and miraculous world of Edward Tulane.
“Our adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s beloved, award-winning novel embraces the magic of live theatre in bold and imaginative ways, incorporating theatrical techniques that are making their debut on the University Theatre stage,” says director J. Daniel Herring. “We’ve created an experience that invites audiences of all ages to rediscover the power of love, connection, and belonging, and hopefully, leaves them talking long after they’ve left the theatre.”
4. Guitars, and mandolins, and violins…oh my!
“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” is not a musical, but music plays a vital role in bringing its story to life. The production features two live, on-stage musicians. Diego J. Sosa and Julia Bentley take on the task of creating the production’s musical score, providing a soundtrack that further deepens the storytelling, underscores Edward’s journey, and helps bring the world of the play to life.
“It’s been a fun challenge to not only play multiple instruments on stage, but also to help coordinate the music for the show,” says Sosa. “Music is such a strong communicator of emotion and feelings and to be able to help incorporate it into this already moving and heartfelt production was such a privilege. I love how music helps shape the storytelling, and of course, live music in a theatrical production is always a treat for audience members.”
5. This may be the first Theatre for Young Audiences production on the mainstage, but it won’t be the last.
The Department of Theatre and Dance plans to make Theatre for Young Audiences a regular part of its mainstage season. Offering one production a year designed to welcome audience members both young and old will help introduce new generations of Valley audiences to the magic of live theatre for years to come. The department’s continued commitment would not be possible with the generosity and enduring legacy of Dr. Janet Loring.
“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” adapted by Dwayne Hartford, from the novel by Kate DiCamillo, and directed by J. Daniel Herring runs November 13 – 14 and 17 – 20 at 7:30 PM and November 15 and 21 at 2:00 PM in John W. Wright Theatre at Fresno State. Tickets are available online by visiting the department website.
