FringeNYC Previews

A Silly Silverstein Show

Produced by One Little Did Players

Author: Shel Silverstein, Adapted by Jessica Marie Lorence, Music by Shel Silverstein and Pat Daley

Our show, A Silly Silverstein Show, uses Shel Silverstein's famous stories (including The Giving Tree and The Missing Piece Meets the Big O) and his beloved poetry to create a fun celebration of life and love. We use several forms of puppetry and some unique live music to bring his work to life. This show teaches both children and adults to be themselves, to be generous, and to love one another despite our inherent differences.

Shel Silverstein wrote his witty, funny, and often brutally honest stories and poems in order to teach children that life is not a fairy tale and it does not always have a happy ending, but that through love, respect and forgiveness we can create our own happy endings. We feel that his stories are important for children and adults to hear in today's war-torn world when we have to sometimes be reminded to forgive and forget, and to love one another unconditionally.

We (the One Little Did Players) grew up with Shel Silverstein. When we began creating this show last year at Skidmore College, we found it hard to narrow the poetry selections down because everyone had their favorite Silverstein poems. And of course, The Giving Tree is one of those stories that everyone remembers from their childhood. We feel that it is time for a Silverstein revolution. We want to bring his work back to life for the children of today because it is so personal to all of us and we think its important to have his words heard.

Sarah Whalen, actor