'Goodnight Moon' Parodies Tonight and It's Free

Greg Trafidlo

Tonight's Goodnight Moon Parodies at Hollins University's Green Drawing Room at 7 p.m. brings together seven writers from this region to spoof the classic Margaret Wise Brown children's book. MWB, as she's affectionately called on campus, graduated from Hollins in the 1930s and this is her year to be honored. Already, Hollins has presented a play based on the book. (Here's the flyer.)

This evening of parody began with the idea that we'd read published parodies and quickly--very quickly-segued into what it is: a celebration of the talent we have in this area. As the entries began to trickle in, it was obvious that what were getting was better than what we had and only one of the published works survived the cut: Goodnight Bush and that was more for the politics than the literature (I get to read it. Heh, heh, heh ...).

President Nancy Gray will open the evening by reading the original work.

The writers include noted regional musician Greg Trafidlo, who wrote a song; Roanoker Magazine editor Kurt Rheinheimer and a collection of others you might not know, but who you will certainly appreciate. One of my favorites is Daphne Huffman whose recently finished novel reminds me--in tone and style--of the writing of Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird). Daph is a nurse who is out of town for the reading, so we brought in professional actress Amanda Mansfield to read it.

One of the entries was from the brother-sister team of Erik Miller and Jessica Muller (her married name and as her dad says, "Go figure"). She wrote the poem, he did the artwork. Two of the entries are extensively illustrated, including one by recent Hollins grad Kathryn Ecsedy who used her red hot camera. She's in Connecticut and hers will be read by journalist and former TV maven Christina Koomen.

It will be a fun hour or so (and it would only be slightly on the "so" end if at all) and you get free milk and cookies. Come join us. You're welcome.