About the Play:

The Velveteen Rabbit is a full-length drama adapted for the stage by James Still, from the much-loved children's book by Margery Williams. Her timeless award-winning tale was named to the "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children" list compiled by the National Education Association. This stage adaptation of the beloved classic and heartwarming story tells the tale of a young man and his stuffed toy rabbit that befriends other toys in a nursery and learns how the true love of his owner will make him real.

The Velveteen Rabbit is an emotional journey through time, as told through the eyes of a teenager looking back on his childhood. By reliving the relationship between his 4-year-old self and his favourite toy, the velveteen rabbit, he rediscovers the true meaning of friendship. Central to the story is, of course, the velveteen rabbit, a modest toy which cannot hope to compete with the likes of a sleek toy Boat or a speedy Train, is mocked by all the other toys. The only toy who stands up for the Rabbit is the old Rocking Horse, who tells the Velveteen Rabbit about the magic of becoming Real. This "memory play, play explores the rewards of loyalty, the poignancy of loss, and the wonderful, surprising powers of love.

The Velveteen Rabbit premiered in 1986 at the Omaha Theatre for Young People in Omaha, Nebraska. This revised edition was first presented in 1991 at The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. With successful productions at theatres around North America, this fantasy play is enjoyable to all groups (including adults), and appropriate for holiday productions. It is filled with action and humour, and the costumes for the toys can be great fun!

Cast: 3 male, 7 either gender (alternate casting: 10 either gender, doubling possible)

What people say:

"This imaginative adaptation by James Still tells the story of a toy bunny that magically transforms into a real rabbit. This tale, originally written in 1922, still resonates today with any young child's dreams that his or her toys could become somehow come to life." — West Kentucky Star

"The Velveteen Rabbit, a story by Margery Williams and adapted for the stage by James Still, is a tale about a stuffed rabbit who learns he can become real if his owner, a young boy named Steve, truly loves him. The touching story is not just for children. It is a grippingly tragic love story for everyone." — The Tartan (Radford, Virginia)

About the Playwright:

Margery Williams (1881- 1944) was an English-American author beloved for her 1922 classic of children's literature The Velveteen Rabbit, the first, and best known, of her thirty children's books.

James Still is an American writer and playwright. His award-winning plays have been produced throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, China, Australia and South Africa. He grew up in a tiny town in Kansas, graduated from the University of Kansas, and has served as the playwright-in-residence at Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) for over 20 seasons.