Original musical score and sound design for new work by the Alliance Theatre, adapted from the book by Maira Kalman.

Devised for children aged newborn to five years, and their grown ups, as part of the Alliance’s ‘Theatre for the Very Young’ program. Debuted July 2019, Atlanta GA.

I was honored to be involved in the creative team devising this ‘theatre for young audiences’ work from beginning to end, and delighted with the results.

When Willy can’t sleep, he whispers to his sister in the dark ... “Psssst, hey Lulu, tell me some stories!”. Inspired by Maira Kalman’s whimsical book, this theatrical adventure explores the vivid place where bedtime stories meet dreaming. Our young audiences will go on an associative, magical ride, as the colors, shapes, words, and characters from Lulu’s stories become real. As we bake a cake, sail a boat across a lake, swim underwater with the bubbles and fish, and travel to the Egyptian pyramids, this parade of changing landscapes will give our audience lots to see, touch, and do, and an invitation to meet it all with curiosity and joy.

A woman in bright colored clothing leans over a small green open door smiling as very young children walk through.

A young girl stands up in an audience to blow a sailboat that rolls on a string, held up by a performer in brightly colored clothing.

In front of a curtain designed to look like the red skirt of a large woman, with her legs and shoes hanging underneath, two performers in brightly colored clothing make three dog puppets perform a dance.

Photos by Sara Keith Studios and Greg Mooney. Header illustration by Maira Kalman.

Hey Willy Project