Good night, Gorilla

Good night, Gorilla

Adapted by Nina Meehan, music by Austin Zumbro.

Inspired by the book “Good night, Gorilla” by Peggy Rathman 

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Perusal Script

Production Details:

  • Musical
  • 40 minutes
  • Cast 2-3

Target Audience:

Ages 6 months – 3 years

Synopsis:

The Zoo is closed for the night and it’s time for the animals to go to bed, but just as the Zookeeper bids them one last “Good night,” the Gorilla steals his keys and, after letting all the other animals out of their enclosures, follows him home to sleep!

Good Night, Gorilla, is a musical inspired by Peggy Rathman’s beloved bedtime story. Join two zookeepers and their mischievous animals for an entertaining, interactive night time adventure specifically designed with toddlers and preschoolers in mind. Original music by award winning composer/playwright Austin Zumbro allows the audience to sing and dance along with interactive elements that support early math learning and early literacy, as well as delightful production elements that truly bring the original book to life on stage.

“Goodnight, Gorilla,” an original adaptation of author Peggy Rathmann’s popular bedtime story about a mischievous gorilla who steals the zookeeper’s keys. That mischievous gorilla and his zoo pals are tiptoeing out of their cages once again to follow the zookeeper home for the night, offering interactive theatre experiences for children ages 6 months to 3 years.

Note audience participation is key to several scenes, and each child is given a bucket to help play a part.  In the bucket: a flashlight, a set of keys, and an animal-ear headband.

Curriculum Connections:

Literacy – Reading Comprehension, Active Thinking, Vocabulary, Rhyme; Values and Decision Making; Making Connections to Real Life Scenarios; Emotional Learning

Review and Awards:

“Good Night, Gorilla” is designed specifically for children ages 6 months to 3 years old as a multi-sensory story experience that suits their early childhood development needs while providing an engaging environment for creative opportunities to play, sing, imagine, and act out stories together.” – Bay Area Children’s Theatre

“Good Night, Gorilla” is a show that engages not only infants on a variety of levels, but toddlers as well. The light musical touch is perhaps essential to this musical’s success. The songs and dances are just the right length and the bright interactive set, the crowd’s reaction, and the actors’ antics convey a great deal to the babies. Children watched the entire 45-minute show with intense interest, eyes wide, mouth half open!”– Theatrius, San Francisco

Rental Package Includes:

  • Script
  • Sheet Music, Demo Tracks
  • Performance Video

Pricing and other details are provided during the order process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a performance license?

A performance license grants you permission to perform a theatrical work under copyright.  Whether or not admission is charged, you’re required to obtain a license and pay the creators a royalty fee to perform our scripts in front of an audience.

How do I license a script for production?

Submit the form on our Apply for a License page. We will respond promptly with an estimate for the cost of the license based on the nature of your production, number of performances, and ticket price. We will then issue a Licensing Agreement for you to sign and return, along with your payment. There may also be costs for additional rental items, such as PDFs of sheet music for musicals.

Can I read the script beforehand?

Yes. We offer free digital copies of perusal scripts upon request. Please fill out the form on the Contact Us page and let us know which script you’d like to read. We will email it to you within two (2) business days. Script excerpts are also available for download on each show’s page.

Do I need to obtain a license to read a script with my students in a classroom?

You will need to request a digital copy from the Contact Us page, but you won’t have to obtain a license or pay any royalty fees to read a script with your class.

Once I obtain a license, will materials be shipped to me?

All materials provided for production (scripts, sheet music, etc.) will be shared electronically. No hard copies will be shipped to you, which means you won’t have to return anything!

I have more questions…

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