It's Okay to Be Different

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's "It's Okay to Be Different – Stories by Todd Parr" is a must-see production aimed at young audiences that features an hour-long adaptation of three popular contemporary storybooks. Todd Parr, the acclaimed author and illustrator of over 40 books for children, including The I Love You Book and The Earth Book, has partnered with Mermaid Theatre to bring his books to life on stage. The show promotes essential values such as confidence-building, self-expression, diversity, and environmental responsibility, making it a perfect way to teach your children about important issues. The production is directed and adapted by Jim Morrow, a seasoned director of many Mermaid productions, and includes a diverse cast, innovative puppetry techniques, and playful original music that has garnered international acclaim. Join the six million spectators worldwide who have been enchanted by Mermaid Theatre's unique adaptations of children's literary classics since 1972!

Price map linked below in files.

Join us for more! Ticketholders are welcome to join us before the show at 2:30 pm in the Davies Lounge at Kingston Grand Theatre for the fun and lively musical stylings of local duo RasberryJAN! Limited spots available on a first-come first-served basis.   

About RasberryJAN

Gary Rasberry is a JUNO-nominated children’s artist who has been a fixture on the Kingston music and arts scene for over three decades. A noted artist-educator, Gary has held artist-in-residencies internationally, in California, Barcelona, and Amsterdam, and regularly criss-crosses the country as a VIA Rail Artist On Board, from Halifax to Vancouver, stopping along the way to perform at schools, festivals, camps and house concerts. As an Imagination Consultant, Gary Rasberry offers Song, Story & Sound workshops and does his very best to leave a trail of happy children and smiling parents in his wake. A published poet and singer-songwriter, Rasberry released, ‘Polishing Stone,’ his 4th solo record in April 2021. If asked to describe his artistic practice in one sentence: Gary Rasberry is an Artist-Educator who lives and luxuriates in the hyphenated space that exists in, and in between, the two rich worlds of artistry and education.  

Gary was a Kingston Grand Theatre Local Artist-in-Residence in 2021.  

Jan Le Clair studied accordion and piano as a young child but chose to focus on piano. Classically trained, Jan hosts a Bachelor of Music Therapy from Capilano University, BC. Rebirthing the accordion after decades of dormancy, it has now become her mainstay. Performing across southern Ontario in various bands, her genres of choice include global folk/trad, eastern European/Balkan/Klezmer, art music, and contemporary euro pop. A former public educator, Jan loves to weave story and accordion pedagogy into her performances. Jan is also a seasoned folk festival participant, with highlights including Winnipeg, Calgary, Lunenburg, Summerfolk, and Shelter Valley festival performances. Jan is a sought-after collaborative accordionist for theatre productions, recordings, local choirs, and fellow musicians. A solo Imagine Grant recipient (Fall 2021 Isabel Bader Centre), her project was to video-record Canadian composer Frank Horvat’s Music for Isolation — Accordion, Horvat’s 2020 ongoing music isolation (and beyond) dialogue.  

Jan was a Kingston Grand Theatre Local Artist-in-Residence in 2022.