![]() They must have actions to act. As wonderful as the book is – this gentle story has very little conflict. I will admit, there were challenges - joyous challenges - when taking this profound, but very simple, story from a 29-page, 754-word picture book to a 62 page, 12,000+ word script that had to fully engage 4 to 8-year-olds for an hour. As a playwright, the joy of resting in each word and devouring every picture – inspires new magic! ![]() My charge? To honor these well-chosen words and illustrations as I lift their magic from the page to create a living, breathing world for the stage. We instinctively feel every word is carefully chosen then skillfully married with images that delight, create wonder, and spark questions. Gloria: For a child, and the child who hopefully still lives in all of us - reading an exceptional picture book has its own special magic. How exactly do you take a story in a book and put it on stage? What’s the most difficult part in doing so? What can I say? Magic! Last Stop on Market Street. One says, “One Love” and on the other is the name “Basil.” Later, I learned Basil is the illustrator’s nephew. The clincher! Near the end of the book, there are several buildings with graffiti sprawled across them. Also, the desire to spotlight kindness at a time when the country seemed to be experiencing a breakdown in civility was very appealing to me. I loved that in this simple, yet powerful book, a bus ride down Market Street prompted young CJ to marvel at his grandmother’s ability to see beauty in a less than perfect world. I felt Matt de la Peña’s words and Christian Robinson’s illustrations created a moving story in a naturally diverse world. If that book is Last Stop on Market Street and has just won honors from the Caldecott, Newbery and Coretta Scott King Book Awards – this gift comes with triple rainbow magic! Gracing an individual with a great book is an amazing act of kindness. Market Street was the first play in a series of new TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences) plays in their Kindness Project.Īrtistic Director Adam Burke sent me the book in 2017. Gloria: The initial production was commissioned by the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. How did Last Stop on Market Street get on your radar? What drew you to adapt the story into a play? Gloria Bond Clunie during a Last Stop on Market Street rehearsal at Bay Area Children’s Theater (San Francisco, CA) Dennis, from the play Last Stop on Market Street adapted for stage by Gloria Bond Clunie “Boy doesn’t know he got magic? Why, child – everybody’s got magic!” Haven’t read Last Stop on Market Street? Before you read on, listen to it here.ĭespite the production’s postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic, we asked Last Stop on Market Street playwright Gloria Bond Clunie and director vickie washington to answer some questions about the story, their creative process bringing it to life on stage, and its meaning to them. The Coretta Scott King Book Award, given annually to outstanding authors that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values The Newbery Medal, awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children The Randolph Caldecott Medal, awarded to the preceding year’s most distinguished American picture book for children The book, Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson is the recipient of three illustrious literary awards: ![]() In 2019, TACA awarded DCT its third grant from the TACA New Works Fund for Last Stop on Market Street. To date, the Fund has supported the creation of 28 new works of performing art in Dallas County, including DCT’s Skippyjon Jones (2014) and Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet (2017), a collaboration between DCT and Cara Mía Theatre Company. ![]() Since its inception in 2012, the TACA New Works Fund has made it possible for more organizations to take risks and create original works with the potential for national and international impact. Their works about underrepresented cultures, teenage bullying, and other issues facing young people today have been received with enthusiasm and applause by audiences and critics. Dallas Children’s Theater (DCT) has an almost unparalleled history of creating new, meaningful works for young people and families.
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