A! Magazine for the Arts

Theatre Bristol brings 'The Rainbow Fish' to the stage

March 26, 2024

Theatre Bristol presents beloved children’s book “The Rainbow Fish,” on its ARTspace stage, Bristol, Tennessee, with Saturday morning and afternoon shows and Sunday matinees, April 20 through 28.

This full-scale, glittery-scaled stage version of the award-winning children’s book, “The Rainbow Fish,” transforms the ARTspace into a sea world, with Rainbow Fish, Little Fish, Starfish, Ms. Minnow, Octopus, Pufferfish, Hermit Crab, Sardine, Clownfish and many other creatures and show how kindness really shimmers, shines and sparkles.

Elisabeth Mullins is cast as the Rainbow Fish, and her scales are Harper Mensch and Amalia Hubbard. Carrie Cornett is the Starfish and Ms. Minnow, and Mandy Deere is the Barnacle and the wise Octopus.

Narrators and Tentacles play multiple roles with Reese Davis as Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, Jayonna Green as the Hermit Crab, Nora Day Graham as the Prawn, Katie Collea as the Snail, Kayleigh Stroupe as the Haddock, and Abby Cheek as the Hake.

Bentley Forinash is the Little Fish, Autumn Love is the Sardine, Kiera Leonard is the Guppy, Lily Frazier is the Shrimp, and Summer Fritz is the Snail. The fancy fish are Lucy Helvey, the Pufferfish, Sydney Gray, the Clownfish, and Emma Cornett, the Angelfish.

The Lobsters are Farris Lamie and Kaidence DeHart, Nautilus is Lola Dew, Herring is Kally Nelson, and the little Hermit Crab is Drew Headen.

Adapted by Austin Zumbro from the book written and illustrated by Marcus Pfister and translated into English by J. Alison James, “The Rainbow Fish” is directed by Melanie Yodkins. Yodkins is a long-time director, Theatre Bristol stage veteran, and Fine Art & Theatre graduate of Milligan University. Among her directing credits are “13: the Broadway Musical,” “A Christmas Carol,” “The Secret Garden” and “Lend Me a Tenor.” Yodkins is supported by stage manager Ann Vance, and production team Zaiah Gray, Cooper Knapp, Mason White, Rebecca Ryan, Ken Cornett, Tony DeVault and Samantha Gray.

“The Rainbow Fish” opens Saturday, April 20, and runs for two weekends at the Theatre Bristol ARTspace, Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., closing April 28. Tickets are $15 for adults plus processing fees and $10 for seniors and students plus processing fees, and are available at www.TheatreBristol.org.

For more information, visit the Theatre Bristol’s website or Facebook page, contact Theatre Bristol at 423-212-3625, or email info@theatrebristol.org.

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