THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE Opens Today at Children's Creativity Museum

When Edward Tulane, an elegant toy china rabbit, is snatched from Abilene's arms and flung into the sea, he swirls into an epic adventure that takes him into the hearts of strangers, including a kindly fisherman and his wife, a hobo and his dog, and a little boy protecting his ailing sister.

Four versatile actors play more than 20 roles in the Bay Area Children's Theatre (BACT) production of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, coming today, March 28, to the Theater at the Children's Creativity Museum, 221 4th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103.

Adapted for the stage by Dwayne Hartford from the story by award-winning children's author Kate DiCamillo, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane plays Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. through Sunday, April 12.

Directed by Doyle Ott, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is recommended for age 8 and up.

TICKETS: $22 adults, $20 seniors, $18 children, $13 groups (minimum 15)

BOX OFFICE: www.bactheatre.org or (510) 296-4433

Doyle Ott (director) directed Go Dog, Go and The Little Engine that Could for the Bay Area Children's Theatre and played the title role in the company's production of The Cat in the Hat. Other recent directing credits include King Stag for Curtain Theatre, Great Divide at Sonoma State, and Three Wolves and a Lamb for Playwright's Foundation. Ott has performed with SF Shakespeare, Foolsfury, Golden Thread, Make-A-Circus, Lunatique Fantastique, and many other companies. In addition to directing and performing, he frequently works on new scripts as a playwright, dramaturg and translator, and is a company member of Playground. Ott is the Director of Theatre at Children's Fairyland in Oakland, where he has written, directed and devised over 20 fairy tale plays for young performers. He also teaches at Sonoma State University and is a Feldenkrais practitioner.

Terry Bamberger (The Woman) is a San Francisco Bay Area actor whose theatre credits include Three Tall Women at Custom Made Theatre Company, the West Coast premiere of Year of the Rooster at Impact Theatre, Jeremy Bloom's Peter/Wendy at The Custom Made Theatre Company, and the premiere of Singulariteen at the SF Fringe; The Winter's Tale, Romeo & Juliet, and The Tempest at SF Shakespeare Festival, King Lear at Calveras Repertory Theatre, and contemporary works including Done to Death at Venue 9, The Maltese Frenchman at Theatre Rhino, Guilty Conscience at Sierra Repertory Theatre. Bamberger's film/tv credits include Coffee & Language and General Hospital. Bamberger trains young actors at Oakland School for the Arts and was a recipient of the 2013 Theatre Bay Area Titan Award.

Darek Burkowski (The Man) received his Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from the University of Connecticut. In the Bay Area, he most recently appeared in Indra's Net Theatre's world premiere of Delicate Particle Logic in Berkeley. He will appear next in The Braggart Soldier at Custom Made Theatre in San Francisco. Burkowski loves photography, graphic design, and storytelling. www.darekburkowski.com

James Grady (voice of Edward, guitarist) makes his BACT debut in this production. Originally from Scottsdale, AZ, Grady has called San Francisco home since 2008, and has firmly established himself in the local music and theater scenes. He served as music director for the 2011 Theater Pub holiday spectacular, a concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar. The following year he music directed and sang the role of Roger in Theater Pub's Rent. In 2014 James was the music director of Kristin Hersh's Rat Girl, adapted for the stage by Stuart Bousel. Other credits include playing guitar for Custom Made Theatre's production of Next to Normal, performing in the house band for several Killing My Lobster shows, and playing the role of Roger in Rent at Altarena Playhouse. A classically trained French horn player and multi-instrumentalist, Grady taught himself guitar at the age of 10.

Carlye Pollack (The Girl) makes her debut with the Bay Area Children's Theatre in this production. She has worked with companies including the San Francisco Playhouse, Impact Theatre, Ragged Wing Ensemble, and the Playwrights Foundation. She is executive producer with Atta Squirrel Films.

Photo Credit: Nina Meehan