Lincoln Square Resident in Children's Musical, Knuffle Bunny

Lincoln Square resident, Sam Shankman portrays the role of “Dad” in The Young People’s Theatre of Chicago’s inaugural holiday production of Mo Willems’ Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical at The Greenhouse Theater Center on Dec. 2-19, 2021

Following a pandemic-induced hiatus, The Young People’s Theatre of Chicago welcomes the 2021 holiday season with its inaugural production adapted by Mr. Willems from his own Caldecott Honor-winning children’s book, Knuffle Bunny. Tickets are available at greenhousetheater.org, in person at the box office, or by calling 773-404-7336.

Knuffle Bunny (is that Nuffle or Knuffle?) is the high-spirited and poignant account of a beleaguered Dad (Shankman) who inadvertently leaves his toddler’s favorite stuffed bunny at the neighborhood laundromat. Can Dad possibly save the day?? Adapting his best-selling children’s book for the stage, Mr. Willems explores the loving and complex bond between parent and child while celebrating the glorious complexity of family life in the big city. Knuffle Bunny features Michael Silversher’s irresistibly hummable music, plenty of energetic dance, and some truly inspired puppets (both modest and HUUUUGE!) – and even a guest appearance by Mr. Willem’s own much-loved bus-driving pigeon!

Knuffle Bunny is directed by YPT’s founding artistic director Randy White. Mr. White has extensive directing experience in New York City and at regional theatres across the country. He was nominated last year for a Jeff Award for directing Midsummer, A Play with Songs at The Greenhouse Theater. From 2006-2016, Randy was also the founding artistic director of Cardinal Stage Company in Bloomington, IN, where he inaugurated the company’s extraordinarily successful “Cardinal for Kids” TYA series.

The cast for Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical includes Aissa Guerra (Trixie), Grace Bobber (Mom), Sam Shankman (Dad), and Matthew O’Neal Lolar, Haley Gustafson, and Juanita Andersen (ensemble).

Music is directed by David Zizic and choreography by Tuesdai B. Perry. The production team includes Lauren M. Nichols (scenic design), Caitlin McLeod (costume design), Brandon Wardell (lighting design), Dave Wisniewski (prop design), and Kat Pleviak (puppet design).

The Young People’s Theatre of Chicago is a new children’s theatre company offering high-quality Theater for Young Audience productions and performance/education opportunities for children of all ages and backgrounds. Housed in the historic Greenhouse Theater Center, YPT launched in the fall of 2021, with additional productions planned for the spring of 2022.