Merely Players received LATC funding to cover the costs to bring Kate DiCamillo’s beloved children’s book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, to the stage. They incorporated enchantment through puppetry, special effects, and music to create an exciting performance experience that can be accessed by people of all ages. Who couldn’t use a little bit of magic?

Merely Players aims to provide customary excellence in every aspect, from acting to creativity to production values with the goal of giving local artists a place where they can create with freedom, happiness, and safety. It is an exciting, living, and dynamic group that gives an opportunity for dozens of people to come together to quality entertainment that enriches our community.

For this show, they offered training in acting, vocals, puppeteering, and backstage work as they built the show. Around 40 people, from high school age on up, were involved in creating this high-quality play, including volunteers and paid staff. They brought this show to life for 7 public performances and over 700 audience members, as well as a special matinee for local school children.

This is their first show in several years that is targeted specifically to families. They believe that live theatre provides an unparalleled opportunity for children to engage with stories in an immersive and interactive manner, fostering a deeper connection to the stories being told.