Children’s Literary Cafe: April

My newest creation. Those of you with a taste for theater may enjoy this one:

The Children’s Literary Cafe at the new Children’s Center at 42nd Street is pleased to announce our event on Saturday, April 4 th at 2:00 p.m.:

What does it take to adapt a work of children’s literature from the page to the stage? Here’s your chance to ask the experts. Join playwright David Paterson, son of Newbery Award winner Katherine Paterson (who has recently adapted her The Great Gilly Hopkins to the stage) and Brenda Bell the Producing Artistic Director of Literally Alive Children’s Theatre as they discuss the process of turning works for children into full-fledged theatrical productions.

David Paterson is an award winning playwright and screenwriter. He has seen his work performed on Broadway and Off Broadway and throughout the US. His first film, Love Ludlow, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005 and he most recently wrote and produced Disney’s 2007 Bridge to Terabithia.

Brenda Bell is the Producing Artistic Director of Literally Alive Children’s Theatre, which she founded in 1999, and is currently in residence at the Players Theatre in New York City. Literally Alive creates original musicals based on classic children’s literature. Brenda’s stage adaptations have included: The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, The Velveteen Rabbit, Beauty and the Beast, The Selfish Giant, Treasure Island and Stone Soup.

Topics discussed will include adapting stories within the public domain vs. works where the original author is still alive, the difficulties of making a story stage-worthy, theatrical productions for children vs. productions for adults, and other thoughts along these lines.

The Children’s Literary Café is a monthly gathering of adults who are fans of children’s literature. Professionals, librarians, authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers, teachers, and anyone else interested in the field are welcome to attend our meetings. The Literary Café provides free Advanced Readers galleys, a rotating series of talks with professionals in the field, and great conversation. This program is for adults only.

New York Public Library
42nd Street and 5th Avenue
The Children’s Center at 42nd Street
New York, NY 10018

[come in the 42nd Street side door to find us most easily!)