ABOUT US!

RUNNING RABBIT FAMILY THEATRE (RRFT) opened in September 2005 with one performance of PINOCCHIO at the Pollak Theatre, Monmouth University. RRFT established itself as the resident theatre for young audience company at Two River Theatre in Red Bank, NJ and Luna Stage Company, Montclair, NJ. Paul Whelihan's GOLDILOCKS and the THREE BEARS opened in October and ran in both theatres. This was followed by The Velveteen Rabbit in Red Bank and Montclair, and A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Carol at Luna. Little Red Riding Hood wandered next into the theatres, to be followed by PINOCCHIO, The Three Little Pigs and Cinderella. Productions continue to be hosted by The Pollak Theatre, reaching a wider central New Jersey constituency, and limited touring occurs to locations in Deal, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ.
In its first year, RRFT has generated a great deal of interest, community support, and was awarded an "out of cycle" grant from The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. Citing Whelihan and Beattie's artistic excellence while developing new works for family audiences in the past, the Foundation provided valuable start up funds for the fledgling organization.
Two River Theatre is situated in a beautiful, newly constructed state of the art facility. RRFT was pleased to be part of Two River's inaugural season in their 350 seat space. Luna Stage is the acclaimed troupe dedicated to developing new works and nurturing artists. Their 90 seat adjustable black box theatre offers an intimate experience, in which the closeness of the characters delights the younger patrons. Both theatres have welcomed RRFT, providing adminstrative space and expertise, and collaborating on the creation of "something special."
Audiences in Red Bank and Montclair have embraced Running Rabbit, enthused about the opportunity to enjoy professional family entertainment in their communities. Existing audiences are appreciating the new program in their towns, and new audiences are thrilled to be "discovering" Two River and Luna Stage. RRFT's Red Bank location serves audiences in south and central NJ, while Montclair is attended by northern and central NJ families. A loyal following of patrons who've appreciated Whelihan and Beattie's previous productions continue to attend, making the company's impact statewide.
Montclair theatre-goers prove to have many universal characteristics of family audiences. They are vocal, appropriately participatory and invariably effected by the experience. Yet the Montclair population is diverse -- ethnically, economically and socially. They are sophisticated and appreciative and thrive in theatre in a town that is proudly "kid friendly."
The choice of PINOCCHIO is prompted by the story's themes of family, making choices, having goals and the importance to our humainty of having dreams. RRFT's artistic planning is driven by the philosophy that theatre for family audiences should be engaging, educational, and, above all, entertaining. The story of PINOCCHIO provides adventure, excitement and conflict. (Study Guides are distributed to school groups, and available for the general public as well.)

PAUL WHELIHAN is an actor, director, playwright, arts administrator and producer whose involvement in professional theatre is an ongoing mission spanning three decades. While he was still an undergraduate at Montclair State University, he and several colleagues formed the Ironbound Theatre in Newark, NJ. Ironbound Theatre’s mission was to develop new works by American playwrights. Paul served as the Managing Director and resident artist for eight years, guiding the organization in its role in the revitalization of the State’s largest city.
As an actor, Paul has performed extensively in off Broadway, regional theatre, television and movie projects that range from musicals to experimental and world premiere works. He has appeared in more than 160 stage productions in theatres throughout the country, and can be seen in prime time episodes and movies filmed in the New York metropolitan area.
At the 47th Street Theatre Off-Broadway, Whelihan excelled in the acclaimed drama, THE FLAME KEEPER in a role he originated at Luna Stage in Montclair. Most recently at Luna, he performed as John Tuttle in THE NORMALS, and notably was the Mayor in the professional premier of Sheldon Harnick’s DRAGONS (for which Paul received the STAR-LEDGER Award as Best Featured Actor in a musical). At the Forum Theatre in Metuchen, NJ, Whelihan played Pseudolus in A FUNNY THING … FORUM and soared as Miss Texas in the uproarious send up of beauty contests, PAGEANT (which subsequently played at the Cuillo Theatre in West Palm Beach, FL.) Other roles include Tevye in “Fiddler…”, Noah in Two By Two, the Princes, et.al. in The Rothschilds, and Harvey, et.al. in Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh in New York, Massachusetts and Florida. He originated characters in productions of OWED to MY FIRST LOVE (at Premier Stages, Kean University), KISS THE BRIDE, MR. RICKEY CALLS A MEETING and THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, among others.
Whelihan became a resident director of Pushcart Players, a national touring theatre company for family audiences based in New Jersey. During his twenty-one-year association with Pushcart, he worked as an actor and as the Director of Development. As Artistic Director he directed more than thirty-five original productions which continue to tour theatres and schools throughout the country.
Whelihan’s association with Forum Theatre Company (Metuchen) began as Director of Development in 1987. At that time, he substantially raised the level of contributed income, developed the first Board of Directors and acted as liaison to NJ Theatre Alliance (the coalition of the State’s professional theatres), while contributing to all other facets of producing. These included marketing, design and audience development. He thrived as an artist in residence, regularly writing and directing for A KID’S FORUM, the theatre for young audience program and directing and performing for the company’s Mainstage program until August of 2005.
Paul has written the libretto for and directed the noted musical productions of A WINNIE the POOH CHRISTMAS CAROL (an extremely popular adaptation of the Dickens classic featuring the characters of 100 Acre Wood in familiar roles), THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, THUMBELINA…and other tall tales (two innovative productions with NJ composer Paul Farinella), JAMES and the GIANT PEACH, GOLDILOCKS and the THREE BEARS , ALICE in WONDERLAND, (which were musicals performed with lip-syncing to established recordings of works ranging from Bruce Springsteen to The Pointer Sisters to Louis Armstrong), A THREE LITTLE PIGS WHITE CHRISTMAS, THE UGLY DUCKLING and TREASURE ISLAND, the first musical production in New Jersey to feature a cast of actors who are deaf and actors who are hearing, wherein the entire ensemble used sign interpretation throughout, while singing and speaking to illuminate the adventurous story. This ground-breaking production was funded by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
In the autumn of 2005, Paul and his partner, Ellen formed RUNING RABBIT FAMILY THEATRE, established to continue the mission of creating innovative family theatre productions that instill a life-long appreciation for and the support of the performing arts.

ELLEN BEATTIE most recently served as the Artistic Director of A KID’S FORUM, after being an actress, director and administrator for twenty five years. At the Forum she presided over sixty musicals, fourteen of which are world premieres by New Jersey artists: SWORD IN THE STONE, THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, POCAHONTAS, THE VELEVETEEN RABBIT, JAMES and the GIANT PEACH, MOTHER GOOSE ROCKS, THUMBELINA…and other tall tales, A WINNIE the POOH CHRISTAMS CAROL, GOLDILOCKAS and the THREE BEARS, THE UGLY DUCKLING, A THREE LITTLE PIGS WHITE CHRISTMAS, TREASURE ISLAND and ALICE IN WONDERLAND. She has directed Forum productions of Charlottes Web, Sword in the Stone, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and School House Rock Live!. Many of the Beattie’s productions have toured the tri-state region, appearing at Queens Theatre in the Park, The Keswick Theatre in Pennsylvania, South Jersey Performing Arts Center, YM-YMHA of North Jersey, Monmouth University, Montclair State University, Apple Farms and various schools throughout the Garden State. She established “A Kid Forum, Jr.” a conservatory for young children emphasizing the “nuts and bolts” of musical theatre from auditioning and rehearsing to performing a full production on the stage.
Prior to her work at Forum Theatre she served as a resident actor and Director of Programs and Services for five years with the Pushcart Players, a leading NJ touring theatre for young audiences.
As an actress Ellen has appeared off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizon (ODYSSEY), Second Stage (WUTHERING HEIGHTS), Promenade Theatre (TEDDY AND ALICE), Town Hall (WIZARD OF OZ), Perry Street Theatre (ANDROCLES and the LION) and the New York City revival of Maltby-Shires STARTING HERE - STARTING NOW at the Duplex (which she produced and performed under the direction of Richard Maltby Jr.). National Tour credits include SHOWBOAT (with Donald O’Connor) where she understudied and performed the role of Julie, and SOUTH PACIFIC where she played Nellie Forbish with Georgio Tozzi. She has also performed with many regional and summer stock theatres in such diverse roles as Audrey in LITTLE SHOP of HORRORS, Sally Bowles in CABARET, Rosamund in THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM, Cleo in I LOVE MY WIFE, Martha and Amy in productions of COMPANY, and numerous others. A resident director at Shawnee Playhouse in the Poconos, Ellen has staged productions including DAMES AT SEA, SOUTH PACIFIC, HELLO, DOLLY!, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE and BIG RIVER. Television and film credits include three years with All My Children, stints on One Life to Live, Radio Days and Fisher King and She Devil. Principal commercial work has been with Burger King, Delta Dental, AT&T and Gallo Wine.
Ellen is a graduate from Harpur College (SUNY at Binghamton) with a B.A. in Theatre and Music and Manhattan School of Music with a certificate in vocal performance. She is a member of Actors Equity, Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.