“Something Wild” author sees production of her work at Dollywood’s Imagination Playhouse
Sitting in the front row of Dollywood’s newly update Imagination Playhouse – author Molly Ruttan put her hands to her face in what must have been a mixture of joy and wonder and astonishment.
She watched as characters that had only lived in her illustrations, passed through the realms of imagination and stepped into reality. Guests say that the words of Ruttan and the songs added specifically for the Dollywood show teaches everyone in that theatre a lesson. And that is to believe in yourself and overcome your fears and deal with life’s challenges in your own terms.
“Something Wild” is one of three plays put on daily based on books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program brings age-appropriate books to children up to the age of 5 around the country and several locations around the world.
What is the Imagination Playhouse?
Located in the far corner of The Village, by the carousel, the Playhouse is a family-friendly theater. It is a gathering place where young visitors and their families can see some of their favorite book characters come to life. Each show begins with a song performed by the cast. There is also a video greeting from Dolly up in her tree house.
The theatre has comfortable seating. There’s also a padded floor area up front where families with small children can sit and allow their toddlers some freedom. Before our showing of “Something Wild,” a toddler enjoyed exploring the whole space, waving at new friends and stumbling a few times to the soft floor.
It is a family-friendly environment that hosts three plays – “Coat of Many Colors” based on a book by Dolly herself, “The Little Engine that Could” by Wally Piper and “Something Wild.” In addition, there are story times and meet and greets with Peter Rabbit and Llama Llama of such classics as “Llama, Llama Red Pajama.”
What is the Imagination Library?
The program was started by Parton for Sevier County. It spread across Tennessee, the country and is now working in other countries like Canada and the UK. The Imagination Library works with sponsors to provide free, age-appropriate books to children who enroll. Each child gets one book a month to the age of five. As of February of this year, more than 270 million free books have been given away. With more than 2 million books given away each month, that figure is swiftly approaching 300 million.
In addition to boosting a passion for reading in youngsters, the program has been beneficial to authors and publishers of books for children. A bit like Oprah’s book club but for kids, being selected for the Imagination Library is a significant honor. It can be quite meaningful, especially for up-and-coming authors.
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What is “Something Wild?”
Both Molly Ruttan’s book and the musical adaptation at Dollywood by Brian Hull are about young Hanna who loves her violin but is nervous about an impending recital. She has stage fright and tells her proud parents she doesn’t want to do the performance. Other than assuring her it will be fine; they do little to assuage her fears. Ultimately, left alone in her room, she wishes for Something Wild to happen that will make the show impossible. Maybe a bird will still her performance outfit or a rabbit will abscond with her violin. Maybe dolphins will flood the performance hall.
When she isn’t rescued by Something Wild, she must face her fears with, eventually, some support of her friends who don’t share her worries. Hanna overcomes her fear and plays her beloved violin.
The books are beautifully illustrated with color and whimsey. They show some of Ruttan’s influences including the legendary Maurice Sendak and Arnold Lobel’s “Frog and Toad” series as well as Wanda Gag – author of “Millions of Cats.”
“I love that sensibility,” she said. “When I was first diving into surrounding myself with art and illustration, I would surround myself with that art and those stories. I just love them.”
Who is Molly Ruttan?
Author, illustrator and musician, Ruttan grew up in New York. She moved to California where she became a magazine art director, graphic designer and illustrator. After raising her children, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a children’s author, winning an Illustration Mentorship at the 44th Annual SCBWI Conference in Los Angeles. She has written and illustrated three books – “The Stray” “Something Wild” and “A Grand Day Out” – and partnered with other authors to illustrate four others.
Visiting Dollywood for the first time to see her book brough to life, Ruttan was beaming.
“I am so excited and happy to be here. This is such a dream come true,” she said. “When you write a book and you put it out into the world, it takes on a life of its own … it’s just the most amazing thing to see someone else take it up and bring it to a new expression onto the stage, it’s just the most over whelmingly fulfilling thing. It just means the world to me to be here, especially in this place, this amazing place. Dollywood is so full of love and wonderful people. I’ve never been here before and so far, my experience has just been really beautiful.”
Selected for Dolly’s Imagination Library in 2024, ‘Something Wild’ has made its way into millions of homes across the country and beyond.
“Oh my gosh, it’s just the most amazing thing to have happened. I’m still pinching myself,” she said. “I barely have words to express how much it means to me to be part of Dolly’s Imagination Library which is such an amazing thing she’s doing for the world. It’s so generous and wonderful.
Have you visited the Imagination Playhouse at Dollywood? Let us know in the comments!