Cuesheet
PERFORMAnCE GUIDE
A CAUTIONARY MUSICAL Script and lyrics by Mo Willems Based on his book Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale Music by Michael Silversher • Musical Arrangement by Deborah Wicks La Puma Directed by Rosemary Newcott • Choreographed by Paige Hernandez
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It Starts With a Story Meet a very frazzled Daddy and Mommy living in Brooklyn, New York. They are still getting used to life with Trixie, their loveable, and very energetic, 16-month-old daughter. On this day, Daddy plans to do the laundry with Trixie. That’s a big deal because Mommy usually takes care of her. Mommy warns Daddy it’s tricky and a lot of work. Daddy believes he’ll be just fine, because Trixie has her favorite stuffed animal, Knuffle Bunny, with her all the time. Trixie can’t say real words yet, but they know she loves the bunny by the way she hugs him and how she wails whenever he’s gone.
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All illustrations © 2004 by Mo Willems
After a walk through their neighborhood, Daddy and Trixie arrive at the Laundromat, a place where people go to wash their clothes. Trixie has fun playing with the dirty laundry. After starting the washing machine, Daddy decides they should walk home to get a snack. But they forget something very important. And when they remember, they begin a wild adventure to rescue a favorite friend.
A Knuffle Kerfuffle What is a “knuffle”? First, it’s a Dutch word for a hug. Second, it’s an example of an exception to the rule—the one about not saying the hard “k” sound in words that begin with “kn,” like “known.” You say knuffle like this: “KA-nuff-ul.” And a “kerfuffle” (ker-FUFF-ul) is a really loud commotion. You could say Trixie causes a kerfuffle about her knuffle bunny.
ING READY TO SEE
It’s just one load of laundry. How much trouble could Daddy and Trixie get into? But
From Page to Stage
What’s in a Song?
The musical Knuffle Bunny began as a book. You might have read it, but if not, that’s okay because you’ll get the whole story and more at the performance. Mo Willems, the man who wrote the book and drew its pictures, believed the story could also be told with actors performing and singing on stage. So, he wrote the dialogue (words spoken by the characters) and added new parts to the story, like what Daddy and Trixie see and do on their way to the Laundromat. He also wrote the lyrics (words) to the songs.
The songs in Knuffle Bunny tell you a lot about the characters, what they’re thinking and feeling, and what’s happening in the story. During the performance, watch and listen for how the performers communicate through their actions and lyrics when they sing the following the songs: with Trixie” • “Tricky sung by Mommy and Daddy Flaggle Klabble” • “Aggle sung by Trixie Really Love You” • “Really, sung by Daddy
Other people also helped get the story ready for the stage. A composer wrote music to go with the songs and a director chose the actors. A set designer created the scenery, like the washing machines. And puppeteers, people who work with puppets, crafted several puppets of animals and other objects. Finally, with lots of practice, everyone’s ready for the show.
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then again…life is tricky with Trixie.
AWord of “Caution” Knuffle Bunny is called “a cautionary musical.” Why? Well, mostly that’s for you to find out during the performance. But keep in mind that cautionary can mean teaching somebody to avoid something or to learn to do something a different way. After the performance, think about and discuss how Knuffle Bunny is “cautionary.”
Welcome to Brooklyn Trixie’s family lives in Brooklyn—that’s a part of New York City, just across the river from Manhattan. It’s crowded and busy and people know their neighbors. You’ll see black-andwhite images of Brooklyn neighborhoods during the performance. Notice the closetogether brick houses, a style of home you see a lot of there. These older houses may not have a washing machine or clothes dryer. That’s why some people take their laundry to the Laundromat.
You’ll Need Your Imagination, Too At the performance, you’ll get to see what Trixie imagines. But you’ll need to use your imagination, too. The actors perform with large background photos and sets, but you’ll have to imagine the rest, like the streets of Brooklyn, the inside of the Laundromat, and what Trixie is trying to say.
Bringing Bunnies and Clothes to Life To help you imagine things that are imaginary or wouldn’t happen in real life, the performance uses large puppets. These life-size puppets are moved by puppeteers you’ll see right on stage. This Japanese type of puppetry is called Bunraku (boon-RAHkoo). Watch for a giant bunny and a dancing shirt!
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For Teachers and Parents Dear Grownups: Welcome to the Knuffle Bunny Cuesheet. This guide is designed to help children prepare to see and appreciate the performance. Please help your young theatergoers read and understand the information. Here’s more background information for you and some activity ideas designed to add to the children’s experience.
Meet MoWillems Even if they haven’t read Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, children probably already know the work of writer/lyricist/illustrator Mo Willems, whose illustrations from the book appear throughout this Cuesheet. He wrote for TV’s Sesame Street and he’s written and illustrated numerous Psst! children’s books, including Look for the Pigeon’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive cameo during the Knuffle Bunny the Bus! and other books in the performance. Pigeon series. Willems has won three Caldecott Honors for his work, including one for the book, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale.
Activities for Children Starring: A Toddler When Trixie realizes what she and Daddy forgot at the Laundromat, she doesn’t know the words to tell him. So she tries every way she knows to communicate. Imagine you’re an actor playing a 16-month-old toddler. How would you move, what expression would you have on your face, and what sounds would you make to be believable as a toddler? How would you show that you are happy, angry, sad, and confused? Practice your ideas with friends.
Lost Something? Find a Story in It Of their adventure, Daddy says, “One day this is going to make a really good story!” Think of a time when you or someone in your family lost something. Try writing a short story about it; be sure to include what you learned from your experience.
Rhyme Time During the songs, listen for the rhyming words, like “jeans” and “mean,” or “listen” and “mission,” or these lyrics from “Washy Washy:” We gotta stop it And plop it And drop it Try it yourself. Using the pattern above, create new rhymes to the italicized words: “We gotta sing it And it And it” or “We gotta clean it And it And it.”
Go behind-the-scenes of this production at: artsedge.kennedy-center.org/multimedia/ series/VideoStories/knuffle-bunny.aspx
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David M. Rubenstein Chairman Michael M. Kaiser President Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education
Don’t Get “Lost” During the Performance Watch for… happens when Trixie goes “boneless” • what special appearance by another animal during the performance • ahow the puppeteers and the lighting suggest something is • make-believe
Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided by the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts, Capital One Bank, the Carter and Melissa Cafritz Charitable Trust, The Clark Charitable Foundation, Fight for Children, Inc., Mr. James V. Kimsey, The Kirstein Family Foundation, Inc., The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc., Linda and Tobia Mercuro, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Park Foundation, Inc., Mrs. Irene Pollin, Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk, The Theodore H. Barth Foundation, Inc., the U.S. Department of Education, and the Verizon Foundation. Major support for the Kennedy Center’s educational programs is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program. All illustrations © 2004 by Mo Willems
Listen for… sound effects in the Laundromat • the the music changes when the family members realize • how what they forgot • what Trixie says that surprises her parents
And remember…
A good audience— stays quiet, doesn’t eat, listens, doesn’t leave anything at the Laundromat, and claps. Have fun!
www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center. ARTSEDGE is a part of Verizon Thinkfinity, a consortium of free educational Web sites for K-12 teaching and learning. Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education
The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2011 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
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